Some Very Nice FD2 Type R's
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Stance Is Everything!!
The world thrives off of controversy. Every time you turn on the television, hop on the internet, or open a periodical, it's in your face. If it doesn't spark the least amount of controversy, people will undoubtedly move on. When it comes to building Hondas, controversy can work for, or against you. Every little detail can and will be scrutinized, and building something outside of the box will often unveil the nastiest of intentions from onlookers. Though most people are generally calm and unassuming as they float through their daily lives, once they log onto the internet, a switch is thrown, and all of a sudden they become a critic. Guys who don't even own a car are suddenly dubbed master car builders in their own minds. Famous sayings like "it needs to be lower" or "it needs a lip and mirrors" are just two examples of the thousands of repetitive criticisms expressed on internet automotive forums. Often times it feels as if forums have become more of a source for ridicule rather than their original intent of providing knowledge to the masses. There's an unspoken standard that's been set and if people step outside of that, or attempt something out of the norm, they're immediately ostracized by their community.
Low offset wheels on Hondas started out as quite a controversial topic when certain individuals began to toy with the idea. Today of course, everyone has seemingly changed their tune on the concept. It's become so popular that wheel companies are making a fortune selling wheels with "dish" to anybody that wants to fill their wheel wells. Phaze2 of Southern Calif. is probably one of the best known car crews to popularize low offset wheels on Hondas, and they continue to push the limits everyday. Sure, they weren't the originators of the idea but they definitely made it "cool" to run aggressive wheel fitment on Hondas. Phaze2 member Arnel Ortiz was the first to truly push the limits on a Honda Civic with a set of 15x8 +10 offset Work Equip 03 wheels. A couple of years ago, it was rare to see a Honda run anything with offsets in the mid-20s. It was a look that blew a lot of minds. If you asked Arnel why the offset craze blew up, he wouldn't even be able to tell you. "My buddy, HeyMikeyyyy had a set of Equip 03 wheels for his Scion and it looked perfect in that sizing. We decided to test them on my Civic and eventually made it fit." Arnel says. Apparently someone else liked the look even more. One fateful February morning in 2008, thieves decided to steal the wheels-along with the rest of the car. The Civic was later found down the street, vandalized and raped of all parts, sitting wheel-less on some rocks. Most would take such an event as a terrible loss and move on. Ortiz opted for a more positive outlook. "It could have been worse," Arnel recalls. "I think I got really lucky that I got the car back in one-piece."
Remarkably, it took only three months to get the car back to its original state. If you didn't know any better, you'd never know that the bad guys had their hands all over the bright red Civic. With a hard lesson learned, Arnel decided that the time had come to store the car instead of commuting it daily. One can only be so lucky and the odds the Civic would be recovered again after another theft were low. This decision also granted Arnel the opportunity to fully transform the hatch to its current state.
Blame it on the thieves or maybe Arnel finally allowing his creative juices to flow, but the Civic took on a dramatic change. The first far-fetched idea that the Glendale, Calif. native came up with was a rusted-out hood, which is now long gone. Once photos with the rusted-hood surfaced on the internet, critics and haters went on a feeding frenzy. They jumped on the idea as if it were Honda sacrilege. If a simple corroded-hood can stir such controversy, imagine the reaction when the haters saw the multi-colored bay that lurked underneath! The uproar caused by the four-toned engine bay surpassed the Honda borders and automotive websites of all makes and models had an opinion to post. What does Arnel have to say about it? "What?" Arnel asks. "I don't understand what the big deal is. I built the car for myself. I just took what I liked, and I did it. Simple."
What people fail to understand is that Arnel Ortiz truly doesn't care what people think. There are guys out there who try to front like they don't and then cry themselves to sleep every night after reading negative posts about their project cars. If Arnel is crying in bed, it's definitely for different reasons because he's not sweating the hate. All this internet hoopla surrounding his Civic and Arnel barely has an internet connection to keep up with it all. At one point there were even a couple guys from across the country that fashioned an internet "call-out" in an attempt to one-up the Phaze2 Civic in wheel fitment. Little did they know that Ortiz and the Phaze2 crew were already attempting to achieve what was once thought to be impossible. What came next would serve as coup de grce for the hater platter. See, Arnel was busy building a custom set of BBS RS wheels which were completely chrome dipped inside and out, with 24-karat gold bolts, and sized 9/9.5 inches wide front and rear, respectively. "I always wanted a set of BBS wheels. I figured if I was going to build a set, I might as well go all out and come correct," Arnel declares. When word got out that the Phaze2 hatchback managed to house -6 offset wheels, internet critics began foaming at the mouth. Questions of functionality arose and how the car would be useless on the track. So what's Arnel's response to the keyboard warriors? "I just wanted it to not rub. The set-up is pretty aggressive so I wanted to be sure that there were no issues with clearance or anything. I'm not even concerned with the track. There's enough to worry about on the road." Ortiz is truly in his own little world, he doesn't mind the haters because his build does all the talking for him. "I don't know anything about anyone calling me out, but if they want to top this fitment, they can try, I don't really care."
Turbo'd Integra Perfection!
Engine:
Element K24 /w K20A2 Head Dyno: 537HP@20PSIRSX TypeS 2006 6 Speed Transmission
Clutchmasters FX400
JDM DC5 OEM Flywheel 10lb
JDM DC5 OEM LSD
Precision T4/T67 Turbo
TiAL 44mm WG and 50mm BOV
BMPC 3" Intercooler
SLTuning Turbo Kit
Hasport Mounts
LabelOne Power Coated Valve Cover
Hybrid Tacing Harness
Karcepts Shifter Box Kit
Karcepts TB Adapter
Honda RBC Intake Manifold
CorSport Shifter Bushing
Mishimoto Radiator /w Fans
BDL 70mm TB
BDL Fuel Rail
Aeromotive A1000-6 FPR
Walbro 255L Pump
Hondata KPRO
Buddy Club Secu-Timer
Exhaust:
Greddy EVO II Cat-Back
Exterior:
JDM DC2 TypeR HID Front Conversion
JDM DC2 TypeR Power Fold Mirrors
JDM DC2 TypeR Rear Spoiler
JDM DC2 TypeR Rear Bumper
JDM DC2 TypeR Taillights
Seibon DC2 Carbon Fiber Lip
Interior:
Buddy Club P1 Limited Seats
JDM DC2 TypeR Rear Seats
JDM DC2 TypeR Door Panels
JDM DC2 TypeR Climate Control
JDM DC2 TypeR Clock Blockoff
JDM DC2 TypeR Radio Blockoff
JDM DC2 TypeR Airbag Blockoff
JDM DC2 TypeR Gauge Cluster
Skunk2 Shift Knob
NRG Thin Quick Release /w NRG Hub
Momo Steering Wheel
Suspension:
JDM DC2 TypeR 5Lug
Brembo Rotors
HAMP Brake pads
Russell Braided Brake Lines
Blox Racing LCA
Blox Racing 21mm Swap Bar
Blox Racing End Links
ASR Reinforcement Brace
Skunk2 Pro Series Coilover
Wheels:
Buddy Club P1 SF 16x7 +45 Matte Black
Falken Azenis RT615 215/45/16
615BHP On The DYNO WOW!!!
Coupe Special!
Minimal Amount Of Work Maximum Amount Of Effect...
Speaks For Itself Really!!!
Think The Term Is SLAMMED!!!
Tasty EG With Rota Circut 10's And Smooth Styling...
EK Coupe On Black With Red Lipped Rims On The Deck!!
6th Gen Coupe In True JDM Style
This Coupe Is As Cool As The Ice It Sits On!!!
Monday, January 25, 2010
1995 Honda Civic Si
Found This While Checking Through My Online Subscriptions!
Over the last few years the Honda community has started evolving into some questionable directions. Albeit a lot of the current trends like shaved engine bays painted different colors and super-low offset wheels are still better than the '90s junk, I still prefer a clean and usable car to an over the top show mobile. Pyng Thai's Si hatch demonstrates a style of tuning that has been all but forgotten, a style that is just begging to make a comeback.
The exterior mimics the classic JDM style popularized by his SGV homies the FF-Squad. There are no canards or GT wings to in sight, just smooth lines and properly fitting pieces. The car now wears a coat of Silverstone Metallic paint off a newer chassis Civic. Anyone looking to do a color change should take notes -sure it's not neon pink, but in two years when bright colors aren't the cool thing to do anymore, this Civic is still going to be hot.
To round out the outside of the car Pyng tossed on some of the best parts available for a Civic - Mugen, BYS and Vision. Parts like the corners and mirrors have gotten to the point where they don't even seem like mods anymore, it's just "the way" to build an EG. The front lip and rear wing have become increasingly popular in the last few years and many have entered a love or hate relationship with the erect spoiler. The Mugen muffler dubbed either the "teardrop" (USA) or "wing" (Japan) exhaust is at the top of many EG owner's holy grail lists. When you take these parts and slam them into proper stance on a set of white Mugen RNRs you have automotive perfection.
Thai continues this quality-over-quantity-no-bullshit approach in the engine bay. While it might not have every gizmo and gadget available, what it does have is top notch. While the valve cover might not look pretty, what's hiding beneath is sure to cause envy. The motor, a B18C Type R, has been improved with the help of names like Alaniz, Jun and Skunk2, all brands synonymous with power gains. Bolt-ons from Mugen, BDL, Koyo, Top Fuel and even Iceman (throwback!) finish off the power plant. Once tuned this setup is good for 215 HP, more than enough to get you into trouble with the law.
If you've been paying attention so far the interior mods like Mugen S1 buckets, a full JDM SiR-S interior conversion and Next Miracle X bar should come as no surprise. The car also features one of the seemingly trademarked Street Image Performance mods, a stack tachometer seamlessly integrated into the JDM SiR gauge cluster. It's baller, it's unique and it's functional without being flashy, just like the rest of the car. Did I mention I really like it?
Actually it's very difficult for me, even as an EG stickler, to find something about the car I don't like. This car actually makes me miss my last EG, it's that good. It has all the right parts in all the right places, no more, no less. Dare I say it's the perfect street car. None of the mods are tacky and this car will be just as dope ten years from now, which sadly can't be said for many of today's feature cars. I really hope to see more cars built like this in the future. It's everything an EG should be - it's JDM, it's on 15" Mugens, it's B-Series... it's timeless.
One Of The Finest EG Civics I've Seen To Date!!
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