My Civic modding thread (2000 Civic Dx Coupe)

[Joggernot]

Yeah, someone stole the Honda symbol (hub cover) from the center of one of my wheels. The next day all four were gone. I suspect either kids had a new "token" to play with or someone needed them for their car. Midnight requisition method.

[M_a_t_t]

Do the screws just thread into the pieces of coroplast you zip tied on the wheel? I don't quite understand how they're attached.

[pletby]

Originally Posted by M_a_t_t

Do the screws just thread into the pieces of coroplast you zip tied on the wheel? I don't quite understand how they're attached.

Yes they simply thread into the double layer of coroplast. I used nice small short stainless screws so there was no danger of running into the alloys.

[pletby]

Yay my Marinco onboard charger inlet has arrived. I'll get photos of the install so you can see how I butcher my car with a hole saw! Whee!

[pletby]

Okay, so nobody locally wants to sell me a 1 7/8" hole saw. I didn't want to wait on one ordered online so out came the dremel tool with ream attachment. I traced around the dust seal for the Marinco inlet and that seemed to be about the right size. I started small and slowly made the hole bigger until the unit fit. Done but more of a hassle than I expected.

Now plugging in the car is as easy as pie and no longer inherently dangerous. I removed the old receptacle and can no longer plug the toaster into the bumper of the car. Toast fans disappointed.

Pics to follow.

[pletby]

First day back at work in a year and 8 months. A few short work hours and my usual monster commute and I am ready for a long nap.

I got to feel out the car in my old usual routine and could detect a slipping clutch! Oh the things than happen to your car when you are not the driver for a long time. As long as I drove conservatively it didn't slip, but it's on the way out for sure.

[pletby]

Modified the grill block this weekend to incorporate the license plate as a sliding member of an adjustable opening. Very warm for November, T-shirt weather.

Pics soon I promise!

[pletby]

Hey guys here's a few pictures of the Marinco plug installed.

Also in the pictures is my newly modified grille block. I made a track for the license plate to slide in on top and sides with an open channel of coroplast, and on the bottom the plate slides in between the bumper and the sill trim that's to hold regular old house siding for an air dam. My honey ruined the last one sliding into a snowbank last year, so I'll have to trim another piece to fit and paint it black. The siding held up quite well until the icy snowbank which also damaged the stock plastic under the bumper, so I think that's strong enough.

You can see the sandblasting the car gets on the highways in the winter with all the sand and salt put down. Inside the grille you can make out some power cords that route power to various items.

[California98Civic]

I like the plug. Every now and then I almost back out of my driveway still plugged-in... my wire runs into the car through the door joint at the driver rearview mirror. Once I tore the cord (years ago). A plug like this would just unplug itself as I backed out.

[pletby]

Wow we have a nice winter storm here. We've had unseasonably warm weather until the day after tomorrow when we hit the deep freeze after all this snow falls.

So far I've replaced both upper control arms in the front and the lower ball joints. Pretty easy so far. I've been doing the replacements in bites of spare time as I can't take the car off the road for more than a portion of a weekend. Next is the upper control arms in the back which look easy enough to do, then a front bearing. Then the big project of the clutch. It would have been nice to do all this in a single operation though.

Eric the Car Guy has been helping me through.

The Marinco plug has held up fine in minor freezing weather, now it will get a real test. I'm wondering how that soft rubber like flap will withstand the ice.