Honda Civic VTI - EK4

[Danny4494]

Bit of a random one for me but had to do it. Had an EK4 back when I was 19, and loved every second of it, sold it on like an idiot and always regretted it. Since then I've had a fair few of the "better" ones, FD2 Type R (JDM import), DC2, DC5, EK9, Civic Jordan, all genuinely great cars, faster, rarer on paper, whatever you want to call it. But never quite scratched the same itch as the EK4 did, why I don t know maybe it s nostalgia although I had a civic ek9 at the same time as a civic ek4 sir, and I sold the ek9 maybe I m just backwards.

Anyway, long story short, finally caved and picked another one up. Proper mad how these have gone up was paying about £1,500 to 2K back in the day, paid £7k for this one. There's only around 30 left on UK roads apparently, which explains a lot.

Going to use this as a bit of a build thread enjoyed doing my e39 one last time so as I go through it, inspection, sorting a few bits, prepping for paint eventually, parts are arriving by the day just want to do this one justice this time round.

Will stick some pics up as I go. Here's where it's starting from/the standard petrol station shot on the way home:



Also documenting the build on my YouTube channel if anyone s interested in watching and critique is more than welcome.

https://youtube.com/@itsmotodan

Day by day I m having a dilemma, keep the mid spoiler don t keep the mid spoiler I think it s got to go and a different top spoiler as a replacement, also smooth the aerial or not, what interior, what little mods etc every day I have a new idea.

But yeah there it is same owner for the past 17 years, 138k miles, pretty much bog standard apart from some BC racing coilovers and a backbox

Edited by Danny4494 on Saturday 26th September 20:53

[Super Sonic]

Very nice. Used to have a 1.4, was my third Civic. Have a mb5 right now, with the d16.

[Danny4494]

Super Sonic said:

Very nice. Used to have a 1.4, was my third Civic. Have a mb5 right now, with the d16.

Nice the D16 is a solid engine they also handle boost very well….. there’s some crazy D16 builds over in the USA

[quigonjay]

So for us non Honda people, is it a VTi?

[Danny4494]

quigonjay said:

So for us non Honda people, is it a VTi?

Yes sorry in hindsight should of titled the thread as such I’ll try change the title!

[The Rotrex Kid]

Love it.

I (like Super Sonic) had a supersonic blue EJ9 (that had a B16) and then also had a Vogue Silver EK4 back in the day. I think I sold it for £1500 when I bought my S14a

Looking forward to seeing what you do with this, is there really only 30 left on the road? Crazy how times change.

I would love another one.

[Danny4494]

The Rotrex Kid said:

Love it.

I (like Super Sonic) had a supersonic blue EJ9 (that had a B16) and then also had a Vogue Silver EK4 back in the day. I think I sold it for £1500 when I bought my S14a

Looking forward to seeing what you do with this, is there really only 30 left on the road? Crazy how times change.

I would love another one.

That’s was my old EK4 too a Vogue silver pre facelift, I then had a civic Jordan afterwards.

I know how many are left is loosely accurate but there’s 35 taxed as of last year with 100 on a sorn, I found some factory info again not sure how accurate it is but the breakdown was something along these lines:

EK9 16k
EK4 SIR 13,800


UK spec pre facelift VTI 1900 (200 of those are the super rare VTI’S I would imagine there’s a handful of those left now)

UK spec facelift VTI 3100 (500 of those are the civic Jordan)

21k of the 1.4 hatches made

7k 1.5 hatches made

1.5k of the 1.6 single cam hatches made

I took most that data from various sources and then took a median number so it’s not supper accurate but it’s somewhere close.

[The Rotrex Kid]

I wouldn't think you're far off then, I imagine there are a lot just sat in peoples garages SORN.

I didn't realise there were so few made TBH. Maybe I need to buy one before they all disappear!!

[BlueJazz]

I had the coupe version of the VTi, made in America. Apart from the over-light steering, I loved the car.

On my second Civic now, a CTR FL5.

[danb79]

Looks / sounds a decent base for the project Danny

Never had an EK4; had an EG6 SiR-S and then an EK9 - was tempted with a Jordan that crossed my path moons ago but decided against it, couldn’t live with the interior haha

FYI your YouTube link doesn’t work

[Jte3397]

I had a EG9 VTi that eventually lead on to an EP3 CTR that I took from 33K to 174K. I'd love either back but, like you say, you can't get them for £2k anymore! Will follow this with interest.

[Danny4494]

Managed to get the car stripped down and checked for rust in all the usual places and so far I don t think it looks too bad, will be getting a professional opinion on that because I might have slightly rose tinted glasses.

This is how it sits at the moment I do need to get rear lights out and check inner arches, I do know there s a couple of bumper tabs I ll need to fabricated hopefully not much more welding than that!




Latest video is out:

https://youtu.be/39QwjLSeFsE?is=Ur-bdT6bNDiyjIJH

Edited by Danny4494 on Saturday 26th September 21:00

Edited by Danny4494 on Saturday 26th September 21:00

[Danny4494]

But of a overdue update, this is one of those cars I wish I hadn’t of bought

The more I get in to it the worse it gets the rust has been cut out, however the guy that’s doing all the welding for me has told me that my cutting out is not sufficient and however bad I think it looks it’s going to be worse.





Luckily I bought full rear quarters I thought it might be over kill but looks like they might be needed.

On the good side of things I EK9’D the lights and they look far better.



Also got a spoon steering wheel for some reason I don’t have a photo of it but it’s on the latest video for anyone who cares.

https://youtu.be/lhOhF6Bh5_Q?is=nFJ18g6xyh3eUJDC

[carguy45]

Bookedmarked

I had quite a few EK4 VTi's (including one extremely low mileage, elderly owner car from Isle of Man which I bought for the advertised price of £2.5k at the time, what a steal) amongst other Hondas, and brother had a Jordan and still runs a Group N EK4 rally car.

Bit like yourself, I have a sentimental attachment to them still and find myself nosying around an EK whenever I see one out and about - which is increasingly rare these days. I went from a Corsa to my first EK and the Honda just felt so much tighter, better put together and handled great.... never mind all the joy of vtec too.

Looks like you have a fair bit of work to do but the satisfaction in the finish product will be worth it!

[Don Veloci]

Ah, nostalgia!

Loved mine. Especially how it went and felt when my peers we knocking about in MK2 Golfs.

Trading for a ITR DC2 was one thing but should never, ever have sold the DC2!

[tallpaul26]

Nice. I had a 2000 MB6 VTI which was a bit of an impulse buy in 2003. Probably should have bought an EK4 but it was red etc…

There’s a Jordan EK4 sat on a driveway near me. Looks clean and it had an impeccable MOT history up until 2 years ago but appears to have been off the road since (no recorded MOT fail though).

[rossub]

£7k with that rust… ouch.

[BenEK9]

rossub said:

£7k with that rust ouch.

Sure you can buy a rotten Ferrari somewhere for 10 times that and there are some rust free cars you can't give away. I wonder what that could mean?

Does not look bad at all.

[rossub]

If you say so. Fine if you can do work yourself, but not so good if you can’t.

Anyway, won’t derail any further. I’m sure this’ll turn out great, as the OP clearly knows what he’s doing.

[BenEK9]

rossub said:

If you say so. Fine if you can do work yourself, but not so good if you can t.

Anyway, won t derail any further. I m sure this ll turn out great, as the OP clearly knows what he s doing.

if i say so? i don't decided what ek civics are worth.