2003 Honda Civic Si - Just Hatched

Another of Hernandez' big accomplishments was scoring a turbo kit from Rev Hard to deliver the power the car would need to bring its acceleration into league with its remapped exterior and performance-minded suspension upgrades. The kit is based on a new cast iron manifold and T3/T4 hybrid turbo. Rev Hard includes all the goodies with this basic hardware, including a Turbo Smart wastegate, Vortech blow-off valve, front-mount intercooler and complete plumbing, 2.5-inch exhaust downpipe, 440cc injectors, all the necessary lines, and a remapped ECU. Hernandez paired this kit with his own choice upgrades, which include Civic Type R camshafts, an HKS exhaust system and a flywheel from an RSX Type S. To make sure the power gets all the way to the pavement-a claimed 266 hp at the wheels-Hernandez also implemented an upgraded ACT clutch assembly and Quaife torque-biasing differential. The diff is one upgrade that scores him big points with us. A Buddy Club dress-up kit and custom carbon-fiber shrouding bring the bay's visual appeal up to that of the car's exterior.

Inside the cockpit there are a few new additions-it's only natural. The front seats, pretty good to begin with, have been replaced by Bride Ergo 2 buckets. An Autometer boost gauge has been located in the dash just to the right of the shifter. The shifter itself was modified with a Buddy Club knob and JDM-style boot. A new stereo system was mapped out by Sight Waves in Los Angeles, and includes a Clarion touch-screen DVD head unit, MB Quart speakers, a Sony amp and an Audiobahn subwoofer. This ICE isn't over the top; the installation is clean and simple, perfect for the daily-driven vehicle. Probably the very coolest thing about the interior is the carbon-fiber hatch cover, the first we've seen and a very unique addition to the overall product.

To date, Hernandez' EG Si has competed in only one show, Importfest 2003, where it took home a first place trophy in the Civic class. Hernandez hasn't competed since, preferring to leave the limelight to his many customers' cars, which attend many of the same events he does. His reasoning is he's a professional, with a lot of sponsors behind his back, giving him an advantage over your average hobbyist.

That's not to say he's not done with the Si just yet. He says a full right-hand drive conversion is in the works. Whether he's a creative genius or just a glutton for punishment remains to be seen, but given the caliber of the Si's current status we say if anyone could pull it off, it would be the well-connected Chuck Hernandez.