1989 Honda Civic Si - Second Chance

Once the second GSR engine was installed, he finally got to take his baby home for good. "It was such a good feeling," he recalls. Jorge took it to Hot Import Nights in 2008 and couldn't help but blush from all of the attention he received. "I was happy. Everyone was looking at the car; it's what I wanted," he says. Looking back on the whole build, he reminds himself that it was good faith that kept everything and everyone together.

In the end, Jorge was able to do what most cannot. He took an '89 Honda Civic Si hatchback and created a car so attractive, so unique, that it could easily garner more attention than a newer model Honda Civic Si. When asked what makes his car special, Jorge takes several moments to respond. "I don't know. It's the way I like it. It's just special to me," he says.

Jorge speculates that he should be putting down 220 horses to the ground, due in large part to the TWM 50mm individual throttle bodies adorned with even sexier carbon-fiber velocity stacks. The fully-built GSR engine stuffed with Wiseco pistons and rings attached to Eagle rods helps as well. Then there are always the Jun Stage 3 camshafts adding to the power equation. Regardless, he still wants to go faster. He's not too sure on how he intends to achieve his goal. "Maybe a K swap... (silence) I'm trying to enjoy it right now...and I'm happy with it," he sighs. The long pause and strain of voice wasn't convincing. He's not letting his second chance slip away. Not this time.

Bolts & Washers

Propulsion
B18C1 engine (84mm bore)
Hasport engine mounts
Skunk2 cam gears
Jun Stage 3 camshafts
Jun valves
Jun valve springs
Jun retainers
12.5:1 Wiseco pistons
Wiseco rings
Eagle rods
ITR crankshaft
TWM 50mm individual throttle bodies
TWM carbon-fiber velocity stacks
Spark Racing 4-2-1 exhaust manifold
Skunk2 test pipe
Thermal muffler
Walbro 255 lph fuel pump
B&M fuel pressure regulator
RC Engineering 440cc injectors
Stainless steel lines and fittings
NGK spark plugs
NGK spark plug wires
ACT clutch
ACT flywheel
Quaife LSD
Custom transmission gears
Fluidyne radiator
Samco radiator hoses
Cusco oil catch can
JDM ITR valve cover
All Version Motoring port and polish
All Version Motoring wire tuck
Honda P28 ECU
OBD-0 to OBD-1 jumper harness
Hondata S300 ECU
Odyssey PC680 battery
Gator Axles

Stance
Skunk2 coilovers
Koni dampers
Vision front camber kit
Skunk2 rear camber kit

Resistance
DC2 Integra disc brake conversion
Wilwood hydraulic brake system
EBC brake pads

Rims & Rubber
15x7 Sprint Hart CP-R (+35 offset)
195/45-15 Toyo Proxes

Outside
Custom white paint
JDM SiR front end
JDM SiR center garnish taillights
JDM SiR rear bumper
JDM SiR rear lip
JDM "DOHC-VTECH" stickers
Password:JDM carbon-fiber front lip
Password:JDM carbon-fiber side skirts

Inside
JDM SiR front/rear seats
Mugen gauge cluster
Mugen shift knob
Mugen shift boot
Panasonic 7-inch screen DVD/CD player
Pioneer component speakers
Kicker amplifiers
Kicker L7 12-inch subwoofers
Custom subwoofer enclosure

Props
Friends
Family
Shops
Dad
Pop, Tong, and Mark at All Version Motoring

Owner Specs

Favorite website:
www.autotrader.com

Screen Name Or Nickname:
N/A

Building Hondas For How:
6 years

Your Dream Car:
Any Ferrari

Build Inspiration:
Build my "own" Civic

What's Playing In Your Ipod/CD/MP3 Player Right Now:
Wisin y Yandel

Greatest Movie Of All Time:
Scarface

Buying Used Hondas
There are many ways to purchase a used Honda. Going to the local used car dealership will most likely result in a headache from the salesman's cologne and a car that disintegrates in three months, not to mention a Mt. Everest-high interest rate. Check out Auto Trader's website and other popular Honda-based forums for great deals. Don't be afraid to run the V.I.N. number on www.carfax.com for peace of mind. Never pay for a car before physical inspection-it's just not smart. Check the oil, tires, exterior, interior, etc, and don't forget the compression test. Turn on every widget imaginable as well as the requisite test drive. Double-check with state vehicle agencies to determine how to handle the paperwork and what fees apply. It's never fun to find out Mr. Shady forgot to mention the car was salvaged and he doesn't have any paperwork after the purchase. And lastly, take a second or 10 before signing the dotted line. Happy hunting!