After the arrival of the FD2 type R, we got all excited and everyday has been an adventure going through our catalogues.  Suddenly we have all become kids in a candy store.  If we have been given a blank sheet on how we can modify the FD2, or what parts we can choose to buy.  I am sure we are going to tick all the boxes that the menu offers.  Pretty much like our weekly Dim Sum session at Asia Grand.  Prawn dumplings, Peking Ducks, Zhar Leong!

Anyway, since we were going through the available catalogues, we just thought we’d order whatever Cusco had to offer for handling.  Basically, whatever additional braces that were available were ordered.  I have to say that I am really glad with our Japanese supplier who delivered them in a timely order.  I guess it is always good to have your supplier’s dabbling in the same car as you!

The goods

Please do not ask me which bar is for what part of the car, i have not figured them all out yet.

One bar that i managed to figure out (and fitted) for sure!

Oh, and you might realize that there is a K&N air filter kit fitted.  That was fitted in a bid to test how the short ram vs cold air intake will work with this engine.  We also had a temperature sensor fitted within the heat shield to log temperatures on hot day, cooler temperatures, and when the car was on the move with a proper cool air scoop routed to the filter.  This damn filter is loud!  Really screams when VTEC kicks in, and the car pulls hard.  I will try to get a video of this so you can hear the aural pleasures for yourself.

We also had some bucket seats that came in.

New batch from Bride.  Very updated FIA production label.

Removal of Steering wheel airbag.  Lightweight is important!  Or perhaps, life is less important.

MOMO Champion, my favourite aftermarket wheel.  Lots of red stitches, just like the type R wheel.

And a little Honda Access Type R Phone sling for the purist in me.

Good enough for Tsuchiya, good enough for me.

finally!  the arrival of our new test mule.  with all the noise going on about the new civic FD2, we couldn’t ignore it further.  is it as good as all the reviews made it out to be??

we always hear that the car is raw, and noisy.  but after collection of the car, it isn’t that bad.  in fact, it is pretty much a good road going car.  soft suspension, etc etc.  must be too many moons of driving on bilsteins, DMSes & ohlins suspensions that made me immune to jaring rides.  suddenly, driving the FD2, is akin to sitting in the toyota crown.

 so, as usual, i have to do something stupid, have to test out when i will run out of gas!

 i drove it till the fuel gauge went complete blank!  and yet i still could drive the car… i am kind of busy this week, have not had time to test how many kays i can do before i hit rock bottom.  someday, i will do it; i.e. being stupidier.

so first few mods to do would be to settle the alignment and sort out the standard brakes.

 putting the car on the alignment machine tells us that it is way out.  we got weird alignment settings all around!  it was like honda japan did not bother to adjust the alignment to within spec as they had to produce as many type Rs as possible for the large demand all around the world!  we actually got -3 degree of camber on the rear L, and -1 on rear R.  Farrr Outtt!  we did not expect this from honda… or maybe the car was being throw around in handbrake turns and clipped a couple kerbs before delivery.

anyway, nothing a few suspension geometry components cannot solve

2 camber bolts for the front, 1 on each hole of the knuckle.  till we get hold of an offset bolt hole suspension lower casing and camber/castor adjustment strut top mounting, i guess this would suffice.

skunk2 rear camber arms, a cheap solution for the rear camber adjustments.  love the gold color here!

for the brake pads, we wanted to put on a set of the new ferodo DS1.11 after hearing them touting about its new siloxane technology, blah blah.  but it could not come in time, so we just settled for the regular DS2500 for a combination of road and track use. 

we put these in; both F & R, and there was already a marked improvement over brake feel.  it has consistent brake feel throughout its operating temperatures and good modulation.  and LOTS OF DUST!

Stay tuned, we will be updating the mods we did on this car and also how it performs at the track.