Not coincidentally, Honda's B18C5 came bolted to the desirable Integra Type-R transmission, which Tong was happy to fit in the Civic in conjunction with a HaSport shifter and linkage. An ACT six-puck clutch and heavy duty pressure plate were mated to a Fidanza lightened flywheel, making the already weightless rotating mass rev street bike fast. A factory equipped helical LSD divides power between each of the Gator Axle stage 2 axles.
A drivetrain that's a little bit heavier and has a lot more torque than stock necessitates a suspension set up that's a lot stiffer than stock. All Version Motoring employed Koni shocks and custom springs all around - the fronts checking in at 500lb/in. and the rears at 600lb/in. With the rear rates so much stiffer than stock, and the front to rear ratio having changed so significantly, All Version took a page from Colin Chapman's (that's Lotus) book and left the anti-roll bars stock. Tightening up the chassis to better allow the stiff suspension to do its job are a Cusco strut tower brace up front and Skunk2 upper and lower braces out back.
The beauty of building a Honda is illustrated in every step of Tong's build - if chosen right, all of the critical ingredients can be kept in the family. The brakes are no exception, both front and rear borrowed from an Integra GS-R. The front calipers are equipped with pads from Project Mu, and all four clampers get Earl's stainless steel lines.
The family brake swap is showcased behind Work VS-XX wheels measuring 15x6.5 inches up front and 15x7 inches in the rear. The same size Toyo T1-S 195/45R15 tires are used front and rear, the slightly wider rear wheels stretching the tires in an attempt to gain the perfect handling balance.
You won't find big wings and needlessly gaping airdams anywhere on Tong's Civic. "I wanted to stay true to the Honda heritage, and build something clean," says the determined tuner. An EF9 front and rear end conversion shipped over from Japan in conjunction EF9 side skirts ensure the EF stays true to its roots while a Password: JDM front lip and carbon fiber hood keep things just a hint more aggressive.
The interior bears no exception to the JDM rule. The first thing to catch the eye are the door panels, which are JDM SiR pieces. The climate control is JDM, with an "auto" setting. The seats are from Bride and could only be designed to hold small Japanese men. A Mugen gauge cluster houses everything necessary to display the vitals of the Type-R engine underhood. A GReddy oil pressure gauge works with an AEM wideband air/fuel ratio gauge to tell Tong what he really needs to know when running a setup as custom as this.
Whether the Honda modifying boom is over or not, a well-prepared machine like Tong's EF Civic makes it easy to recall the glory days, and even easier to still want one today. Can it really be that our industry has come far enough that the EF Civic is a classic?