1998 Honda Civic EX - Body Molded

Inside that custom rear deck now resides an expansive stereo system rather than passengers-always a worthwhile trade. The in-car entertainment is interfaced from a 4-inch visor mounted TV and an Eclipse in-dash head unit with LCD screen. Capable of playing DVD, CD, or TV, the head unit then sends the signals to Bazooka front 6.5-inch mids and tweeters, Bazooka 6x9-inch rear speakers, and six Bazooka RX series triangle subwoofers, powered by four Bazooka amplifiers.

Laden with fiberglass, body parts, and a big-ass stereo, West's Civic now needed some more power. West turned to the venerable B-series engines to give him some help. A 1998 B20 block was attached to a 2000 B16 head and intake manifold before being dropped in with an Integra LS transmission. A little extra power came courtesy of a GReddy cat-back exhaust system, a Kamikaze header, a HP Racing cold-air intake, Unorthodox Racing and AEM pulleys and a Nitrous Express direct port system. A simple sort of engine tuning system was set in place using Hayame cam gears, a Hayame fuel pressure gauge and a B&M fuel pressure regulator.

With power in place, West again had his eye on looks-always necessary in the show scene. Engine bolts, motor mounts, overflow bottles, brackets, the Mugen valve cover, air intake, STR VTEC solenoid cover, and Hayame dress-up kit; everything was either custom polished, painted, chromed, or purchased in chrome. Everything under the hood was then made to be shiny; reflective enough to serve dual functions as an engine bay mirror for a certain lucky mechanic.

To become a very complete masterpiece, West had but one category left to leave his mark: suspension. A set of Ground Control coilovers offered the adjustable drop West desired, while a set of SPC rear camber adjusters helped correct the issues associated with heavily lowering the car. Bracing the frame is an OBX chromed tower bar up front, a DC Sports rear lower tie bar, and SPC rear lower control arms. With the chassis sorted out and the power up, braking with the stock EX system proved to be disappointing. HP Racing provided a set of Stage II calipers clamping down on 13.5-inch brake rotors, with a GSR rear disc brake conversion. With HP Racing custom compound brake pads, stainless steel braided brake lines all around, and a set of stickier 215/35/19 Pirelli P7000 tires mounted on HP Racing Fusion wheels, stopping the Civic is now harder and with more direct feedback.

Tim West would like to give thanks to Dave, Cosimo at Auto Pitstop, Monnies, everyone in Team ECI, Ben and Kevin at Peachtree Paint & Body, Matt at HiFi Buys, Pete at Bazooka, David at Hayame, Paul at SPC, Santi at HP Racing, Randall at NX and Renee for her love and support. With his creation now in the pages of 2NR and with an every-ready mind already in possession, West is sure to turn up again in the scene with something even more radical. Let's just hope it's not a star-shaped car made of Play-Doh.