2002 Supercharged EP3 Civic Type R

[The Rotrex Kid]

Yes, they are like night/day IMO.

I think it’s different because mine have 324mm 350z discs with the brembo caliper (Megane RS fitment) but the DC5 disc is 300mm which the EP3 has anyway, so I supposed you’re getting a 4 pot caliper but no extra disc size….

[The Rotrex Kid]

I've driven the car for the first time in 3 weeks, given it a quick wash off for some photos for the insurance company (I've asked for a £15k agreed value) and going to drive it home again

I also fitted a dashcam, thought it might be interesting in case I come across anything interesting to play with on the way home.

I'm going to get a new timing chain and some general maintenance sorted over the next few months, keep it all running nicely. I might go crazy and buy a Progress 24mm ARB as I think they look cool.

Pic dump below.

[The Rotrex Kid]

The civic has been languishing on the drive on a batter charger, I will definitely possibly maybe drive it this week

I’ve actually been spending time driving and fettling my new daily driver (I’m going to keep this one) which is a remapped E91 330D. I’ve wanted one for a long time, this is Le Mans blue (like my 5 series was)

So far

CF mirror caps (because I’m a tart)
BMW orbit grey wheels
Wind deflectors
Black grille
I’m going to tint the windows and then just cruise it around.

Its the antithesis to the Civic, torquey, quiet, auto, relatively good on fuel with usable back seats and a big boot. It’s ace.





Honda related content will continue soon, promise.

[The Rotrex Kid]

Happy to help.

I didn’t run the OEM wheels, I expected there to be an issue with them and larger brakes.

17mm spacers do sound massive. I don’t know if I would feel comfortable running those myself. I assume you’d need some bolt on ones?

Personally I’d change the wheels, my TD pro race 1.2 fit (just) with a 5mm spacer.

Hope you get it sorted, the upgrade is worth it!

[The Rotrex Kid]

DC5 wheels could work. I think they’re like 41 offset vs the EP3 55!

I think you’ll still need a 5mm spacer possibly but they would look good and give you the clearance.

You could also look at the popular Evo 8 Enkei, they’re 38 offset (I think!)

[The Rotrex Kid]

Hondapower said:

Might be less trouble to get the Stoptech BBK. Fits under the standard wheels and my set have lasted well with 3 sets of rotors, 1 full rebuild and 10+yrs of road and track use.

That is £2.5k new though

[The Rotrex Kid]

Hondapower said:

Second hand the cost will be similar to a new set of wheels and tyres though.

Well yeah, but he’s already got the brakes. A set of DC5 wheels and spacers for £400 sounds like a good idea to me!

[The Rotrex Kid]

I thought DC5 wheels were lower! 60! Scrap that idea then!

My kit is from these guys.

https://k-system.pro/en/product/bbkep3fn2meganered...

Although I paid a lot less that that when I bought them many years ago!

I have the rear 280mm kit as well for the looks!

[The Rotrex Kid]

The 330D has done, I’m on the lookout for another daily, driving a Golf Estate at the moment which is proper boring.

Hardly driven the civic, took it in today and had to give my mum a lift which was fun, she’s not been in the car for a very long time and I think she’s forgotten how quick it is

I haven’t spent any money for a while so I’ve ordered a Kansai Service lower drivers seat rail, my one annoyance with the car is how high the drivers seat sits (even with the recaros) so hopefully this should fix it. Made to order, 30 day lead time + delivery!



It should sit the seat about 30mm lower, let’s see!

I’ve still got a list of things to do.

[The Rotrex Kid]

Yes it really is comically bad. Do you have the standard seats in yours? The recaros sit slightly lower but it still feels high compared to newer cars with height adjustable seats!

[The Rotrex Kid]

I think it’s because I drive a variety of new cars very regularly which all have height adjustment and normally have the seat all the way down, so getting in the EP3 it feels very much like you’re perched up.

Hopefully these rails will sort it!

[The Rotrex Kid]

I’ve just bought the drivers one. It’s normally just me in the car anyway so it’s not like the passenger one matters.

It’s around £250 including the postage, possibly some import duty on top.

[The Rotrex Kid]

Super speedy (kind of) overnight parts from Japan! (dispatched on the 3rd, arrived this morning, close enough!)

It's a.....



Does what it says on the tin!



Instructions in Japanese, should be fun!!

[The Rotrex Kid]

Fitted the rail today. Nice easy job, only took 20 mins! Made such a difference to the feel of the car!

Hard to measure the heights exactly but it is around 30mm lower.

Before


After




Very happy with that!!

[The Rotrex Kid]

EnzoUK said:

thanks for the inspiration to sort my EP3 out this summer . Car looks wonderful man

Thanks, good luck and hope you get it sorted.

355spider said:

I had a facelift in Milano red back in 2009/10 , of all the cars I’ve had and have, the ep3 is one which I hold fond memories of, i sold it for a champ white fn2 in 2011 which was fun also.

Infact I’ve just bought another CW fn2 to use now and then, I’m thinking of buying an ep3 for purely track use, only thing holding me back is it would be a waste to tax and insure yet another car which will only ever be used on a circuit, can’t really be bothered with the faff of trailering either

I have been tempted a few times to change to an FN2 but they are starting to go up a bit in the values now!

I drove the car last night and the difference is night and day, it feels superb now, those premier seats are just so comically high!

[The Rotrex Kid]

Thanks Stu, sorry for the delayed reply!

Amazing that another year has gone by, a massive 800 miles covered

I suppose that, at least, means I haven’t really spent much money on it, but there are jobs to be done:

Timing chain
Rocker cover gasket
Fuel lines/fuel rail
Rear trailing arm bushes
Power flex engine mounts
Aux tensioner and belt replacement

I am going to buy some bits now and hopefully get someone to crack on and get it done, then get the map tweaked this year at some point, I didn’t make it to the mapping in, let me check the dates, November 2021, wow.
Time goes so fast.

[The Rotrex Kid]

Another pile of bits to add to the big pile of bits. Full OEM timing chain kit



21 years and 150k or so miles on the original, probably a good idea to do it!

[The Rotrex Kid]

Another few bits arrived today! Just to get on with getting it all fitted!

[The Rotrex Kid]

Dropped the car off for the chain to be done. It's done pretty well getting to 150k on the original chain.

Also decided to change the oil and filter while it was there, Fuchs Titan and HAMP filter.

[The Rotrex Kid]

I did toy with cams at the same time, but TBH unless I now get larger injectors, smaller pulley and a lot more messing around, I won't really get any more power!