It's often said that knowledge and success are preceded by experience and time. The only way to be successful in life is to experience the trials and learn from the errors. The same can be applied to car modding. It isn't uncommon to look back in time and ask ourselves why we did what we did way back when. Whether it was a strange cross-platform taillight conversion or some random sticker frenzy, it's hard to say that mistakes don't pave the way for what the future might bring. Youth and decisions of impulse often go hand in hand and when things fail to go as planned, one is humbled, chalking the whole thing up as a learning experience. Troy and Brett Kordenbrock can attest to this because they've taken what they've learned over the years and applied it toward their very own business venture: Kordenbrock Motorsports. Better known throughout the Midwest and East Coast as KMS-Fab, the Kordenbrock brothers have spent the last couple of years perfecting their trade, ultimately turning their shop into a full-service tuning factory. From welding to CAD-designed CNC machining, to full NHRA- and SCCA-approved rollcage creations, there is little that the brothers cannot do.
Last time we checked in with the Kordenbrocks we had the privilege of featuring Brett's '93 Civic hatchback. The hatch was KMS' first attempt at building a shop vehicle but the original platform was a bit worn out, you might even say beat-up. The entire car had to be redone inside and out, and many of the original hack-job modifications that the previous owner did had to be undone. The car was even wrecked at one point, making major frame work a necessity. When all was said and done the Kordenbrocks had completely rebuilt the Civic with a new turbocharged powerplant. The Milano Red hatch would get the recognition it deserved in HT's Apr. '06 issue, which ultimately motivated the boys to build an even better project.
The better project came in the form of a Chevy Green Metallic Honda Civic-this one owned by Troy. You might say this hatchback represents a more refined, experienced build. KMS-Fab took the knowledge they had gathered from their previous project and made sure to avoid the same mistakes. To keep from having to strip down a Honda that had already been built by someone else, Troy chose a completely unmolested '92 Civic CX chassis. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native didn't want the exterior to take away from all of the planned fab and engine work so he kept external aesthetics to a minimum. Only with a close look will one notice the resprayed body, shaved antenna, and gas tank lid. To ensure a job well done, Troy did the paint and bodywork himself.