**Dnapol’s EP3R Build: Revenge Of The Fallen… DC5**

[dnapol]

150kwatw is a massive figure for the amount of engine mods. Congrats.
Happy dyno? or a good tuner?

Great tuner (he pulls some decent figures on many cars) but also I believe a very happy dyno. All in all, made me happy :P hahaah

Really good stuff here napo! Congrats on your PBs! Loving that wing on your wing <3

Thanks bro! Looking forward to seeing your car on the road again too!

JDM K20A goodness

In love with this engine, revving over 9k is something very special

[blueys45]

Awesome ep3 build. Can't wait to see more. Makes me really miss my EP3.

[eLtrix]

Thanks bro! Looking forward to seeing your car on the road again too!

May be seeing it sooner than expected

[dnapol]

Hey guys!

As promised I’m going to finally share the details on my Carbon Plus Aero Package. Testing went great at Honda Nats and I’m confident that this kit we have made for the EP3 is the best package out there that makes a noticeable difference (more on H Nats later).

To start off, a splitter made entirely of Carbon fibre. The splitter begun it’s life as a 2x1m flat sheet that we then cut to shape with a stencil. The stencil was an Evo9 Voltex splitter in wood that we traced and used a jigsaw to cut into postion. The great thing is that the piece is big enough to have an undertray that extends to nearly under the dash for dat extra aero!!





Because high fives for PB!


Next up, the diffuser. Again we used an Evo9 carbon part, this time it was a Varis diffuser. The great part about this particular diffuser was the bars curve matched the evo’s so all it need to bolt up was 2 holes in the bumper and boom it was in. To hold up the front end we used my beaks bar support bars. The beaks bar was removed to leave the angled bar that we then bolt the front part of the diffuser onto. The upwards angle seems “aerodynamic” so we believe it’s doing something positive for high speed forces. I don’t have a photo for this part as it’s too hard to get enough light underneath for a shot so it’ll have to wait till the car is on the hoist again.

**Honda Nationals**

Finally the day we had all been waiting for was upon us! A few of my mates and I decided to head up the day before for the Winton test and tune day so I could first scrub in my new tyres and secondly set up my dampers and tyre pressures for the following day’s illustrious event. The car felt great throughout the whole day and I was going quicker and quicker as the day went on. With some advice from the Legendary ChargeR himself I decided it was a good idea to drop the damper rates considerable so I wouldn’t be fighting the car so much mid corner, with this I shaved my PB down to a 1:43.2.

Honda Nationals was the reason why I modded my car so quickly, I wanted the car to be ready and competitive for the day so I felt a lot of nerves going into it. The car was 100% ready and I had no excuses to pull off the times I was expecting. The first few sessions I took easy and showed some passengers around as I got the tyres up to temperature. I pushed and pushed through my sessions and the brakes were holding up perfectly to the weather on the day, no fade whatsoever. My gearbox was also super smooth at high revs and no issues revving the car to 9k+ with my fresh oil change pre Honda Nats thanks to Autosphere.

Times slowly crept lower and lower until the 3rd last session of the day where I finally cracked into the 42s which was my goal for the day, although I was even more impressed to find that the best time for the day and my new PB became a 1:42.0. The car had more in it too so I was super happy with my weekend’s efforts and excited for future events to push this current setup. Honda Nationals was by far one of the best events I have ever participated in and all of this is owed to the two event co-ordinators Tom and Mugsee, you guys pulled off a top class event that we will all remember for a long time, Kudos!





Well all that I have done since Honda Nationals is installed some facelift Depo headlights. Had to do some slight rewiring to get H1 setup correct but I love the non faded fresh look these lights give to the car.





Next event, Phillip Island. A few of my crew and I went down to the Phillip Island sprint day a week after Honda Nats. Saturday’s weather was windy and cloudy so I had high hopes that Sunday would stay the same, I was wrong. Pouring rain was the forecast and in typical Phillip Island style, it was worse! HAHA
First few sessions I had to adjust my lines and gears/power as I now had a tune and aero package. My previous PB was 2:00.3 and all I wanted was to beat that although I had doubts as the rain seemed to be sucking people into the walls (literally!). Faster through most corners and on the straight ended up giving me a best laptime and new PB of 1:56.2 and I was over the moon with this time. Slipstreaming at 200km/h down the straight with spray coming up off the first car was scary but the track dried up by the end of the day and it was a great learning experience.

Dancing after Phillip Island PB!




The part of my life that makes me happiest, working on my car at track


Another small update will come soon when I get a few more parts in but other than that the car is done for now. Just a few fine tweaks and more testing and I will be happy. The car is quicker than I expected and it’s now up to me to push the car into the lower times and catch the likes of Mattlew, ChargeR and Mugsee. Also, a new project has begun and I won’t give details on it just yet but well, its going to take me some time. Get excited, big things coming in the not too distant future.

Thanks for the reading and much love guys,

Peace

[Shakeel]

Nice update man! Your car looked so tough on the day, and it was great to see it in action on track.

Is your aero package a one off or will Carbon Plus start selling them for other EP3's, and potentially DC5's?

[M@lew]

Good update Napo. Didn't seem as long as 1000 words.

Nice update man! Your car looked so tough on the day, and it was great to see it in action on track.

Is your aero package a one off or will Carbon Plus start selling them for other EP3's, and potentially DC5's?

It's more or less custom. i.e. They'll sell the sheets and you can DIY. It's a lot easier if you make it for your car so you know how it goes on and off and can cut it to fit perfectly.

The wing though can be bought for a DC5 soon, Napos is just a Voltex style with bunnings stands.

[eskimo_firefighter]

Nice work with beating my EP3's PB. Keep up the good work!

[dnapol]

Nice update man! Your car looked so tough on the day, and it was great to see it in action on track.

Is your aero package a one off or will Carbon Plus start selling them for other EP3's, and potentially DC5's?

Good update Napo. Didn't seem as long as 1000 words.

It's more or less custom. i.e. They'll sell the sheets and you can DIY. It's a lot easier if you make it for your car so you know how it goes on and off and can cut it to fit perfectly.

The wing though can be bought for a DC5 soon, Napos is just a Voltex style with bunnings stands.

@Shak The idea was to get EP3s rocking some aero so the diffuser is bolt on and so is the wing (stands are available at Bunnings although I made my own because I didn't know). The splitter as Matt said is DIY although it's pretty basic. Just cut the size you want (any template or radical idea) and bolt it however hardcore you fancy. Thanks for the kind words

@Matt Great summary homebre

[dnapol]

Nice work with beating my EP3's PB. Keep up the good work!

Thanks bro, still wish you were out there with me (rocking similar times in a similar car) haha

[dnapol]

It’s time for a well overdue update. It’s officially been a year since my DC5 was written off and when I look at my EP3, I can see I didn’t waste a minute of the past year. Anyways, I’ve been in Europe recently with Circuit Club tracking in Dubai, Germany and Belgium and enjoying my time off from Uni. One thing, Spa and Nurgburgring were insane, that’s all that can be said, it’s a bucket list type of thing and I would recommend such a trip be undertaken by any car enthusiast!

Anyways, to the EP3.
The Carbon Plus EP3 Package has finally been complete and is now available for sale. The final touches were a set of Voltex Widebody Canards from an Evo9 and the freshly moulded EP3 hatch in Carbon. The Canards needed some custom work to fit but they look great. Chris (JDMCVC) decided to install the canards by cutting them down, I chose to slit the bar and insert the canard into it (as it’s going to forever be a track bar)





Also, as a safety procedure I chose to install a bolt in cage to the Civic. It’s a Cusco Bolt in from Japan. It’s pretty basic but it should do something positive in an accident so I’m happy.



They are the only new mods. Now onto trackdays! I took part in the ADVAN Cup held at both Winton Raceway and Wakefield Park (yes Cindy the Civic made her interstate debut). At Winton the day was run by Circuit Club and well, it was ran extremely well! The day ended with a new Winton PB of 1:41.4 and the title of fastest Front Wheel Drive for Rnd 1. On Advan Neova tyres.

In between the two Advan Cup trackdays I also took part in a wet trackday at Phillip Island. Car ran and was ready for the drive to Sydney the following day! For the first time ever I experienced what it was like to go to a trackday and not PB, I guess the wet does that to you :P


Wakefield time!
The drive was 7 hours from Melbourne to Goulburn and between my co-driver and I it went pretty quick. I was greeted early in the morning by both Felix and Shak as well as the ever passionate photographer Berty. First session out I just went to learn the track layout and basic brake points. From there I pushed harder every session. First session I cracked out a 1:15 and from there went a second faster each session. After a few pointers from John Boston I ended the day with a 1:12.5 which I as pretty happy about considering my target was reached in the first session!



I left Wakefield with my second Fastest Front Wheel Drive on Neovas title as well as claimed fastest street EP3 at Wakefield (which was beaten a few weeks later by BYP!!) I’m happy, things are good at the moment.

I then went back to Wakefield after Europe to take part in a Circuit Club trackday (and try out my newfound skills from Nurburgring). The day was great and it was a lot of fun finally having my dad back out there with me. New PB was achieved on the day of 1:11.4 however I was disappointed as my optimal was a 1:10.1. I just couldn’t link up all my sector properly.



What’s next? I’m not sure. I’ll see my Sydney homies at WTAC when I bring my car up, other than that, thanks for reading and take care!

[dnapol]

My weekend at Winton for the EXE double day didn't end as well as planned, will update soon.

[dnapol]

Okay it’s update time.

Sorry I’ve been so slack, lots has been happening with uni, a new job and the trip to Europe. Anyways, this will probably be the final “major update” for the EP3R as the time has come to partout and move onto some other projects (which will be detailed soon). I’ve reached many of my goals for the EP3R and some I can hopefully complete at the coming trackday at EXE on the 3rd/4th of May.

Not major, but the rims were pink for a short period.



First up I will explain what happened at the EXE double day back in November. On the first day I was super keen to get out and test out the car after a long break and see what it could do. Unfortunately lap times were about 2 seconds off (and I felt as though I was pushing harder than ever). I was curious after a particular hot lap why the car was lacking power and before I could go back to the pits… BOOM!



The oil filter and sandwiche plate had come apart from the block as I braked for a turn into a corner shooting out oil everywhere and spinning me out. I entered the dirt sideways at about 80km/h and whilst I sat in the car in the dust cloud I realized the car was on fire. There was fire emerging from out my wheels and smoke coming through the bonnet. Major props to the people who pulled off straight away to help extinguish the fire. Thankfully, the damage was not bad. Actually, no damage at all! Loom was fine, fuel lines were okay and the mugen bonnet was just a little dirty ☺

Cleaned the car up once I arrived back in Melbourne and that was that.

Matt Jew’s DC5 and my EP3R resting in my workshop, EXE weekend is always good fun!


Also, I never posted a build for it, and it has recently sold so I guess not many people will ever know about it but I had an EK1 daily for a while till someone approached me to buy it.







Straight after EXE I had a photo-shoot with Melyssa Grace from the US organized by ESTBLSHD







As some would know, every Christmas I take the car lineup I currently rock on the streets and selfie a Christmas photo, the result from 2013 was …



2014 was upon us. I took the car to Phillip Island for a quick shakedown after it being off the road for so long, car ran perfect the 2 days and I was confident to finally bring it back to Winton. Track prep begun. I realized that the car’s life with me may come to and end soon so I decided to get some semis and give it one last crack to go fast. Ordered some Hankook Z221 225/45/17. They are awesome for the price! Also, took ownership of Matt Lew’s RE30s in the size 17x8.5+30, they are a nice track rim so I used them with the Hankooks.

Went down to techsport for an alignment for the Circuit Club trackday at Winton in March. Ended up with -3.8 degrees of camber at the front and -2.8 at the rear, matched with a little rear toe in.



I then went to Circuit Club Winton trackday with my friends that took me to Europe, was a great day with almost perfect weather. I learnt how to warm up semis properly and pushed semi hard and achieved a 1:39.3 mid way through the day which was good for outright first, was a good day.

New PB is good and I’m hoping Chris Ryan doesn’t touch that time for a while :P

I had a Whiteline rear sway bar donated to me by Jaz on the forum for the EXE trackday coming up, thanks Jaz! It feels soo much stiffer at the rear and can’t wait to test it and hopefully PB before the car is pulled apart.

Well that’s it, thanks for the support.
Peace

[sleepingperformance]

Nice update Napo. Chris's car has been D-Tuned so he will be looking to go quicker again this weekend

[Norm]

Glad to see that you were alright and the car didn't sustain too much fire damage.

[dnapol]

Nice update Napo. Chris's car has been D-Tuned so he will be looking to go quicker again this weekend

Wouldn't a "D-Tune" mean he has less power now rather than before? Competition is fun, bring it on!!

When's your build getting an update?