Fatherpain’s 2018 Type R

[kefi]

good lord I don't think anyone's posted as many pics of installations as you have @fatherpain

keep it up bro

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[V3N0M_VZL4]

very detailed build and lots of good information keep going @fatherpain

 

[fatherpain]

With the factory ECU removed and new O2 sensor installed, was time to assemble and install the Motec FK8 kit. Was totally excited

Removed these (2) bolts and (2) nuts from the factory ECU using the 10mm socket and ratchet.

Factory ECU separated from the bracket holder, which will be needed by the Motec.

Connect the LTC to the Motec breakout loom and plug into the adapter box.

Set the Motec adapter box onto the factory ECU bracket.

Re-install (1) bolt and (2) nuts that were removed from the factory ECU. There wasn’t room to get a socket on, so used a 10mm combo.

Connect stub looms A, B, C and D to the adapter box in this order.

Place the Motec 142 ECU onto the adapter box and secure with the (3) provided kit bolts and secure with an Allen wrench. Don’t overtighten

Connect the other ends of the stub looks to the Motec ECU. It’s now ready to drop in.

Gently lower it. Do not to let any wires get snagged.

The wirIng stub looms are curled under the ECU, need to be careful not to pinch them when reinstalling the (2) bolts that secure the bracket.

Best to pre-install this bolt onto the bracket before lowering it, so it doesn’t drop and fall.

Reattach the MAF wire to the bracket, unless decide to delete.

Reconnect the (2) ECU harnesses and tuck the ethernet communication cable here.

Route and connect the LTC to the primary O2 sensor.

Zip tie the LTC box and wiring. The instructions said to route behind the airbox.

@turbociv910 routed his wiring in front. I will likely do the same.

Motec 142 FK8 AU Kit installed and Eventuri silicone hose adapter back in place.

Wow, that was easier that anticipated, time for a test drive...

 

[V3N0M_VZL4]

sound clips of the new BOV?

 

[fatherpain]

With the car back together, took a midday cruise to Whittier to get some new tires from a very cool place called “R Compound”. There is just room for 1 car, so it’s by appointment only.

Was after a set of Yokohama A052s in 265-35-18 and they had them in stock. Have heard good things about these tires and it’s nice they are non-directional for when it’s time to rotate them. The downside is they are said to wear even faster than the RE71Rs.

Tires filled to 35 psi. The guys that work there are all Japanese import car track junkies.

They raised the car manually and removed the titanium lugs by hand, instead of using an impact gun... which I appreciated

(2) of the rear RE71R’s still had a good amount of tread remaining. Will save for future use. Check out all the rubber goo left over from the last track day @Big Willow

 

[fatherpain]

Motec instructions state their FK8 kit comes with a base map tune, ready to drive until able to get a proper tune...

Drove the car to work, to get tires and back, then home. Not the smartest of ideas, but had a compressed schedule to get all of this done with the Friday dyno/E-Tuning appointment.

Everything was proceeding according to plan.... then the car started driving funny:

• Noticed the check engine light would flash whenever the accelerator was pressed. No CEL however. Ben let me know this is normal. Just Motec’s way of telling the user they need a real tune.
• The engine developed a loud “ticking” sound when idling in the parking lot. Turned the car off then on again. Ticking went away. This happened a 2nd time at a stop light. Turned the car off and on again and the sound stopped.
• While driving home taking the streets, noticed a single “ping” soundevery time the car would decelerate.
• Idle would intermittently drop from 800 to about 700 rpm, which made me suspect the BOV install might have incurred a slight boost leak
• Couldn’t switch between driving modes. Car was stuck in Sport mode.

Needless to say, it was a little unnerving and discouraging.

Wasn’t confident I could get the issues resolved in time for Friday, so reached out and postponed the Dyno/E-Tuning appointment. Didn’t want to wait til the last moment and cause them to miss potential bookings.

Lesson learned: make sure your car is running good before scheduling a tune.
That said, I didn’t expect any issues.

Could the problem be the infamous HKS BOV, the Motec or the new O2 sensor? Car ran great before doing the double mod, which is why I should have tested the car’s operation with just the BOV first, verified all was good, then added the Motec. But was up against a time crunch.

The easiest and obvious troubleshooting move, was to pull the Motec and reinstall the stock ECU.

Wife’s been complaining how much time I spend tinkering with car... So took the night off, even though knowing the car wasn’t “right” was killing my inner OCD Rainman.

But taking the night off let my mind clear and woke up @3am refreshed.

Crept out like a Christmas elf (an ugly one), got my tools. setup a light and took care of business

All of the issues disappeared once back on the stock ECU. It’s a huge relief identifying the problem and knowing it will be resolved soon, with some remote tweaks and an E-Tune

Just wanted to thank Ben @Salasko Racing through this process. He’s been super patient and quick to respond to questions and had offered to look at the Motec shelf tune to see if tweaks were needed before my taking it out ... but I was rushing to knock things out as my next track day is Saturday Oct 31 @Willow Springs and was hoping to cram all this in time for that.

Ben will link up through my laptop and take a look to see what’s going on after the Motec goes back on. Won’t drive the car again with the M142 until that’s done.

There is still a chance I’ll be tuned in time for Willow Springs... We’ll see.

 

[fatherpain]

Haha will do. Thanks Kefi for the kind words of encouragement. Really appreciate the great work you’ve done compiling the FK8 mod list and keeping it up to date. That is an epic thread. Thank you!

Yes, have posted a boatload of bandwidth hogging DIY step by step for every mod performed. Even though brands may differ, the concepts should be the same.

This thread has become a useful reference for me at least, and hopefully others as well

There is a table of contents with clickable hyperlinks for each mod at the bottom of of the first post of this thread here

Will also cut and paste below:

Table of Contents:

ENGINE/DRIVETRAIN:

• Sequence Manufacturing Titanium Exhaust Post #3, #216
• Eventuri intake and service Post #4, #43
• Eventuri air charge pipe and V2 MAF tube update Post #397, #415, #416, #417, #419, #420
• Wagner Tuning Intercooler and front bumper removal Post #6, #109, #250
• Radium oil catch cans - PCV/CCV Post #28,#40, #103, #294
• Radium catch can petcock drain kit Post #299
• ACT probe mod Post #55
• Hasport Rear Motor Mount 62A Post #105, #145, #171
• Superstik Oil Dipstick BEWARE Post #164, #165, #191
• J’s Racing valve cover Post #329, #333
• Dream-Automotive High Flow Catted Downpipe w/Hard Lagging Post #344, #386, #387, #394, #397, #398, #399, #406, #407, #408
• How to remove downpipe studs/nuts without breaking Post #387
• Vibrant J tube defouler Post #408
• J’s Racing tower brace Post #364
• Rampage Fabrication Ti strut bar and exhaust/DP/FP nut & stud kit
• RV6 front pipe w/silver ceramic Post #386, #399, #407,
• APR CF radiator cooling plates Post #369
• Motec 142 **ready to install**
• HKS BOV Post #568, #572
• HKS BOV inserts - Purple, Gold **ready to install**

COOLING MODS:

• HKS Oil Cooler Post #66, #70, #115, #116, #117, #118, #119, #120, #121, #122, #128, #131, #145
• C&R oil cooler core upgrade Post #539, #540, #541, #544, #550
• Dream-Automotive turbo oil return clamshell heat shield Post #344, #400
• PWR Premium Race Radiator Post #397, #403, #404, #405, #459
• Acuity Super Cooler reverse flow silicone radiator hoses Post #404, #405, #431
• J’s Racing hood. CF/FRP. Aluminum mesh and rain guard Post #153, #352, #362, #368
• J’s Racing grill Post #219, #223, #255, #256, #257, #258, #259, #260, #261, #262, #263, #282, #285
• Radium Coolant Expansion Tank + cap Post #59, #78
• Koyorad radiator (no longer on car, but install instructions apply) Post #135, #136, #137, #138, #139, #140, #141, #142, #143, #144

SUSPENSION/WHEELS/BRAKES:

• Girodisc brake pads Post #9
• Rear brake pad and caliper change. Post #11, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17
• Sakebomb SST brakelines Post #18, #192
• Brake Safety tip when downsizing from 20’s to 18’s Post #91
• Gyrodisc front rotors and Front pad change Post #19, #20, #21, #22, #33
• Brake Bleeding Sequence Post #23
• Brake bleeding (1) person method w/Speedi-bleed Post #476
• Brake Bedding Procedure Post #23
• wheel lug torque specs Post #23
• Rays/Volk TE37SL 18 x 9.5 +45 pressed double black Post #66, #75, #77, #88, #93, #147, #217
• Project Kics Iconix M14 x 1.5 Black lugs Post #69, #88, #147
• Woolies and wheel cleaning Post #80, #217
• Kics Koyo el hub centric rings Post #91
• Bridgestone RE71R 265-35-18 Post #88, #92, #199, #203, #311
• Rays center caps and wheel adapters Post #220
• J’s Racing titanium wheel lugs Post #340
• JRZ RS Pro coilovers w/ quick disconnect rear reservoir hoses **ready to install**
• HKS error cancellers **ready to install**
• RV6 Compliance Mount **ready to install**
• RV6 Rear Sway Bar With Billet Endlinks**ready to install**
• RV6 Rear Camber Arm **ready to install**
• RV6 Rear Toe Control Arms **ready to install**

EXTERIOR:

• Ceramic coat, PPF clear bra, window tint Post #2, #32
• Washing a ceramic coated car. Post #79, #80, #81
• Fake vent removal and cutting plastic vents. Heated blade trick #71, #115
• Raceseng front tow hook Post #66, #213, #214,
• Raceseng license plate relocator Post #284
• Depo smoked sidemarkers Post #82
• Black Chrome Civic lettering Post #87
• J’s Racing hood. CF/FRP. Aluminum mesh and rain guard Post #153, #352, #362, #368
• J’s Racing grill Post #219, #223, #255, #256, #257, #258, #259, #260, #261, #262, #263, #282, #285
• 1/4” CF vinyl tape - red pinstripe delete Post #218
• Voltex Type 2V Rear Wing Post #207, #215, #225, #228, #229, #231, #234, #251
• Morimoto/Coplus headlights Post #263, #265, #280, #289
• Black Chrome Front and Rear Emblems Post #313
• Front bumper removal Post #316
• Morimoto fog lights smoked Post #341, & yellow Post #351
• Carbon Zone Poland mirror caps Post #520
• Carbon Zone Poland vortex generator caps Post #520
• APR CF fender vents Post #374
• Varis rear fender extensions Post #379

INTERIOR:

• Tommy Kaira Titan Baby shift knob Post #7, #8, #10, #67
• Acuity full shifter and boot Post #64, #65, #67, #171
• Acuity shifter cable bushings Post #30, #74, #171
• Acuity pedal spacer Post #36, #204
• Broadway 300mm flat rear view mirror Post #239
• Broadway 400mm convex rear view mirror Post #264
• Broadway 400mm flat review view mirror
• Carbon Zone Poland CF trim pieces Post #516, #517, #518
• The Bracketeer fire extinguisher bracket Post #473
• H3R HG250B fire extinguisher Post #473

MAINTENANCE TASKS

• Radiator refill using a vacuum pressure bleeder tool Post #431
• Brake bleeding (1) person method Speedi-bleed kit Post #476
• Fumoto drain valve. Changing Oil. Reading dipstick. Post #24, #110, #144
• Valve cover oil leak check Post #350
• Transmission fluid change. Amsoil Synchromesh Post #34, #38
• Transmission fluid strainer cleaning Post #385
• Battery and ECU removal Post #42, #572
• Harmless error messages when reconnecting battery Post #60
• How to remove downpipe studs/nuts without breaking Post #387
• Turbo Boost leak detector 2.75” how to perform a boost leak check to resolve vacuum leak and spiking idle. Post #31, #41, #44, #45, #46, #48, #51, #60, #104, #109, #145
• Exhaust care and cleaning Post #157, #216
• Fuel pump safety recall for 2018-19 models Post #362
• Cabin air filter change Post #349
• Autel AP200 ODB scanner Post #14
• Rear window seal warranty item Post #76, #149
• Comet 1700 pressure washer, Kobrajet hose, SGS28 gun, PF22 foam cannon, Worx leaf blower, washing a ceramic coated car. Post #79, #80, #81
• Bleeding the clutch. Post #443
• Radiator electrolysis check Post #459
• Cleaning the seats Post #468

TRACKDAY RELATED:

• HJC Racing Helmet - Black Post #188
• Alpinestar driving gloves and shoes Post #553
• Track days and prep Post #181, #192, #193, #194, #195, #196, #197, #201, #204, #209, #212, #221, #238, #240, #242, #243, #244, #247

MISC:

• Get your Civic Owner’s Manual Post #179
• EZ Car Lift w/extension ramp and xm69 Post #274

good lord I don't think anyone's posted as many pics of installations as you have @fatherpain

keep it up bro

 

[fatherpain]

Sorry V3 haven’t been able to get a good recording yet. I think I’d need to enlist one of my sons as co-pilot to do so....

My wife is totally out of the question. She hates riding in my car. Have to drive like I’m ferrying a grandma or a couple cartons of eggs when she comes along.

Can report first impressions however.

For some reason there is a noticeable difference in the HKS BOV sound when the car is on the stock ECU, vs Motec. Both untuned.

On the stock ECU, it sounds good, but it’s not an overwhelming sound. I’m using the purple insert, so it’s not a high pitched whistle...it’s a lower pitch. The engine sounds louder under boost and there is “fushh” sound when let up on the accelerator. Pretty cool

Paired with Motec it’s outstanding. Much louder and deeper sounding for some reason. rather more of a “fwush” sound, if that makes sense.. That said, keep in mind I had to remove the Motec because of ticks and pings so something isn’t right yet.

Will have a better idea once the Motec is back in and tuned.

Will try to catch some sound on the stock ECU for comparison before that happens

sound clips of the new BOV?

 

[fatherpain]

Pardon the dirty car. Haven’t washed since the last track day. Slacking a bit, heh.

Here’s an easy, low stress item for change. Ditching spray painted and painters tape track numbers. Now that I’ll be tracking the car on a semi-regular basis, gotta start looking like I belong there

Picked up a set of magnetic numbers from Spinnywhoosh.com and quality seems to be really good.

Was going to go with one of my son’s soccer jersey numbers: 98 or 99... but it would have led to resentment by the son I didn’t pick and didn’t want to have to buy (2) .

#39 is in honor of one of my favorite Miami Dolphin players of all time: Larry Czonka.

Was gonna go with a rectangular design, but read somewhere the circular ones hold better and are less likely to fly off. Will secure the leading edge with clear shipping tape at the track

 

[turbociv910]

• while driving home taking the streets, noticed a single “ping” soundevery time the car would decelerate

the ping is the deceleration fuel cut off, changes were made to mine to get rid of the audible "pop"..def noticed it too with the ecu and not on stock ecu.

 

[fatherpain]

Thanks Taylor, that had me worried. Will reinstall the Motec Saturday night. Going to route the wiring to the O2 sensor in front of the airbox like you did. So much cleaner.

Did you encounter the “tick tick tick tick” engine noise also?

Ben will remotely check things out Sunday morning. With any luck, will able to arrange for a dyno tune soon after.

the ping is the deceleration fuel cut off, changes were made to mine to get rid of the audible "pop"..def noticed it too with the ecu and not on stock ecu.

 

[turbociv910]

Thanks Taylor, that had me worried. Will reinstall the Motec Saturday night. Going to route the wiring to the O2 sensor in front of the airbox like you did. So much cleaner.

Did you encounter the “tick tick tick tick” engine noise also?

Ben will remotely check things out Sunday morning. With any luck, will able to arrange for a dyno tune soon after.

My package didnt have the fans set up, the condenser pressure was high (from no cooling) and the ac compressor turned on and off every second. Got the fans working and the clutch engaged and dis engaged normally. If youve downloaded your package, send it to me i can check those.. are simple to check. Key on engine off, plug in cable to laptop/motec cable. open m1 tune software, file>open ecu, select the ecu (the only one you see) once it comes up you will see the main fuel map and sensors on the left.. coolant temp etc. Once u see that click file>export package and save to desktop or some known location. should take 2 minutes.

 

[fatherpain]

Here’s a couple sound clip attempts. Hard to record solo and the phone was in my shifter hand, so not at ear level. Will do some more once the Motec is back in. Definitely thought it sounded better with it, unless I’m going cuckoo.

Windows slightly cracked. Stock ECU untuned.

For best simulation, connect phone to FK8 stereo and listen at a volume of about 22-24.

Or AirPod Pros max volume.

Sound mods:

• HKS BOV w/Purple insert
• Dream High Flow Catted DP
• RV6 FP
• Eventuri V2 + CF inlet tube
• Sequence Exhaust
• Wagner FMIC
• Vented hood
• Hasport RMM 62A

Sound clip 1:


Sound clip 2:

sound clips of the new BOV?

 

[V3N0M_VZL4]

Here’s a couple sound clip attempts. Hard to record solo and the phone was in my shifter hand, so not at ear level. Will do some more once the Motec is back in. Definitely thought it sounded better with it, unless I’m going cuckoo.

Windows slightly cracked. Stock ECU untuned.

For best simulation, connect phone to your FK8 stereo and listen at a volume of about 22-24.

Or AirPod Pros max volume.

Sound mods:

• HKS BOV w/Purple insert
• Dream High Flow Catted DP
• RV6 FP
• Eventuri V2 + CF inlet tube
• Sequence Exhaust
• Wagner FMIC
• Vented hood
• Hasport RMM 62A

Sound clip 1:


Sound clip 2:

Good sound dude congrats I hope with the motec will be better.

 

[fatherpain]

Reinstalled the Motec ECU and connected with tuner Ben Salasko Sunday @530a PST.

Tethered our family laptop to the Motec ethernet communication port, then Ben was able to assume control via a nifty program called Team Viewer.

Always a trip seeing someone remotely operating your computer.

• Check engine light intermittent flash 95% resolved
• Loud “ticking” sound when idling or driving very slowly. Resolved
• Idle running higher than normal @950rpm. Resolved
• Idle intermittent drop from 800 to about 700 rpm, indicating slight boost leak. No leak detected and issue cleared. Resolved
• Car stuck in Sport mode. Resolved
• Deceleration “ping” which occurs at various rpms and speeds when slowing down and sometimes at constant speed. Ongoing. Ran out of time to diagnose and correct. Ongoing

Made good progressI am totally unfamiliar with Motec’s tuning software (and automotive tuning in general), so watching Ben zip along and make changes was like a blur and difficult to comprehend.

Attempted to resolve the stubborn deceleration ping, which wouldn’t go away. Drove and called Ben to provide feedback after each round of tweaks.

Boosted180sx messenged inquiring how things were going then suggested connecting the laptop to the internet via my phone’s hotspot.

Ben then monitored the car’s performance and made changes in real time while I drove and simulated the condition.. Super cool stuff.

Unfortunately, we ran out of time, so will resume troubleshooting the deceleration ping sometime next week when Ben fulfills a prior commitment and has time to dive into it again. Can hardly wait.

Did confirm the HKS BOV does indeed sound different with the untuned Motec ECU.

In the meantime, will reinstall the stock ECU for this weekend’s track day @Willow Springs.