Bagged B18 '88 DX Coupe Build!

[B0CKS]

Hey everyone! I'm Seth! A couple years ago I introduced myself to these forums with a base model two door 88, and sooooo much has changed since, so I figure that even while I have a serious ways to go on my car, I should start up a thread to document what all has happened, and what will happen to my car! Essentially, my pride and joy is a WIP Bagged and Type R B18C swapped 3gee Accord, so everything will be greatly paraphrased for matter of keeping these posts fairly straightforward, but I can assure you, it wasn't nearly as easy as it looks online!

To read in agonizing detail my entire 3Gee experience, visit; B0CKS and work your way from the last tile to the first! It's a pretty exhaustive documentation of two years of my life haha, and I hope it's decent way to spend 15 minutes!

Suspension:
-SEI Full Disc Brake Conversion (Including Prop Valve and Master Cylinder)
-Steel Braided Brake Lines
-Wilwood 4 Piston Front Calipers
-Prelude Front Upper Adjustable Control Arms
-Slotted and Drilled Power Stop Rotors Front and Rear
-Rear Upper Adjustable Control Arms
-Cheddas Front Traction Bar
-OEM optional Rear Sway Bar
-D2 Racing Bags
-1984 JDM 15x6.5 +16 Manaray Turbinas
-Backup set of 1985 Mitsubishi "Cowbell" wheels 15x6.5 +18 wrapped in 195/50/r15 Toyo Proxes R888, filled redrilled and restored to OEM gray
-Wrapped in 195/45r15 Toyo Tires
-Polyurethane Sway Bar Links

Engine:
-Fully rebuilt OEM Spec B18C Type R Swap by Engine Machine Shop in Potterville MI
-YS1 Transmission case with GSR Internals, LS 5th gear, Type R LSD, Full Carbon rebuild kit, built by Tall Pines Racing
-P28 ECU with Hondata S300 V3, Burton Racing Coil on Plug harness adapter and powdercoated housing, along with custom lasercut relocation bracket
-Relocated Fuse Box with custom lasercut relocation bracket
-Rywire Complete tucked engine bay and fuse box with Firewall connector
-Tucked body harness
-Burton Racing Coil on Plug Setup
-Dimension Coil Plate
-S2000 Coils
-Extensively shaved bay
-NOS Type R oil cap
-NOS Fuel Rail Vacuum Pump
-ARP HeadStuds
-Gates Timing Belt
-DC Racing 4-2-1 Two Piece Headers
-Remanned alternator and starter
-Powdercoated Valve Cover in OEM Red
-ACL Bearings
-OEM Clutch
-Full new OEM Timing Cover plastics
-New Oil Pan
-Cometic Head Gasket
-DownStar Full Cosmetic engine dress kit
-Full OEM replacement sensors
-CSF Racing Half Radiator
-16AN Radiator Hoses
-16AN converted lower thermostat housing
-K-Tuned 16AN Upper radiator hose mount
-Custom lasercut upper radiator mount
-Custom fabbed lower radiator inner mount
-New Harmonic Balancer
-Aftermarket radiator overflow tank
-bumper-tucked Optima Red-top battery
-Clear windshield wiper fluid cap! (yes, really.)
-3rd gen Prelude Speedometer Cable
-EF Civic custom bent hood prop+ 3D printed rest
-DC Racing CAI Cone
-AEM Hyrdophobic net
-AEM Fuel Rail
-Custom ran AN style fuel lines
-Innovative motor mounts
-Lasercut throttle bracket
-Fuel Injected Accord Throttle cable
-New Bosch fuel injection fuel pump
-NOS fuel filter
-All excess OEM Brackets have been powdercoated
-WIP Lasercut CAI Airbox

Interior:
-Reupholstered 2G Prelude Seats on Accord rails
-DA Integra Headrests
-Reupholsered optional LX-i Coupe rear folding seat
-Full SE-i Center console with Cupholders and Armrest
-Chrysler Conquest/Mitsubishi Starion accordion shift boot
-NRG Quick Release and Short Adapter Hub with custom lasercut OEM wheel>aftermarket apdater
-OEM 2G Prelude Steering wheel
-Rockford Fosgate 12" Shallow mount subwoofer and Amplifier
-Carrozzeria TSR-800 Cross Axial Four Way Package shelf Speakers
-Rockford Fosgate Component front door speakers
-Airlift Performance Air Management System
-Viair Twin Compressors
-Under dash mounted Fuse box w/ bottle opener
-3D printed cupholder in armrest
-Glovebox mounted Fire extenguisher
-Custom lasercut ECU mounting bracket
-All dash and door brackets powdercoated
-USB & Wall outlet mounted in center front console
-OEM Fog light switch from Japan
-TBD Panasonic Cockpit RM310

Exterior:
-Complete Respray to factory NH-512 Polar White
-2G Prelude SI Front Bumper with custom lasercut quick release setup
-1987 Integra Front Lip
-OEM "Accord" pop up fog lights w/ custom lasercut brackets
-Custom frosted vinyl cut "OK" Rear window dealer inspection stickers
-Custom DOHC fender trim
-JDM front corner/marker lights
-Custom designed and fabricated cowl induction hood scoop
-3D printed spoiler (WIP!)
-All belt-line trim has been shaved down to smooth from the OE noise texture it had


And continuing on to the build list for the (far more stock) daily driver 88' Coupe, that I wrecked once and "restored" on the cheap:
Exterior
-80$ Rattlecan Home Depot spray job
-Plastidip trim respray
-3G Civic hubcaps
-Stickers for horespower
-1987 Front end conversion (that's what they had at the yard, it's a bolt on- but you do have to swap turn signal pigtails!)

Interior
-12" Sub box
-Some junkyard JBL speakers from a sedan
-2G Prelude Steering wheel
-LX Sedan seats
-SEI Arm rest
-Cardboard Head Unit Cover

Engine/Suspension
-Regasketed Engine
-New water pump
-New timing belt
-new oil pump
-new axles
-new front upper and lower control arms
-Polyurethane sway bar links
-Other boring stuff!

So with that said, here's my car as it started life in my ownership!




I had no idea about the rollercoaster to come, or the people on these forums and stories skills I'd learn when I bought this humble car, but I couldn't ask for anything more, it's been an incredible experience, and I can't wait to have this build completed!

[B0CKS]

I bought this car on July 4th 2016, and it was my first car, the only real knowledge I had of cars was from watching over my Dad's shoulder and every now and then removing a part or two, so I didn't have much experience. But in about a month of my onwership, the clutch on this DX started to fail, and after realizing "it was only 3 pages in the shop manual" and having no idea how tough it could be, I decided that I should try and save money and do it myself. My life hasn't been the same since! So the car went up onto the lift, and after driving hours in between work days I got the job done in about three weeks, with this being my first big encounter with working on cars myself.

We did-in fact- manage to get it out, which was an incredible high the first time!

And since it had been some time since we started, I had gained enough funds to purchase my long lusted for coilovers and wheels, which I had picked out moooonths in advance!


So after a seemless week+ long install the car returned to earth with a new clutch and fresh set of wheels!


And for awhile, that's just how things were! I knew I had the coolest car on the planet, it already feels like an eternity ago haha

[B0CKS]

But, everything good must come to end it seems like, so after attending H20i (a 2000 mile drive, which the car did flawlessly);




...I drove it into a tree. That split second stupid decision is what changed everything for this car, and these years until now, as I had only had the car how I liked it for around a month, and decided that I wouldn't be done with it so soon.

The same day I wrecked it, was the same day I decided I would rebuild the car, originally just enough so that I could have my lowered car again, with an new facia. Admittedly, it didn't quite happen like that, but it's good sentiment.


So after we rolled the now husk in, I got a quote for 1700 dollars to repair the front end damage I had caused. That happened to be 24 hours before I had found a listing for a literal duplicate of my coupe, another base model 88, produced only around 1600 units apart from eachother.

Needless to say I instantly jumped on the phone, and before I knew it, here we were, loading another Accord onto a trailer:


And so, enter donor car No. I (formally known as B0CKS II)
In the state that I got it:

[B0CKS]

This turned my mission from a front end swap into a frame off, as every good part needed to go onto the good car, and everything else could simply be trashed or installed onto the other vehicle, so we got right into it!


And between the two cars, one had around 100k less on the clock, so we decided we need to take that out of one car, and install it on the other, along with a cradle swap! So, out with the first engine;

...and cradle;

And then the other cars engine and cradle;


And, to paraphrase, the lower mileage engine was rebuilt head up, all new gaskets, new pumps and pulleys, belts, a good first engine build, you know? And was then installed into the straight frame:


And that was much of the initial plan for the mechanical end of my goals for this car, of which I am still pretty proud of!

[B0CKS]

And every good rebuild needs a good paint job, so here's my first go at painting a car! Let's just have a quick three months of work happen reaaaal quick:




...and done! That's 4 coats of primer and 3 coats of SINGLE stage paint, if I chose double, I probably would actually be done by now- I still have to paint the hood and doors of this car! Oh well Maybe on the next resto!

[B0CKS]

And so, being bored with painting and sanding, I decided I would pull the frame myself on my wrecked car and rebuild it for fun with spare parts we had lying around. So we did. (just want to say again, this is very paraphrased.)



Then found it needed an engine, so I bought a racecar for the engine which led to this photo:

tore the spare engine and racecar engine apart and rebuilt them over a weekend;



...and it still doesn't work, but that's for another thread.

Time to go back to work!

[B0CKS]

Now all the backstory is out of the way- it's time to get to the good stuff.

During my hours of sanding I got fixated on the concept of airride, and how stupidly cool it would be to bag this car, and so I pinched my pennies until I could afford it;

An Airlift box containing a 34" 7 port tank, two air compressors, and all the wiring necessary. It was unreal finally opening those packages!

Next was bags;


And after trying tube bending for the first time, drilling through carpet and sheet metal, tons of packaging and repackaging,sweat (and, admittedly- a few tears) the install was compete, and it came out better than I could have hoped!



It goes loooow, and can go EVEN LOWER. but that's for once the car is altogether and I don't have to get under it all the time lmao

[Dr_Snooz]

Nice synopsis and impressive work! I can't wait to see more.

[B0CKS]

And so, with a drastic change of goals around the start of the new year, I went down to south bend Indiana and bought...


A B18B1 engine. Basically, a member from the Facebook page had a good deal on Webers, and no one makes a good intake manifold that I could get a hold of for the A20 for Webers, but I found a B18 intake manifold, that could be used on the A20... or a B18... and I went down the rabbit hole, and came out with these:

this;

and currently, this:

It needs the loom sorted out, and some general maintenance, but 98% of the parts are here and ready to go in! (I'll make a thread later!)

[B0CKS]

And at this point, it was time to pull the A20 I had rebuilt (and also never turned key on) to make room for the B18.

...And not to brag, but it took me and two friends one literal hour to pull that engine. Boo. Yah.


And while it's out, why not tear the engine bay all the way down and repaint it? Okay.



It's getting another coat this weekend, but I'm guessing you can see what it looks like!

[B0CKS]

And we're nearly caught up! Paint isn't the only thing on the docket for work this weekend, but wheel wells too! Another member of the Facebook group was selling discs brakes, and I was fortunate enough to score those, so here they are!:

...and after last weekends scrubbing and spraybombing, here's a start for the rears:

Which will all be hiding behind slotted and drilled disc brakes as well these wheels!:



And that basically brings us to today, where I'll be rebuilding those front knuckles! Awesome! Feel free to stay tuned!

And I forgot to mention it, but we rebuilt transmissions too! My bad!

[B0CKS]

Nice synopsis and impressive work! I can't wait to see more.

Thanks a ton Doc! me neither haha!

[AWH]

Real nice build ! I have seen some of your stuff on FB ,but this shows the whole deal. Impressive.This will ensure you of a long lasting joy. Hope it comes out just the way you want it too.Keep it on.

[B0CKS]

Real nice build ! I have seen some of your stuff on FB ,but this shows the whole deal. Impressive.This will ensure you of a long lasting joy. Hope it comes out just the way you want it too.Keep it on.

I'm flattered! I'm trying to get more active on the FB page as this starts to get closer to a complete to build! And thank you very much, even as it currently sits, its my most prized possession, and I'll be sure to keep it for as long as I can! Stay tuned, and thanks again!

[Shane86]

Looking good boss

[B0CKS]

Looking good boss

Thanks much! Can't wait to turn this pile of parts into something functional!

[B0CKS]

Time for the first genuine thread update!

I picked up some suppper rad prelude seats, they're in good shape and everything is all there! I'll be having them reupholstered to be our good 'ol factory brown(red? Still can't tell honestly) which will make them very unique to our group, but to the regular onlooker, they'll be nothing out of the ordinary, which is perfect!


And I went home and got my front knuckles picked up from having the hubs removed, so now they're also catching a nice new coat of undercoating and top coat! Looking good!


So on the docket for this weekend:
Get all the hubs fully assembled and ready to be installed (all the fun brake parts should be in by next week!)
Engine bay gets another coat of paint
Do some work on the B18, since it just kinda' needs work.
We'll see what actually happens!

[B0CKS]

Well. Plenty certainly happened this weekend! Due to rain, I couldn't paint the engine bay, but the discs are coming along great as most of the parts I ordered showed up extremely early! The christmas list being; all the calipers, new pads, rear rotors (still waiting on fronts), an engine stand, B18 Oil pan gasket, aaaaand a front Cheddas traction bar!!
Attachment 8820
So, most importantly; here's the bar:
Attachment 8821
There's a minor complication at the moment, as the radius rods are MIA, but Cheddas is doing an awesome job of sorting that out!
And so, to prevent rust taking charge, I got to work throwing down some caliper paint, top coat, and undercoating;

And the front hubs came together! Hadn't used our press much until now, but oh man is it a godsend! And so, here we are, with everything (at the moment) installed! Rears are good to go, fronts need rotors and some lower ball joints and we're good!


And you might say "Hey, he didn't get much done". I was busy pulling out this engine:

and doing this cradle drop:

and neglecting my DD so hard that the floorpan and one of the balljoints failed. Niiiice

[B0CKS]

Here's a little more of the same, but we're finally at the stage of install! The Knuckles are pretty much wrapped up, the fronts need lower joints and then we're good to drop them into the car! And the engine bay received it's final coat of paint, so it's all uphill from here, engine install is officially good to start!!

[Dr_Snooz]

Nice progress!

[B0CKS]

Finalllly time for an UPDATE!

So, the car is hasn't changed much between all the other crazy happenings at our barn (transmissions blowing up, 85 Fiero's and 68' Lemans being purchased, gaskets dying and the sort) but the Accord(s) are in fact in making progress! It's just a few strides but it's all good! The front knuckles & cradle are bolted in (and still need to be torqued) but look fantastic!



The second Accord caught a new battery and some fresh gas and it runs! Really poorly though, I think the carb is super out of tune, so the plan is take my spare carb, prep it for a vacuum delete and then re-tune the replacement. But that's when I have free time, which isn't easy to find these days.

The B18 is finallly moving forward. Got it off it's tire, a few questions answered and also torqued down a few things, and found out that I have no clue where my new valve cover gasket went! Maybe I should start being a little more organized!


And the engine bay is starting to come back together! A few bits around the bay, such as the Cheddas Traction Bar, repainted brake booster with an SE-i swapped master cylinder were installed as well as some odds and ends.

And that's it for now! Some days, I must say, just feel like a video game while moving all these parts around and installing everything, one day it will be cool!

[zedries]

Great work - In for updates to see how well this comes up. i'm sure it will be epic.

Z

[Dr_Snooz]

Great work!

[B0CKS]

Thanks a ton guys! I work on this as much as I can every weekend I get the chance, so progress will be slow but steady! Thanks for staying tuned!

[B0CKS]

Made some headway around the car, and played with the more expensive camera, so here's an update! Went to the garage last night and started working on my rear discs, I have the front installed, but the rear hadn't gone in yet, so the rear drum got pulled;

And replaced with this!:

Which looks pretty good, IMO:

Which led to a rather major issue, that being fitment. The Manarays do NOT clear the inner lip, and my goal is to slam this thing to the earth (whether we like it or not) so I need to figure how to dodge that lip.

The approaches I can take are 1)modify the upper control arm for extreme camber 2) modify all the control arms and adjust my track 3)Roll/cut out the lip, 4)????- I'm open to suggestions! and I don't really know which approach I like best, since I would like that "fit" look, I'm assuming I'm taking a half inch out of the control arm and rolling my quarter panels, which will- in this state- most certainly lead to rust down the road. but that comes with the territory of modifcation, so I suppose I can't complain.

And I got to reinstalling some stuff in the engine bay, so that's making progress!

Lastly, here's just some spare imagery:


'Till next time!