Project Civic – Part 1 – Fixing The Swap
By Joey Leh, Photos by the author
Front-wheel drive Hondas are like Legos. There’s a big bin of parts that you can just grab from and stick together to make new and exciting multi-colored cars. Our 1995 Honda Civic has Integra rear control arms, later model Civic hubs and, most importantly, the engine out of an Integra GS-R. This project began life as a CX model, which means it began life as a hatchback model designed to get good gas mileage. It was also originally a nice puke teal shade.
Our project went through a few owners before it ended up in our hands and it was almost completely rebuilt along the way. The body has been repainted in a gray-like color and the suspension, brakes, wheels, tires, interior panels and engine have been changed out for different parts.
We bought it with the sole intent of using it as a street-legal track car and the purchase price included an Integra GS-R engine that was originally built to the Honda Challenge H1-class rules. Even without full tuning, it puts out more than 200whp from 1.8-liters.
The CX model of Civic is also very light and that’s the main redeeming factor of front-drive Hondas. Honda motors don’t make a lot of torque but they have good specific output and high horsepower using variable valve timing and lift, i.e. VTEC. We still believe that Hondas make better track and racecars than they do pure street cars, on account of the dismal torque levels. Combine low torque with great gearing and a high rev-limit and that same Honda becomes a fantastic track car.
Even with only two wheels available for acceleration and steering, Hondas allow you to go full throttle through sections where you wouldn’t think it possible and their low weight aids in cornering and braking as well. They’re also cheap and plentiful, with spare parts literally hanging on the wall at your local auto store.
Newer front-drive Hondas have packed on serious pounds in the name of comfort and luxury and have left us pining for the older models even more. Our ’95 hatchback is the perfect blend of price, chassis stiffness and low weight. It currently has a StopTech brake kit and 17-inch wheels, but we plan on moving down to 2000 Civic Si brakes and 15-inch wheels. This will dramatically decrease the cost of brake pads and tires for us.
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