[gotovato]

those are my updates for now! feel free to chime in if im doing something wrong here...im new to honda after all but ive been getting some nice guidance from a local shop/friend who has a TON of experience building civic race cars so im thinking i am OK lol

 

[MagsFA5]

This is a great build thread especially with the track videos. Im some what going down the same path with my Fa5. So its cool to see a pretty complete build thread.

Would you do anything differnet on your wheel size/offset? Thats the next thing im looking to do. But im worried i will go down the path of needing to roll my fenders. I know its not a big deal, just dont want to do it.

 

[gotovato]

This is a great build thread especially with the track videos. Im some what going down the same path with my Fa5. So its cool to see a pretty complete build thread.

Would you do anything differnet on your wheel size/offset? Thats the next thing im looking to do. But im worried i will go down the path of needing to roll my fenders. I know its not a big deal, just dont want to do it.

Thanks for the kind words!!

for wheels i currently have my 17x9 +40 set of konigs installed with 235/45/17 RE71 tires.

Im happy with my wheel setup and i was limited as i wanted 17" wheels, but they NEEDED to clear my BBK. there are not many 17" wheels that clear without spacers.

The fronts clear pretty well honestly. No spacer required and no messing with the fenders. I have also already confirmed a 255/40/17 tire will fit(tested last season) so when my second set of tires arrive i will move onto my stagger setup.

the rears do require some work. You will need to roll the fenders for sure. my 235 wide tires rub EVER so lightly so i will be doing a little more fender rolling today/tomorrow before the track. i do know they will clear perfectly after a little more rolling.

this said, +35 is typically seen as the best fitment for these cars but if i had +35 in the rear i would think it would only rub worse.

there will be many more videos to come that is for sure!

 

[gotovato]

2 day back to back track day weekend completed. It was awesome but not entirely without some drama…got some good updates and videos to come.

preview,

 

[gotovato]

Great photo from Sunday. Front drivers side tire is doing work. Cool to see the camber working. The cars loaded up pretty good here. Stays pretty flat.

 

[gotovato]

First video from my track weekend.
Canadian tire motorsports park DDT.

First time on track for the season. Laps start slow but we get going lol. It was a Volkswagen group track day event. Mostly all Porsches, audis, and VWs there.

I did not fit in but I also didn’t care lol.
Got a couple nice point bys. I’ll take it.

 

[gotovato]

Fresh meat for track use only lol.
“255” falken rt660 which look more like 275 wide lol
225 falken rt660 for the rear which look wider then my re71 235’s on the car now lol. Massive

 

[MagsFA5]

Keep us posted on the performance result and caracteristics of the 255's. Was getting ready to pull the trigger on some 235's, but now you have me thinking maybe thats not enough. HAhaha

 

[gotovato]

Keep us posted on the performance result and caracteristics of the 255's. Was getting ready to pull the trigger on some 235's, but now you have me thinking maybe thats not enough. HAhaha

I have 235’s on the car now and the car is quick but my goal was always to run 255/225 as my “go fast” setup. Will definitely have a review after tomorrow

 

[audreyspence]

have been enjoying the thread ! good job buddy keep it up

Kodi nox​

 

[gotovato]

have been enjoying the thread ! good job buddy keep it up

Thanks for that!

I haven’t updated in a while as I’m pretty sure this forum is dead lol but I have a ton of updates since my last post here.

ill get to updating this thread soon!

 

[gotovato]

I always get the good failures.

I went to the track monday may the 23rd. The car is so fucking loose it’s hard to drive but I’ll get there. I really need to get my confidence up and adjust my driving style to match the car.

anyways...


Clutch failure…again. This is a fucked one.

all pressure plate bolts tight. 1 broken. Both locating dowels on the flywheel also broken. Nothing anyone’s ever seen before. But I’ll have it sure…

Clutch was replaced with an exedy stage 2 triple puck. Feels great. Kinda like a stock clutch maybe? It does chatter if you ride it but that’s expected.

replaced a tie rod and bled the brakes.
Softened up the rear sway bar, and installed my new 235/45/17 hankook rs4’s. My rear re71’s were smooth like glass. Amazing even wear but yea they were toast.

ready for the track tomorrow. this is my 4th track day within may lol. jeez

 

[gotovato]

Sunday May 29th track day was a great success. it was nice and warm out, 86f sun shining. Definitely good conditions for a car like mine.

Went out there and took it easy as this track will really upset a loose car if not driven properly. The civic was on rails. Thing is ridiculous to drive and using “less steering angle” now that the rear is so loose finally makes sense. The car works well.

Went with my buddies…one of which is a major VIP in the time attack scene. Got the red carpet treatment all day. It was great

Motul was an event sponsor as well as my buddies sponsor. Same with acuity.

VIP was awesome lol. Do what you want go where you want nobody can say ****.

Had my own personal pit crew which was nice “tires pressures to xyz for front, and xyz for rear” then I’d just walk away lmao while he set it up for me.

you wouldn’t believe the amount of people stopping by to check out my literally stock civic. No one believes me on the mods haha.

4 hard full day track days. Top pad is the stoptech sr33 race pads I’ve been tracking on below is a new hawk dtc70. Looks like these pads are gonna last me a real long time. This is amazing for consumables. Combo of robust brake setup…and literally just not using as much brake anymore.

My re71’s from my last 3 track days. I wanted to show what a real alignment looks like when you actually track drive your track aligned race car…what a concept huh

My trick alignment is like 45% of the reason the car is so fast.

 

[gotovato]

I will say I am learning a ton on this build. Adding a little more “alignment” based on tire wear is an amazing thing vs my Mazda where I just took that shops word for it…I probably had too much camber in the Mazda all along. Really fucked my brake zones and corner exits.

the civic also now has a 24mm progress rear sway bar that is 3 way adjustable. I went from my 22mm to this 24mm again…based on rear tire wear.

I will also say driving this setup is tricky. The whole concept of “less steering angle” is a trip. Like, turn the wheel half the amount you normally would and still make the corner since we have a lot of rear steer now vs crank the wheel as hard as you can at turn in and pray to god the tires bite. Lol.

Now if I crank the wheel hard like an idiot the front bites so hard I just lose the rear immediately. Counter steering a fwd car is just a wild thing to need to actively do but when driven correctly the car is killer.

I’m using SO much less brake(less /no trailing, carry more speed through the corner). I use to be ridiculous on the brakes. Now? It’s like my buddies said after the last track day “brake light flashes on, then immediately off”. **** yea.

example of too much steering angle at entry,

 

[gotovato]

Track night on Saturday June 11. Few hours of testing out the new wheel/tire package will be interesting.

definitely a little nervous the car will be extremely rear happy…but after driving this setup on the street it feels incredible. Just mash the gas mid corner at lower speeds, point the wheel at the exit, think “holy **** I’m about to write the car off into that curb” but naw…rear comes around and see ya later we’re outta here.

it’s a crazy feeling. I’m definitely getting more use to it now.

hitting my “home” track on Saturday. Toronto motorsports park. If my “test” laps all go smooth, and I’m feeling it, I will push for some 10/10’s kill laps and see what we can do. These tires feel insanely grippy. Far stickier then my last set of re71’s. This should be fun lol.

the 255’s up front according to falkens website they measure 264mm wide lol. 255 my ass.
Real close to the shock body and it rubs bad at full lock but cruising the streets I had 0 rubbing. Did some good tests lol.

235/45/17 RS4 vs 255/40/17 RT660

Fitment with the 255's lol

it looks like the tire is hitting the collar but the collar is above the tire a good bit. We are ok lol.

I love how I changed what is arguably the most important part of a track car and ya can’t even tell.

 

[gotovato]

In car from Saturday June 11th. The straight line speed is like non existent but what excites me is how effortlessly this fucking thing flies through the corners. Like go watch my Mazda footage on youtube. **** ain’t the same lol. Quick little civic for sure.

my driving is 7/10’s at BEST. Still trying to adjust to the new setup but I’m getting there. Also seeing traffic in the distance I held back a bit to avoid having to majorly slow down.

Decent lap though

 

[gotovato]

Here’s the tire wear on my falkens after last Saturday June11th evening and this past Friday June 17th full day track day. Looks like the camber is bang on. I love it.

No messing around and guessing like with the Mazda. We read the tires and adjusted alignment in small increments until getting it perfect it looks like.

These tires are track only. The only street mileage is driving to and from the track. I have another set of wheels for the street.

 

[ApexEight]

Awesome build and driving. Interesting to read about how much the car is willing to rotate and how it can be kinda scary, but fast.

 

[gotovato]

Awesome build and driving. Interesting to read about how much the car is willing to rotate and how it can be kinda scary, but fast.

I guess it’s like the quote goes “loose is fast”. It sure is. It’s definitely been a learning curve for me but I’m getting there. So much different vs driving a car that just plows and has terminal understeer. I don’t need to provoke rotation almost at all.

this said, as I enter corners with more speed, I’m finding I can start to add back some trail braking.

the way I see it is I’m leveling up as a driver. That’s important and cool lol.

 

[gotovato]

Went out to the track this past sunday for a 5-9 session.

Perfect conditions. Warm sun keeping the track temp nice and cool air temp good for every last horsepower…lol


laid down a new personal best. Shaved over 1 second from my first session tonight to my last.

I’ve now matched my personal best from my Mazda when it was at its best, with suspension, tires, brakes, and 340whp lol. Damn. For a car with like half the horsepower…that’s impressive considering the Mazda also had tires brakes suspension and everything else.

Driver mod is increasing of course. I’m finding the less I think about it, the easier and softer I drive the car, the quicker it goes.

Carrying some serious mid corner speeds now. The car has more in it as is. More seat time to go!

Video incoming