MB to EJ9 swap.

From soft stock to hardcore track, what do you use?
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mynameisowen
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MB to EJ9 swap.

Post by mynameisowen »

Going to buy a set of front and rear spring/dampers, a rear ARB from a MB civic and a front strut brace tomorrow from a guy I work with. Price is £100. Sounds like a good deal to me, all these parts were once fitted to the MB, will they fit my EJ9??

Will be fitting this weekend if I go through with the sale and will post a review, dont know what brand/stiffness the springs are yet.
1996 EJ9 Civic
1998 BB8 Prelude Motegi VTi
1998, B16A2 EK4 Civic VTi

Aims:
EJ9 - Now my GF's car.
BB8 - Rebuild after crash damage to front end.
EK4 - Daily driver. Strip and track prep once prelude project complete

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BETEK
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Re: MB to EJ9 swap.

Post by BETEK »

The front shocks-springs will fit.
The rear springs too.
But I am not sure about the shocks and for the rear antiroll-bar.

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BETEK
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Re: MB to EJ9 swap.

Post by BETEK »

Also MB civic's rear shock where mounts to the control arm have different bolt holder nut (10x1.5mm) than
the EK civic's (is 10x1.25mm)
Image

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saxophonias
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Re: MB to EJ9 swap.

Post by saxophonias »

The rear wishbones are different for sure. They should be the same as eg civics.

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mynameisowen
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Re: MB to EJ9 swap.

Post by mynameisowen »

Okay so should I not get the rear springs/shocks?

OR

Should I buy all of the springs/shocks, but fit only the front spring/shocks and rear springs? I've heard that fitting stiffer springs on standard shocks is a recipe for disaster...

I've also heard that MB civics have longer springs on rear due to heavier rear and so fitting these long springs on my EJ9 will make the rear ride height rediculously high since the car weighs less. Will have to do some maths to work out how much...

BTW the ARB does not fit, I tried to fit it yesterday and all the wholes in the subframe and lower arms are there but slightly in the wrong place. Unless I wanted to drill extra holes into the chassis and remove some material from subframe I could not fit it.

So close but so far. Strut brace is in though ;P
1996 EJ9 Civic
1998 BB8 Prelude Motegi VTi
1998, B16A2 EK4 Civic VTi

Aims:
EJ9 - Now my GF's car.
BB8 - Rebuild after crash damage to front end.
EK4 - Daily driver. Strip and track prep once prelude project complete

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BETEK
Posts: 1213
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:09 am

Re: MB to EJ9 swap.

Post by BETEK »

mynameisowen wrote: Should I buy all of the springs/shocks, but fit only the front spring/shocks and rear springs? I've heard that fitting stiffer springs on standard shocks is a recipe for disaster...

I've also heard that MB civics have longer springs on rear due to heavier rear and so fitting these long springs on my EJ9 will make the rear ride height rediculously high since the car weighs less. Will have to do some maths to work out how much...
If MB civics are Aerodeck yes then they are heavier on rear axle than ej9. But the regular 5door MB civics are in the same kilos with ej9s.
If MB civics have longer rear springs maybe the reason is the different chassis mounting point.

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mynameisowen
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Re: MB to EJ9 swap.

Post by mynameisowen »

BETEK wrote:Also MB civic's rear shock where mounts to the control arm have different bolt holder nut (10x1.5mm) than
the EK civic's (is 10x1.25mm)
Image
By this do you mean that the thread in the shocks lower mount is 10x1.5 whereas the civic has 10x1.25 i.e. the bolt which goes through the lower arm and fastenens on the nut seen in the picture will not fit? How can I get round this?

New Bolt?

Tap a new thread?

Both are possible as I will be working in an engineering workshop.

Please advise as I think I am going to go ahead with the sale :)
1996 EJ9 Civic
1998 BB8 Prelude Motegi VTi
1998, B16A2 EK4 Civic VTi

Aims:
EJ9 - Now my GF's car.
BB8 - Rebuild after crash damage to front end.
EK4 - Daily driver. Strip and track prep once prelude project complete

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BETEK
Posts: 1213
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:09 am

Re: MB to EJ9 swap.

Post by BETEK »

I suggest to break the nut on the new dampers and add the appropriate nut to your car.
So you will need 2 nuts 10x1.25mm to much with ej9 control arm bolt.

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mynameisowen
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Re: MB to EJ9 swap.

Post by mynameisowen »

Sounds like a plan, angle grinder + welded nut??
1996 EJ9 Civic
1998 BB8 Prelude Motegi VTi
1998, B16A2 EK4 Civic VTi

Aims:
EJ9 - Now my GF's car.
BB8 - Rebuild after crash damage to front end.
EK4 - Daily driver. Strip and track prep once prelude project complete

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