Good afternoon everyone. I thought I would take the time to compile a history of my involvement here based on the evolution of my car. As some of you remember, I have a dark past that I have kept somewhat hidden from the newer members of this board, but I thought it fitting to dig up the past in order to reveal my latest set of wheels. Here goes:

In 1999 I purchased my first and only Honda from a dealership in Montgomery, AL while I was stationed there as an enlisted member of the Air Force. I had a 1959 VW beetle that just wasn't as reliable as I wanted so I went searching for a Civic based on my wanting one since high school and seeing all that was out there for them.

My initial choices when modding the car spawned from what I had seen my friends and other do when I was living in AZ and I began to change the car almost immediately. I attended NOPI nationals in GA that year and bought my first mod - a set of full clear tailights. Needless to say, for many years after it was all downhill from this point.

At one point I got the bright idea to paint the formerly black side mouldings, door hanles, windshield wipers, mirrors, side skirts, and bottom sections of the bumpers - details to come. I also puchased a set of sharkeyes projection headlights, clear corners, indiglow front and rear emblems (the rear was red and illuminated as a third brake light), a MONSTEROUS Apexi Dunk muffler without anything else in the exhaust line, DC 4-2-1 CC header, AEM CAI, AEM pulleys, MSD coil, and a few other things that I'm sure I have forgotten following many extensive hours of counceling, I might add.

I was fairly content with the car at this point, thinking that it was pretty quick on the street and getting great gas mileage. But, the itch never really left. I still wasn't satisfied with the appearance of the car. That's when I totally lost it. I ended up purchasing an Invader2 front bumper, Predator hood from NOPI, a Wings West Slimline rear spoiler, euro corners, M3 mirrors, and a set of 17" Motegi MR7's to give it the 'styling' I so wrongfully thought it needed. I had it all painted and installed, to make it look like this (the colors are revealed):






I drove the car for about a year or so like this and had no clue that the people that would whip their heads around to look at it were so shocked that someone would do something so stupid to a car that they had to see that it was real for sure, instead of being imporessed and awestruck as I had diluded myself to think.

This is about the time that things started turning around for me because I had a few friends that were always talking shit to me and trying to get me to take it to the track. I finally gave in and did so to find out that this car that I had nievely thought was 'pretty quick' would not run faster than a 17.1. I was pissed. That's when I decided to start building more for power and shedding all of the useless and wasteful mods. I started seaching for a swap and just as I found one, the dreaded hydrolock happened.




Some of you may remember this sig:


Anyhow, this expidited my search and I purchased a B18C1 from a scammer in NE. The motor was missing a TON of stuff that was promised to me so I chose to do what I could with it and instead of just replacing what I needed, I rebuilt it. This is, by far, the best thing you can do to learn how these engines work. I recommend it to all and it is not NEARLY as difficult as some of you may think.

I also knew that I had intended to boost the motor so I built it to do so when I could afford the turbo setup. I garaged my car for 15 months and built my motor. Eagle rods, SRP 9.5:1 pistons, ARP head bolts, balancing, ACT XTSS, CM 7.5lb flywheel...

Here was the end result:




And the sig was updated:


I got it back on the road and also began the metamorphasis to what you all now remember my car looking like. Here's a few shots of that change:








And... then the turbo finally happnened:



And I dyno'd it:



And, raced it on Falken Ziex street tires:


The car was running great, but the piston rings started to fail and the power was dropping off along with massive oil burnoff. I decided then to rebuild it and do it right this time - a.k.a. sleeves and monster internals.

You can read all about this here: https://www.honda-acura.net/forums/s...d.php?t=142746

After another 10-12 month garaging of the car, I had it back on the road and this time I wasn't fooling around. I'd pretty much embraced the clean look and jumped onto the JDM bandwagen.




And, I dyno'd again:

Video: http://www.savefile.com/filehost/files2.php?fid=6460148

I ended up moving from AL to CO and wanted to attain my goal of 450+ whp without going nuts again and parking it. I decided to target the head and dropped a set of JDM ITR cams along with a whole new valvetrain (still OEM valves) in with a couple other things and a new tuner (servion - www.hondaracingcrew.com/HRC/).

So, I dyno'd it again:


This time making 457 whp and I was darned proud of it. The car was just evil on the streets, but I was never able to beat my 12.6 1/4 time even after changing to BF drag radials based on the power moving to the ground. I just couldn't stick it and I know that had I practiced more, I would have eventually beat it. But, I was really starting to lose my fire for the car. I loved it, but once you start making that kind of power, you lose the daily drivability of the car with regard to comfort. So, that said, I began to advertise the car for sale and last week it was sold to a new owner of which I have no doubt will take very good care of it. I hope he ends up registering so that the car will remain on the board from which it so drastically changed.

This story, however, does not end here. I am exceptionally happy and proud to finally reveal my newest car that I brought home two nights ago. Ladies and gents, feast your eyes on my brand new, 2005, Graphite Grey Perl, Lexus IS300:
















I think I might put some altezzas on it. :reechy:

I LOVE this car. It's not nearly as fast as the Civic was, but I love the style, comfort, status, and features that it has. It's not really comparable to the Civic, but I can't say that I'm sad that my Civic is gone. I loved it dearly, but I was ready to move on. I've had my eye on the IS for about 3 or 4 years now and I'm so happy that I finally picked this car up. It has everything that I wanted - LSD, Nav, moonroof, heated seats, snowboard rack, clear bra, and more. I also really wanted this body style over the new IS250/350, so those of you that thought to ask, now you know.

Well, I'm sorry about the novel, but this is something that I wanted to do considering my stepping away from the Honda scene. Those of you that wondered what my car began as now know and those of you reading this for the first time have something to point and laugh at.

I'd specifically like to thank all of the HAN members that have been there for me throughout the years, be it with the car or with personal situations. I have made some amazing friends out here that I have never even met! This is truely a great place and my gratitute goes out to all of you that helped me to get that car where it is today. :goodjob:

Thanks!
Josh

 

great write up, just by always looking at your civic it inspired me to fix up my sedan. in the future i plan to a get a swap, which is very much needed. congrats on the new car, ive always liked the IS since it came out. is your IS auto or manual?

 

almost brung a tear to my eye....lol

 

how much did u actually sell the car for?

 

Your civic was a true inspiration. Are you going to continue to come to H-A.N?

This is the first time I have ever seen pics of your civic when it was riced out. When I first came to H-A.N, you still had the Motegis, the black bumper, and M3 mirrors. You were also pre-turbo at that point.

Hope to see you around still.

 

another one gone. :happysad:



good luck on the new project

 

Hey Josh.... I will make another RARE post back on these boards just for you. It's been great posting with you through the years. If it's any comfort, that Lexus Graphite Pearl was one of the colors I was thinking about for painting my Ferio. Good Luck!

 

Auto - E-Shift. The shifters for the manual setting are on the steering wheel.

$13k

I'll be around. Still working out the details. I remember those days.

Thanks Colin. You sir, were a HUGE inspiration to my car. I don't know if I ever told you that.

The phantom reveals himself. What an honor for you to post in my thread. haha

Thanks a lot man!

 

your car was deffinately a beast man i am very glad to have gotten a ride in it man but i can understand your point in wanting a IS they are real nice cars, sooooo whats in store for the IS. :reechy:

 

Nothing as of right now. Wheels if anything.

It was fun taking you for a ride in it. :driving: