Long Overdue Introduction: The Old Battle Horse & the Newer Steed

[mattsbobo]

Due to some longstanding technical issues, I had been unable to access a lot of my pics. Now that most of the issues have been resolved, I can finally make an official intro thread. I picked up a 2006 Si with 5500 miles on it in Nov of 06. I loved the car to death, and slowly did mods as money allowed. Thanks to that car, and the website associated with it, I met TONS of awesome people. Most of them are on this great site as well.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck in June of 2011.

 

[mattsbobo]

While on my way to work one night, a 17 year old girl in her daddy's Mustang GT decided she wanted to cross a total of 6 lanes, without pausing at the median to see if any cars were coming. Unfortunately there was,

My life was turned upside down for over a year because of that wreck. The more immediate problem though, was how was I going to replace my beloved car with another 8th gen who's history I could account for? Then I had an epiphany...

 

[mattsbobo]

...There was an OG member (NitrousG35/Wild Bill for those who around at the time) from the old site that we all knew and loved, who I knew was getting tired of the Civic scene. Don't get me wrong, he still loved his car, he just wanted to get into a chassis with more power options and a little AWD action. Long story short...we had a lot of phone conversations, and eventually (after his wife said it was ok) he agreed to sell me his gorgeous Si. I flew from Raleigh NC to Minnetonka MN, hung out a few days, then drove for 26 hours until I was back in Raleigh again.

 

[promar93]

Ouch, gotta appreciate the safety of Hondas. I survived 2 totals in Civics.

 

[MrsJrotax101]

Glad to see this thread Fiji blue

 

[mattsbobo]

Ouch, gotta appreciate the safety of Hondas. I survived 2 totals in Civics.

Agreed. After the initial impact I was in total shock. The only thing I remember anybody saying to me was one of the cops when he said the seat and side curtain airbags probably saved my life.

Glad to see this thread Fiji blue

Thanks Gympers. I'm pissed though because a few of the pics I keep trying to post bring up those "this pic has been moved or deleted messages." WTF?

 

[KennyGS]

Great thread and cool photos.

 

[Dar-Dar]

We need more Fiji owners. Lol.

 

[ethlar]

fiji blue

 

[hotdogjohnny]

Wow, welcome. That was such a nice looking ride.
Which license plate were you running when you got hit? Was it $$$ SHOT or MUUV OVR? There are so many cars in my state, you could never hope to get such a cool plate here.
The blue replacement 8th gen is really nice too.
So have you bought a 9th gen yet, do you plan to, or are you going to hang onto the 8th a bit?

 

[Nomar06]

Ouch...i don't think I have seen the pics of the wrecked Si.

 

[webby]

for the sad taffy
for acquiring Bill's fiji!!

 

[mattsbobo]

Wow, welcome. That was such a nice looking ride.
Which license plate were you running when you got hit? Was it $$$ SHOT or MUUV OVR? There are so many cars in my state, you could never hope to get such a cool plate here.
The blue replacement 8th gen is really nice too.
So have you bought a 9th gen yet, do you plan to, or are you going to hang onto the 8th a bit?

If I'm recalling correctly the plate that was on the car at the time of the wreck was just a generic alpha numeric unit the NC DOT made me use. I have a bit of a long history with the DOT where I'll order a really funny plate that makes it through the online profanity filter, but then several weeks later I'll get a letter in the mail that says, "Sorry for the inconvenience, but after careful consideration the plate you have ordered has been deemed potentially offensive and in poor taste." The plate I HAD been running that offended a concerned citizen enough to contact the DOT was DOUSWALO.

I don't have any intentions to get into a 9th gen anytime soon. Bill modded this car well, and it's a blast to drive. All it really needs (once I'm more economically viable) is to get a complete dyno tune. I tried to get it tuned in Jan of 2012 but a voltage fluxuation prevented the Flashpro from going further into the process. While the car's drivable, it's way down on power and torque from where it should be. Hopefully it would gain some MPG as well.

Ouch...i don't think I have seen the pics of the wrecked Si.

Yeah it was a pretty heinous wreck.

 

[webby]

vitviper discovered some voltage drops on the 9thgen when users swapped out the intake manifold for the rbc & used thermal gaskets.

This if for ANYONE installing a thermal intake manifold gasket. In fact, even if you have the stock gasket it's a good idea to move the ground when using FlashPro. From what I recall, there are two wires that come off the fuel rail wire loom and ground to the intake manifold. Move those 2 to the head.

I wish I had seen these DIY threads earlier -- I could of warned you of the dangers of not relocating the ground to the head. I bet everyone that's done this has left the ground on the intake manifold. When you install the thermal manifold gasket it insulates the manifold and creates a VERY high resistance ground -- this is bad, as the electrical system wants to seek out the lowest path of resistance. Fizzle goes stuff in your electrical system when this happens. I've seen people fry their ECU's an FlashPro's when grounded to the intake manifold (usually the FlashPros).

So be smart, ground to the head! It's VERY easy.

grounding pics in the bottom of step 7. No clue if this relates to your setup/problems at all?
http://9thcivic.com/forum/threads/rbc-swap-into-9th-gen.6374/

 

[mattsbobo]

vitviper discovered some voltage drops on the 9thgen when users swapped out the intake manifold for the rbc & used thermal gaskets.



grounding pics in the bottom of step 7. No clue if this relates to your setup/problems at all?
http://9thcivic.com/forum/threads/rbc-swap-into-9th-gen.6374/

Thanks for the info Webster. As it turns out (after an exhaustive search for the problem) my ECU had been grounded (most definitely not by me) to the not all that conductive Skunk 2 TB. My mechanic Jim told me he way amazed that the ECU was never fried.

 

[webby]

I see said the blind man

 

[MrsJrotax101]

I see said the blind man

...to the deaf dog as he picked up his hammer and saw

 

[mattsbobo]

I see said the blind man

...to the deaf dog as he picked up his hammer and saw

I'm reminded of whatever that weirdo kid ditty that starts out "One bright night..." I can't remember much more of it.

 

[hotdogjohnny]

"Sorry for the inconvenience, but after careful consideration the plate you have ordered has been deemed potentially offensive and in poor taste." The plate I HAD been running that offended a concerned citizen enough to contact the DOT was DOUSWALO.

 

[Nix]

Wow man. What a story. Nice to see things worked out ok. No serious injuries I hope.