2000 Honda Civic HB Track Build

I've waited a bit to post on this one but I figured 2025 is as good a time as any!

I bought a 2000 Honda Civic HB (aka EJ6, aka EK) on Copart October 23, 2023. This purchase, in itself, I feel was fate.  I had seen the car come up for auction and the price crept past what I was comfortable paying for the car.  I knew at the least it needed a new catalylic converter.  The orginal had been sawed off at the manifold and the car ended up salvage.  The first auction came and went and I figured it wasn't meant to be.  Lo and behold I kept looking around on Copart and the car came back!  Whoever bid on it first must have flaked on the payment.  I wasn't going to let it get away this time!  I won the auction at $1,700.  Maybe a bit much but the car was an original, bone stock, no accident, Civic HB.  You rarely see those these days.

My objective for this car has always been to use this chassis to build my dream track car.  After owning a 1990 Civic hatch in college and attending an autocross event with a friend, I knew I wanted to continue wrenching and racing in the future.  So here's what I have accomplished so far with the Civic, my short term large goal being to get on track at High Plaines Raceway this coming race season.

    - Cleaned an insane amount of pine sap off of the exterior of the car (denatured alcohol works wonders in this arena!)

    - Completely stripped the interior out, cleaned all plastics, carpet, seats, etc.

    - Re-installed all interior parts that were removed and cleaned (don't want to have a totally striped out race car just yet)

    - Installed a new catalytic converter

    - Had the car inspected by the Sheriff to get my "Rebuilt From Salvage" title.  Woo Hoo!!!

I realized while driving the car for the first time that the transmission had a major issue.  Sure enough when I removed and dismantled it, the large mainshaft bearing race had given out, sending plastic shrapnel all through the trans.  This must have happened somewhat recently as I didn't see any actual damage to the internals.  This is where I am at as of today.  I have the mainshaft and countershaft rebuilt with all new bearings and carbon synchros from Synchrotech.  I'm also adding a beefier shift spring and detent springs from Speed Factory Racing.  Once I have the trans back together I have parts waiting for a full engine refresh including timing belt service, oil pump, water pump, ignition parts, fuel system parts, and all new seals throughout.  The engine had been leaking oil and is completely coated in sludge right now.  A major clean up will be part of the refresh.

So what does 2025 have in store?  The goal is to have a reliable car in stock configuration.  Safe and no leaks will be the name of the game before getting out on track to get a baseline of how the car drives and feels.  After the shakedown the real work will begin.  I already have Honed Developments complete roll center adjustment kit, brake booster delete kit, and various other goodies from Honed.  Also, Devin over at Fortune Auto, is working on a set of 510 Series coilovers for me.  In the meantime I'll be deciding on my prefered wheels and tires (likely 17" Konigs with RT660's) and big brake upgrade kit (likely Wilwood 6 piston Dynapro's).

Thanks for reading if you made it all the way through that!  Happy to post photos if there's interest.  And would love to hear any comments about anyone's experience taking a stock vehicle through a track transformation. 

That is awesome. It sounds like you're off to a great start. Please post pics!

Love me some wishbone Hondas so eager for photos as well. 

Let me look into my crystal ball...

Ha!  Definitely the model EK @pinchvalve.  I think I have all of the G&G videos memorized.

@David.  I see you have a CRX in your "garage".  Such a great generation for Honda.  Love it!

@Echo.  Photo time!

Here's the day she arrived from Copart.  Didn't even have a battery to drive off the trailer with!

Gee!  Something's missing!

At home next to the '69 Beetle aka other project car.  I have the best wife ever!

Interior carpet and seats out.  I opted not to remove the factory sound deadening for now.

Dash out.  I cleaned in every nook and cranny possible.  Also gave the HVAC system a thourough cleaning.

Interior cleaned and reinstalled.  New cheapo floor mats from fleabay.

Transmission out.  Not as bad as some people say.  I think it can be a one person job if you take your time and support the car and transmission properly.

Mainshaft bearing.  At first I thought some of the balls had escaped.  The trans would have been a lump of scrap if that had happened.  Turns out it was just the plastic race that had deteriorated and exploded.

Bearing carnage!

More bits of bearing race I found throughout the trans.  The oil passages inside the shafts also had little bits inside.

Clutch housing after disassembly, a thorough cleaning, and reassembly.  I used Oil Eater to clean all the parts, blew them dry with compressed air then lubed with Honda MTF during reassembly.  As of today I have the mainshaft and countershaft reassembled with the new synchros.  I just need to clean up the shift forks and throw it all back in the case.  I have a new Competition Clutch lightened flywheel and Exedy Stage 2 clutch waiting to go in as well.​​​​​​

I was thinking about all the other odds and ends I've done up to this point.  I know a lot of this may seem trivial or "duh, that's just maintanance man!", but I wanted to document things as thouroughly as possible.  You never know who it'll help!  Here's the list:

- EX gauge cluster w/tach (Its from an automatic but who cares)

- New wipers all around

- New hatch struts from Stabilus - Model No: 3B-0254US-W

- New drivers side manual window regulator

- New drivers side door handle

- New window crank handles (eBay knockoffs, good enough)

- Short shifter (eBay special)

- Energy Suspension poly shifter bushings - Model No: 16.1102R

- CRV cabin filter mod - Honda Part No: 80292-ST3-E01

- New Bosch fuel pump - Model No: 69496

- Magnaflow Catalytic converter CARB legal - Model No: 452029

- Exhasut downpipe - Walker Part No: 52241

- Exhaust pipe and resonator - Walker Part No: 47724

- Bosch O2 Sensors - Model No: 13007

- Spark plugs - NGK Model No: ZFR5F-11

- Engine air filter

- Battery hold down - Honda Part No: 31512-SR3-000

- Hood rod holder - Honda Part No: 90672-SJ4-013

Good stuff! Thanks for sharing the pictures, too!

Thanks Jaytee! Made some progress getting the trans reassembled tonight. The snap ring at the top of the case is still giving me trouble. I'll come back to it tomorrow. Really happy with the progress overall though.