After numerous garage swaps, this Canadian Civic owner finally found the power he was in search of.
As a Honda enthusiast, you've no doubt had more than a few arguments with non-Honda owners about horsepower, torque, and possibly power-to-weight ratios. And don't forget about that infamous jpeg posted on every automotive-related board on the web that says something about a soda bottle having more liters than a Honda Civic. Even with all of the negativity, Honda guys always seem to find a way to level the playing field. Whether it's someone building and boosting their SOHC motor, or the next guy swapping in a B or K series power plant, we've been blessed with more than one option for increasing power to keep up with larger displacement challengers. Still, for those who have experienced a car equipped with a V6 or V8, you simply can't deny the raw torque that always manages to push your spine deep into the seat's fibers, leaving you begging for more. For years, power-hungry Honda heads have dreamt of shoehorning a VTEC-equipped V6 into their Civic or Integra and ruling their local streets with six fists of fury. Here we are in 2009, and the dream has finally become a reality.
Phil Anastacio didn't start off like your typical Honda fanatic. He didn't foam at the mouth at the mere thought of modifying his '97 Civic hatchback. Nor did he did he lose any sleep debating what wheel setup he'd kill for. In fact, he only acquired the car as a hand me down from his father. "I was 18 years old and I was just starting my electrical apprenticeship. My dad basically gave me the car so I could get to work everyday," he recalls. The mod bug didn't take a bite out of Phil until that one fateful evening when a friend paid him a visit. "My friend Pino showed me what my car could look like using photoshop. It was all downhill from there. I started with the basics like a Vibrant muffler, intake, and springs, and eventually I asked my dad if I could have half of the garage to work on my project." Phil's poor father has been stuck with fifty percent of a garage ever since.
At the ripe old age of 19 years, Phil and a few friends decided to try a B series swap on his birthday. The process seemed simple enough, other than a few problems deciphering the injector wiring between OBD IIa to OBD I. Brimming with confidence, Phil completed a minor wire tuck and cleaned up the car's engine bay. The car fired right up, but over time, began to swallow oil. "It was burning oil so bad. I'd add oil more often than I filled up the gas tank! I picked up a beater and just put the car on hold during the cold winter months," he adds. His father's only input: "when are you going to clean up this garage?"