Riiiiightttt.
Chapter One: Chav
Lets start with the last picture of the DC2 I posted in this thread. Then, an innocent, lightly modded UKDM DC2. At this time, the car was my daily doing around 3-350 miles per week.
I ditched the Rotas for a set of Sprint SW96s, in Championship White, fitted amber corners to replicate a USDM DC2 and also had a Buddy Club Spec 2 exhaust on by this point.
119.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
Integra vs Snow by
DanielJames., on Flickr
The exhaust was, a little bit rude:
Rolling shots on my way home from TFS:
I loved the car like this, spent many a weekend just cleaning it! those were the days...
Chapter Two: Honda Enthusiast
What I couldn't help but think however, was the real reason I got a DC2 was because of seeing it like this
Not the UKDM I have, so I set out to build that car.
This is what I ended up with:
146.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
186.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
149.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
The JDM conversion was a learning curve to say the least. It involved cutting away at the frame, welding a new front section on and hacking away at the loom to get the lights working.
The car stayed like this for a while then, I was just enjoying driving it.
I spent my time maintaining and servicing it at this point. I had a standard JDM exhaust, every possible filter was changed, new plugs/HT leads etc. Fully standard engine and interior. It was fine to commute and still a lot of fun when I wanted it to be
Squires Jap Night.
Chapter Three: Daily Driving Duties
Mid way through last year I managed to move up the ladder with my job, and ended up having a much healthier income, which allowed me to buy something I've wanted for a while, an E36 daily. (Oi you at the back stop laughing)
Can't really explain why, but there's just something about the E36 Coupe's that I've loved from a young age - much like the DC2. Perfect partnership, I thought.
I spent a while looking and eventually found one in perfect spec, a 328i Sport manual in Techno Violet
076.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
113.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
008.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
I've got another thread on this car so I wont say much, but I really do love it. It seems the E36 came from a time when just making good cars mattered most. It rides perfectly, power delivery is smooth and it sure isn't slow.
Chapter Four: The Nurburgring
With the daily sorted, I went a bit nuts with the DC2 before I took her to the 'ring.
DSC_0148 by
DanielJames., on Flickr
Added, was
- Race Logic Coilovers (new)
- Ultra Racing front and rear strut braces
- Seibon Carbon Fibre Bonnet
- Seibon Carbon Fibre Wing
- J's Carbon Fibre Intake Scoop
- Apexi N1 Catback
- (probably some more I've forgotten)
DSC_0155 by
DanielJames., on Flickr
DSC_0143 by
DanielJames., on Flickr
DSC_0188 by
DanielJames., on Flickr
Crackers eh?
I loved it. Not long after, I ended up at the ring. Stopped by London on the way, as I've never been before.
DSC_0049.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
Germany, especially the region where the ring is, is one of the most beautiful places I've been to.
DSC_0101.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
Anyone recognise this?
DSC_0115.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
DSC_0343.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
DSC_0363.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
DSC_0368.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
DSC_0435.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
Back at the B+B:
DSC_0208.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
On track: (taken by the owner of our B+B!)
TF19082013water-3738 by
DanielJames., on Flickr
TF20082013water-3957 by
DanielJames., on Flickr
Getting back from the ring resulted in a huge clean, I think this was actually the last time I cleaned it if I'm honest
DSC_0623.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
Wearing this with pride:
DSC_0636.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
The car stayed like this for quite a while, pretty much up til present day.
DSC_0687.jpg by
DanielJames., on Flickr
The past few weeks however, I've been making a few changes.
Chapter Five: Function>Form
It'll be quicker to summarise the changes rather than try to show them in pictures.
I've ditched the carbon bonnet, wing and canards. The ABS has gone, and the air con is going at the weekend.
I have some new wheels ready to go on, Desmond Regamaster 16x7. I have Yoko A048 rubber ready to go on the OEM alloys for track.
S2000 clocks are now fitted with oil temp and pressure gauges at either side.
Harness will be getting ordered this week, some new wings are being bought to tidy things up - then she's ready for 2014.
I don't have any proper pics of the above yet, but below are some off my phone.
I'll keep this thread upated from now on with little bits that I'm doing. Yesterday for example I found myself removing sound deadening, and had to retap the threads on my dizzy to get the rotor to fit on properly. All good stuff eh.
The air con coming out I'm very much looking forward to. The system weighs around 20kg, I wonder if I can get the DC2 down to a ton?
Dan