In comparison to the other carefully planned and well thought out project cars that had grace the confines of La Victoria's garage, he tells us he enjoys driving the EK the most. "The XB is like a 'fridge on wheels and the turbo car is a bit unpredictable," La Victoria admits. "They say once you go turbo you don't go back, but they're wrong," he says, "I'd much rather drive my all-motor hatchback any day."
While naysayers may never stray from the road of careful research and planning when project car buildups are concerned, La Victoria's EK is proof positive that a car built upon a whimsical notion is something not to be underestimated.
Bolts&WashersJovito La Victoria's 1996 Civic Hatchback CxPropulsionLa Victoria turned to the JDM Integra Type R for powertrain components and, for the most part, has modified them little. The B18C inhales more effortlessly, thanks to a Feels air pipe mated to an HKS air filter. Exhaust characteristics are improved upon with the help of an HKS header but encounter restrictions when mated to the OEM Civic exhaust system. Save for some NGK spark plug wires teamed with the company's iridium plugs, all else remains stock.
Engine cooling is improved upon with the help of an aluminum radiator from Koyo. Hasport engine mounts fasten the B-series engine and 5-speed gearbox to the chassis.
Rims & RubberVolk Racing 57S Gram Light wheels are wrapped within 205/40R-16 Neo Gen rubber, courtesy of Nitto. The 16x7-inch rims feature a 42mm offset and the '96 Type R's 4x114.3mm bolt pattern.
StanceTEIN Super Street coilovers take care of compression and rebound duties and are housed within '96-spec Integra Type R suspension components at all four corners. Warding off body roll are Suspension Techniques anti-roll bars on-call at both ends. Up front, a duo of strut-tower braces reside-one from the Integra Type R and the other a three-point piece from Carbing. A Mugen rear strut-tower bar and Robear Racing chassis strength bars further reinforce the Civic. Aluminum lower control arms from TC Spoilers are on call as well, reducing unsprung weight and improving handling.
ResistanceLa Victoria's EK makes due with OEM Integra Type R rotors, calipers and Project u street pads at each corner. Honda brake fluid flows through Goodridge steel braided lines.
BodyOutside: The hatchback's body is dressed up with Civic Type R front and rear lips, a Spoon Sports-style wing, OEM side skirts and hood-all made of carbon fiber. Spoon Sports-style mirrors; JDM headlamps, fog lights and side markers and a Civic Type R front grill complete the transformation.
Inside: La Victoria opted for Recaro seats yanked from the '99 Integra Type R to replace those of the Civic's Takata four-point harnesses strap everyone to their seats, while La Victoria takes command with a Momo Corse steering wheel and an assortment of Pivot gauges to monitor everything from engine speed to water temperature. A '99 Si gauge cluster replaces the hatchback's OEM-issue unit. With the help of Pit Crew Motorsports in San Gabriel, California, La Victoria finished off the JDM interior theme with an Integra Type R shift knob, shift boot and center console.
I.C.E. Pioneer head unit and speakers.