Nakamura only reports one major wrinkle in his grand scheme. As the August show loomed, he found his Mugen wheels wouldn't clear the Spoon brake calipers, so he bought a set of 15-inch Volk limited-edition time-attack CE28N wheels and shod them with 205/50 Falken Z1EX tires. The remainder of the brake system took some fixing. Although the Hawk pads and Goodridge stainless steel lines went in easy enough, the car retains the stock 4x100 bolt pattern and used 11.1-inch rotors from a '96 Prelude VTEC and had them re-drilled to fit.
It's all too easy to be tasteless when it comes to fitting out a cabin. Thankfully, Nakamura kept his chrome fixation in check by selecting a cool dark gray-and-black two-tone color scheme to adorn his Bride front seats, rear upholstery, and door panel inserts. The console and rear seats are OEM Civic Si issue, but the steering wheel is a custom Momo design. Just to make sure the cabin doesn't look completely like a coalmine during a power cut, the Sparco harness bar is (wait for it)...chrome.
With interior work completed by Fred's Auto Top Shop, Extreme Audio installed an Alpine WA200 double-DIN head unit, JDM SiR gauges and tach, and custom-wired a limited-edition 1,500-watt, five-channel R1000 amplifier, 5.25-inch speakers plus two 10-inch subwoofers, all from Rockford Fosgate's Power range. The subs are set into a custom-made enclosure, which is painted to harmonize with the rest of the cabin's aesthetics. While the wire cutters were out, a Kinetik battery was relocated to the rear.
Considering Nakamura runs his own shop, this car has been worked on by a considerable number of third-party outfits so far. But TechOne was ready with a Password JDM front lip and an OEM front bumper also from an '00 Civic Si. The same model was also the source for the rear bumper and lip, while Integra Type R side skirts were adapted to fit. Further body work includes a Seibon carbon-fiber hood, thin JDM side mirrors, Civic Type R headlights and Civic Si taillights, while the front bumper vents were cut out and the antenna, rear keyhole, and front license plate holes were shaved. Our man's fort is paintwork, and with the rest of the build completed, it was time to supply his signature in a bold custom Crimson Splash from DuPont's Hot Hues range.
Even though the cost of the build started humbly enough, it soon mushroomed into something like $30,000. Nakamura now values the car at $45,000 or so. "It helps to do business with people who can help with their part," he said. With the car garnering awards such as Best Honda in three shows, Second Place Two Door in two shows and Best Paint/Finish it's now "mission accomplished" for Nakamura, who has proved beyond all doubt that success is the best revenge. Now he's thinking about a new project: "Something VIP, something custom, but really clean." Heaven forbid that this Civic is stolen-who knows what he would come up with then?
Behind The Build
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'96 Honda Civic EX
Output N/A
Engine B16B engine; Skunk2 Stage 2 camshafts, retainers, valvesprings; APR head studs; Cometic head gasket; Hondata ECU; BBK high-flow fuel pump; AEM fuel regulator, rail; RC Engineering 370cc injectors, MSD 8mm wires, 6ALN ignition; NGK G-Power spark plugs; Edelbrock intake manifold, 70mm throttle body; Spoon radiator cap; custom Billet Specialties overflow catch-can; custom 3-inch cold-air intake, custom valve cover; Fluidyne radiator; DC Sports stainless steel header; Buddy Club Spec 2 60mm exhaust; custom 2.5-inch test pipe catalytic converter; Samco hoses; Password JDM radiator diversion panels; FAL Flex-a-lite fan
Drivetrain B16A2 transmission; Comptech Stage Five clutch, lightweight flywheel; Kaaz LSD; Spoon shift kit; DC Sports lever; urethane bushings; stainless steel braided clutch lines
By Bruce Grove
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