EK9turbo - the beginning.
This was the first fully-built Turbocharged EK9 project in the UK/Europe and is still the most comprehensively prepared.
This project story starts early in 2007, when I’d just picked up a Honda B-series engine (B16a2) from a dismantlers to build for turbo-charging. This was stripped down, inspected and sent away for machining. The block was glass beaded and everything was thoroughly cleaned out. Next came the installation of ductile iron liners and a diamond bore & hone on a Rottler machine. After wasting days looking for a clean EG civic and viewing bad ones, I decided to import one.
It soon transpired that the Type-R Civic EK9 was not too much more expensive than the best EG6 SIR examples at auction, so with the benefits and features the CTR already came with I decided to use that vehicle.
After viewing several examples via the auctions, I instructed my agent in Japan to bid on one that was the cleanest totally standard example available. An auction grade 4.5 with an interior that was a B grade, almost immaculate had it not been to a tiny cigarette burn on the inner material of the passenger side RECARO seat.
for people who don't know much about Honda's EK9 read these Key facts/features!...
- The original mk1 Type-R Civic. Only sold in Japan
- 1090kg Kurb Weight stock! Very Light
- B16b Type-R engine 182bhp 185PS
- 4.4FD ratio
- LSD equipped gearbox standard
- 282mm Front brakes standard
- Specially tuned ABS system ! Exceptional braking performance Wet or Dry!
- Seam welded chassis
- Type-R Suspension extensively tested & developed to give it phenomenal road holding
- Uprated anti roll bars & Stiffer sub-frames
- Longer wheel base than other EK' civic models
- Dip-tinted windows form the factory all round
- Recaro Bucket seats and Red interior
- Tinted headlights & sleeker bodywork than non Type-R EK civics with multiple changes
- Pre-facelift and facelift versions (98 P.F. as pictured then 99-2001 FL version)
- Electronic retracting and adjustable mirrors
- Interior carbon fibre trimmings/gauge cluster
- No rear wiper!
So, once it was in the country, it was only kept standard for a couple of months before being dismantled for the start of the project. The intensive modifications were planned and the majority of the engine building work completed in advance. This was the start of a very fast project car.
There's a lot of pictures and some details in each section. I've tried to keep it as brief yet technical as possible.
