I recently picked up a 1998 Honda Civic EX with 95,000 miles and I'm planning on doing the 2000 Front & Rear End Conversion to it. It seems like people are always searching for information on the differences between the 1996-1998 (6G-1) and 1999-2000 (6G-2) so I figured I would put a blog together and provide all the info in one place.

Q: What are the differences between the 1996-1998 (6G-1) front end and the 1999-2000 (6G-2) front end?

The following are the differences between the US 1996-1998 (6th gen - first front) front end and the US 1999-2000 (6th gen - second front) front end.

- Headlights are shaped different in the corners ('96-'98 rounder; '99-'00 more pointed - this affects the hood and fenders too).

- Headlights are different lengths ('99-'00 is longer than '96-'98 - this affects the hood and bumper).

- Headlights' inner corners are shaped differently ('99-'00 is more pointed - this affects the bumper).

- Headlights are different in internal design ('96-'98 has long amber reflector and amber bulb cap in the turn signal; '99-'00 has small amber reflector in between headlight and turn signal housings).

- Grilles are different (SEE NEXT EXPLANATION).

- Space between headlights and grille is different ('96-'98 has more space - this affects the front of the hood too).

Regarding front lips, the Si comes standard with a front lip, but all other '99-'00 trims had this as an option too. '98 coupes had an option for a full lip kit too and '97-'98 models had the option for a black front under spoiler IIRC (have to verify in parts catalog).

Sedans for all model years have a chrome shell around the grille. Coupes and hatches have paint matched grille shells. The Si has a mesh insert, but the number of holes in the mesh is different than the number of holes on a CTR grille. The Si also has a removable center emblem in the grille.

1996-1998 USDM Front 

1999-2000 USDM Front

Q: What are the differences between the 1996-1998 upper grilles and the 1999-2000 upper grilles?

 - Grilles are different widths ('96-'98 is shorter - this affects the bumper and the hood).

- Grilles are different heights ('96-'98 is taller - this affects the bumper and the hood).

- Coupes and hatches have color matched shells.

- Sedans have chrome shells.

- Different number of grille fins (coupes (except the EM1 Si) and hatches have one fin through the middle; '96-'98 sedans have three fins; '99-'00 sedans have two fins).

- Different grille body (EM1 Si has mesh body, unlike other trim levels).

- Emblems are different (EM1 Si has a removable emblem).

1996-1998 Coupe & Hatchback Upper Front Grille

1999-2000 Coupe & Hatchback Upper Front Grille

 

1999-2000 EM1 Si Coupe Upper Front Grille with Emblem

1999-2000 EM1 Si Coupe Upper Front Grille with Emblem Removed

1996-1998 Sedan Upper Front Grille

1999-2000 Sedan Upper Front Grille

Q: What are the differences between the 1996-1998 rear end and the 1999-2000 rear end?

 COUPE

The following are the differences between the US 1996-1998 coupe rear end and the US 1999-2000 coupe rear end.

- Taillights coloring is different ('96-'98 have amber along the bottom; '99-'00 are clear/white in this area).

- Spoiler height is different ('96-'98 is short; '99-'00 is tall and says CIVIC on the underside).

- Spoiler LED light size is different ('96-'98 is long; '99-'00 is short).

- Bumper design is different ('96-'98 curls under; '99-'00 curls under and then out).

  1996-1998 USDM Coupe Rear

 1999-2000 USDM Coupe Rear

HATCH

The following are the differences between the US 1996-1998 hatch rear end and the US 1999-2000 hatch rear end.

- Taillights coloring is different ('96-'98 have amber in the middle; '99-'00 are clear/white in this area).

The following differences are because of trim level, not model year: rear wiper or lack of; short black unpainted plastic roof spoiler or longer paint-matched metal and plastic roof spoiler. The midwing hatch spoiler was an accessory option.

1996-1998 USDM Hatchback Rear

1999-2000 USDM Hatch Rear

SEDAN

The following are the differences between the US 1996-1998 sedan rear end and the US 1999-2000 sedan rear end.

- Taillights coloring is different ('96-'98 have amber along the bottom; '99-'00 have amber along the top).

- Taillight shape is different for inner sections ('96-'98 has smaller, more square inner sections; '99-'00 has larger, more pointed inner sections).

- Spoiler design is different ('96-'98 has three mounts; '99-'00 has two mounts (more pointed edges than '96-'98 coupe spoiler)).

- License plate garnish shape is different ('96-'98 is more square; '99-'00 is more pointed on top corners).

- Bumper design is different ('96-'98 curls under; '99-'00 curls under and then out).

 1996-1998 USDM Sedan Rear

1999-2000 USDM Sedan Rear

So what are all the different stock front ends used on '96-'98 Civics?

For ease, I will just go over the US models. Overseas models use some different parts (headlights, grilles, fenders, bumpers), but the parts are interchangeable with the US parts.

The headlights, front bumper, fenders and hood are all the same on USDM '96-'98 Civic trims.

 USDM 1996-1998 Coupe / Hatch Front End

USDM '96-'98 Sedan Front End
This is the same as the above front except for the grille.

So what are all the different stock front ends used on ''99-'00 Civics?

For ease, I will just go over the US models. Overseas models use some different parts (headlights, grilles, fenders), but the parts are interchangeable with the US parts.

The headlights, front bumper, fenders and hood are all the same on USDM '99-'00 Civic trims.

USDM '99-'00 Coupe / Hatch Front End

 

USDM '99-'00 Si (EM1) Coupe

This is the same as other USDM '99-'00 front ends except the Si gets a different grille (with mesh and a removeable emblem) and it gets a standard front lip which in the US was also listed as an optional part for coupes.

USDM '99-'00 Sedan Front End

This is the same as the above fronts except for the grille (and the Si gets the optional front lip as a standard part).

How can I do a front end conversion from either the '96-'98 to '99-'00 or from the '99-'00 to '96-'98?"

In order to do a front end conversion, you will need the following parts from the other year span model:

- Headlights

- Bumper

- Hood

- Grille

- Fenders

- Core/Radiator Support (OR modification of the stock part)

How can I do a rear end conversion from either the '96-'98 to '99-'00 or from the '99-'00 to '96-'98?"

Coupes and sedans all can wear the same rear bumpers. It does not matter what year the bumper is, as long as it's another 1996-2000 coupe OR sedan rear bumper.

Hatch rear bumpers are all the exact same design, and are also fully interchangeable no matter what the year between 1996-2000.

Coupe taillights are also all interchangeable, though the outer wire harnesses are different because the turn signal bulbs are different. For '96-'98 coupes, the turn signal is a clear 7440 bulb. For '99-'00 coupes, the turn signal is an amber 1157 (aka 1157A or 1157NA) bulb.

Sedan taillights are interchangeable on the outer sections (though the wire harnesses are different). The inner sections require a trunk lid swap if you wish to change the inner taillight sections. This also requires splicing of wires for the taillight wiring into the trunk lid.

Big Thanks to NOFX from Honda-Tech for the above information