MCR VTEC Meet X

Went to my first Honda meet today and is was great.

The meet was arranged by the members of http://www.mcr-vtec.co.uk/

Parked up and had a chat with some of the guys there and poked around the cars that turned up. We then went for a drive on the infamous Cat n Fiddle route. If you are not familiar with this route, I'd recommend you go visit if your a local.

Google it to find out.

I will get a few pictures up in my next post, but for now you will have to make do with a few shots of mine at the meet.

The Parcel Shelf Saga

Finally!

My rear speaker covers turned up, so I have manged to install the parcel shelf now. Nice and stock looking.

Just Some Little Bits...

Not much to update on performance or modification wise, but there has been a couple of little things that I have wanted to sort out.

Firstly, the car never came with a rear parcel shelf so I bought one. No problem...lets go out and fit it. Hmmm...you would think that fitting a parcel shelf is pretty straight forward, just a couple of clips then slot it in to place right?

Well yeah, that's right. But I discovered I don't have any rear speaker covers in place which the parcel shelf clips on to! Doh!

So currently I am trailing forums looking for anyone that has these parts for sale or that may be breaking an EK9. I have also sent an email to a particular site that breaks JDM cars, so we'll see what they come back with!

Now secondly, in the middle of the dash is a carbon console that holds the two dash air vents. Well, the left side 'curtain' we'll call it is broke and Honda reckon they don't sell the 'curtain'..or slider...whatever by itself. Oh no..they wanted £300 for another replacement carbon console, just so I can get hold of the left side vent. No thanks.

I managed to pickup a carbon console for £40 which is cracked on one side, but this is fine as I only want the vent anyway. So, we'll see how that goes.

HardRace Engine Mounts Installed

Got the engine mounts fitted on Sunday. Easy job for someone that knows what they are doing. Was done in my mates garage with 2 axle stands and a wind up jack :)
Fitment was perfect with no installation problems at all.

So, after fitting them I could tell there was a different straight away just from start up. Everything just seemed more firm and rigid..its hard to explain. The engine note is also louder, but in a nice way.

Driving the car, it feels a lot better. Turn in seems to be sharper and the engine is definitely more responsive through the rev's now.
I used to get a thud sometimes when slamming through the gears, which I assumed was because the OEM mounts were on the way out. Pictures below will tell the story on that.

Also amazingly (maybe this is in my head), but the crunch I got in 4th gear while way up in the rev's seems to have disappeared? :confused:
I have just recently changed to Redline gearbox oil, but it still crunched when I tested it..maybe it took sometime to settle? Who knows, I'm sure someone will clear this up for me..maybe it is in my head. I'll do some further testing.

The only negative with fitting these mounts in the slight vibration coming from the dash on idle, but I totally expected this and accept it. While driving, it is not a problem anyway.

So overall I am happy with the mounts and would recommend them..thumbs up from me :nice:
No wonder the car feels so much better compared to OEM mounts though, check out the pictures below. Yes..the rubber fell out as soon as the mounts were removed!

HardRace Engine Mount Set

So, my latest modifications have turned up...

Reinforced engine and transmission mounts made by HardRace.

Here is what they have to say:

-Hardness rubber mounts create more strength than OE rubber mounts.
-Immediately experience the feedback from engine acceleration.
-Reduce Engine movement significantly.
-Provide the maximum output under engine acceleration.
-Compound with high anti-vibration and durometer rubber material

I have never come across this manufacturer before and I came across them while searching for alternatives to the likes of Mugen and SPOON. I'm sorry, but the SPOON and Mugen engine mount sets are outrageously priced in my opinion.

The mounts still use rubber, so won't rattle your teeth out but are 50% stiffer to OEM which should be a good compromise compared to stock and polyurethane mounts.

Going by using TRD uprated mounts in my previous car which was a Toyota, the benefits listed can indeed be expected. I noticed the difference in engine response and overall feel of the car when installed.

Another reason I opted for the mounts is after discussing chassis and suspension related components with a member of a forum I frequent on, the member advised his mounts were shot even though the car did not have that much mileage on it.

These should be fitted this Sunday, so I will let you all know how I find them.

First Service Done

So, got my first service done today.

Managed to get it done FOC by a mechanic friend, nice one!

We did:

Engine and gearbox oil with new seals and J's Racing magnetic sump plug
HAMP oil filter
HAMP fuel filter
Denso Iridium spark plugs

OK, so engine wise the car is standard apart from uprated ignition leads and would of been fine on the stock NGK plugs, but I opted for iridium's.

I have actually read some articles where the iridium plugs have helped gain 1-2 hp. I'm not expecting anything, but at least I don't have to worry about changing them for a while.

I have a track day in March, which I will give more details about in a future post, but there are a few things that I want to get done before then!

I have a modification on the way from the states which should be here within the next few days. More on that when it arrives!

First Service

OK, so I've had the car a couple of weeks now and when I bought it the seller said it had just been serviced...well I'm not taking any chances!

So, I have the following gathered for it's first service:

-OEM cambelt & tensioner
-OEM fuel filter
-HAMP oil filter
-J's Racing magnetic sump plug
-Denso Iridium spark plugs

And for the lubricants:

-Silkolene fully synthetic oil, 5w/40
-Red Line MTL gearbox oil

A little bit more on the HAMP oil filter.

If you are new to Honda's like I am, then you may not of heard of HAMP before, so here is some generic information on HAMP/oil filter:

Hamp is Honda's Japanese aftermarket product "Hamp Synergy".
The Hamp Synergy is set up after the Honda original parts products.

The unique spring-controlled by-pass valve regulates the oil flow to ensure that the oil pressure is maintained constant under various operating conditions.

The body of the Hamp oil filter covered by anti-corrosion paint.

In the beginning....

So here we are...the first post on the blog!

This blog will follow the modification story of my Honda Civic Type R, EK9 and other JDM related news and material will be thrown in a long the way.

So, the emphasis of this vehicle will be to keep it 'street'.

A fast street car that can also be used on the track and driven back home again.

All luxuries and interior trim will be kept intact, there will be no removal of backseats, air con or even the spare wheel! Any removal of OEM parts will be subject to a lightweight replacement such as carbon fibre.

I have only had the car around 2 weeks, but the modifications are already starting. More about this in another post!

Currently the only modifications are:

Cusco Zero II coilovers
MOMO steering wheel
SPOON 'socks'
NGK Blue ignition leads

For now I will leave you with sale pictures from when I bought the car. My own better quality and more detailed pictures will be added shortly.