With the front end sorted out, the rear needed to complement and does so with a JDM Civic Type-R rear wing and lip, both of which he had paint matched at his buddy's shop in Miami. While the wing and lip were being painted, the OEM black side skirts, moldings, and license plate tray were sprayed as well.
Yearwood's EK is by no means a showstopper, nor a superfast racecar. But it's a hell of a street car and proof that building a great car isn't about how many parts you can squeeze into a chassis, but rather how a careful selection of parts create a sort of automotive harmony.
Bolts & Washers
Sean Yearwoods's '97 Civic Hatchback
Propulsion
Sean's hatch is powered by an internally stock '94 JDM H22A, held in place by an HCP mount kit including the optional front cross bar and A/C bracket. The 2.2-liter lump breathes through a J's Racing carbon-fiber intake clamped onto a JG Edelbrock 65mm throttle body. The intake charge is managed by an Accord Euro R intake manifold. A Hondata intake manifold gasket seals up the cold side of the motor and keeps heat transfer down between the DOHC VTEC head and the intake tract.
On the hot side is a 4-2 section of an OBX Racing header bolted to a custom 2-into-1 downpipe with a 2.5-inch collector. Spent gases are not hindered by a catalytic converter on their way out the Buddy Club Pro Spec cat back. Keeping things cool is a Fluidyne radiator, with a Password JDM cooling plate and bling-bling Spoon Sports radiator stay holding them in.
A Walbro 255-lph fuel pump feeds pump gas through an AEM high-flow fuel filter into an AEM fuel rail and finally out a set of RC 310cc injectors. NGK plugs and MSD 8.5mm wires spice up an otherwise stock ignition system. The brain behind the H-series' brawn is an Überdata chipped P28 ECU connected to the engine via a custom OBD IIA-OBD I harness. Fine-tuning is accomplished with an A'PEXi V-AFC II. Finally, the power is put to work by a stock non-LSD M2A4 tranny and a set of Hasport Level 1 axles.
Rims & Rubber
The EK sits on Nippon Racing 15x7-inch wheels weighing 11 pounds apiece. The featherweight wheels are wrapped in a set of Falken Azenis Sport sized 205/50R-15 all around.
Stance
KYB GR-2 nonadjustable shocks and H&R Stage 3 springs help the Civic sit pretty and handle better while maintaining its daily driveability. Energy Suspension poly bushings keep the suspension pieces in place. A custom camber kit including shims in the rear and adjustable front upper arms keep everything in line.
Resistance
Yearwood's brakes are all stock save for Hawk pads in the front. Powerslot rotors and a rear disc brake swap are in the works.
Fashion
Inside: The interior doesn't sway much from the theme of the rest of the car, with OEM del Sol front seats and a '99-to-'00 Si gauge cluster. The only aftermarket piece inside the car is a bronze STR shift knob.
Body: Can you say OEM? No body kits or aftermarket here, just a tasteful selection of tried-and-true OEM exterior parts. The '97 front end was replaced by a '99-to-'00 Si front end, including the front lip, bumper, fenders, hood, grille and headlights. A Civic Type-R wing and rear lip add some JDM flavor and complement the taillights sourced from a USDM '99 Civic hatchback. The rear lip, wing, side moldings and side skirts were painted to match the car's factory red paint job.
I.C.E.:
A Pioneer head unit pumps out the jams through Sony Explode 5.25-inch components in the front and matching 6x9-inch speakers in the rear. A Clifford 8000 alarm is a bit of insurance for all of Yearwood's blood, sweat and tears