Words by Matt Willis

Before we left for SEMA, we hosted a quick shoot with two awesome 4-door builds. Keith Ta, Eddy Tran and their late 90s Honda Civics have been around the streets of San Diego for a while. We’ve been following their projects for a couple years now and we’re excited to see the direction they’ve taken.

If you’re into the Honda scene, you know that there are so many “overnight-er” builds that come out of the wood-work, year after year. They’re toured around show after show, featured in magazines and on the web, and eventually phased out with a bigger and better project. We see those types of cars all the time. And we love them — they are the flagship cars that lead the trends and interest in the scene and are often recognized as pioneers of their class. But…with the resources, connections, and time…it’s easy to produce a car of that sort of perfection. It’s not hate…it’s just the truth.

For the average enthusiast, things don’t come so easy. Builds can take time and can change course over that time. The money and effort involved is…in my opinion…so much more appreciated when it takes some time to produce. You see the changes, and you see the car come together little by little. You see the owner’s attachment to the car in this way.

Keith’s ’98 LX 4-door has always been one of favorite Hondas. The simplified looks, black-and-white color scheme and the fact that the car retains the less-common ’96-’98 attributes makes it unique in its own way. It continues to be his daily driver, but plans to adapt it for autocross and road racing events – including a yet to be determined engine swap. Here are Keith’s specs:

1998 Honda Civic LX Sedan
D16Y7 Engine
Taffeta White

Current Modifications:

JDM SiR Headlights
JDM SiR Lip
JDM Halogen Bulbs
JDM Power Folding Side Mirrors
CTR Shift Knob
CTR Vent Pocket
Honda Access Window Visors
Honda OEM Red/Clear outer tail lights
Honda OEM Rear Sunshade
Honda OEM Exhaust Tip
Honda OEM Coupe Grill
Honda Nose Mask
2000 EM1 Seats
4pt. NEUSPEED Front Strut Bar
Skunk2 Rear Tower Bar
Skunk2 Dual Bend Short Shifter
SpeedZone Motorsport Rear Visor
Buddy Club P1 Wheels with 205/50 Kuhmo tires
Buddy Club Front Camber Kit
Skunk2 Rear Camber Kit
Zinc Plated Cross Drilled Rotors with Hawk Pads

Future Modifications:

Engine swap
Rear disc brake conversion
Skunk2 lower control arms w/ ASR subframe brace and sway bars
Recaro Seats

Eddy shares the same 4-door LX chassis as Keith, with the exception of the ’99-’00 body conversion. His car has traveled around southern California events with Team Showpow. It has also been featured on our site a few times in the past.

He tore up the desert with us at El Mirage…

…showed at Extreme Autofest here in San Diego…

…and this is from Tim’s last shoot with him…

It’s no doubt we’ve seen the car change over the last few years. Eddy has definitely put a lot of effort into the build and he is still very dedicated to it…

His current tail lights are not something you see everyday, but we think they add a unique flair. They’re also LED lit, which gives them a neat look without having to have red lenses within the housing. The carbon trunk got a little scraped up in a recent accident…

16×7 Konig Heliums wrapped in Nexen rubber…

His formerly naturally-aspirated B16A is now fully boosted…

Eddy’s current specs:

1997 Honda Civic LX Sedan

Engine:

-JDM B16A Block w/ USDM B16A2 Head
-CTR Pistons
-CTR Oil Pump
-Custom Baffled Oil Pan
-GSR Cams
-B&M Fuel Pressure Regulator
-NGK Iridium Spark Plugs
-Apexi (NGK) Pink Spark Plug Wires
-ITR Dual Valve Springs
-SKunk2 VTEC Solenoid Cap
-Type R Valve Cover
-Type R Oil Cap
-Mishimoto Half Size Radiator
-Mishimoto Radiator Hoses
-Interstate Battery
-OEM JDM Fuse Box Cover
-Has Power Steering
-B&M Fuel Pressure Gauge
-Shoche Battery Terminals
-Home Depot Dress Up Bolts
-Apexi World Sport 2 Cat Back Exhaust
-Custom 2.5inch Test Pipe
-GReddy 18g Turbo Kit @10psi
-RC 440 Injectors
-Custom Down Pipe
-GReddy V31 Intercooler Kit
-GReddy Type S BOV
-AC Technic Oil Filter Sandwich Adapter
-ARP Headstuds

Interior:
-Black/Purple Recaro Sports from an Evo8
-NRG Quick Release System (2.5) with Momo Competition Wheel
-Mugen Pedal Set
-Type R Dual Bend Shifter
-Spoon Sports Shift Knob
-Type R Shift Boot
-OEM Honda Road Flare
-Takata Harnesses
-2000 Digital Dash/Climate Control Conversion
-99-00 Civic Si Door Tweeters
-OEM Ignition Key Light Illumination
-NRG Carbon Fiber Rear View Mirror

Exterior:
-Olive Green Metallic Paint
-99-00 Conversion All Around
-BYS Front Bumper
-CTR Grill
-OEM Bumper with Si Lip (daily)
-Seibon Carbon Fiber OEM Style Hood
-NRG Carbon Hood Dampers
-AeroCatch Hood Latches with Lock
-OEM Honda Window Visors
-OEM Honda Power Folding Mirrors
-OEM Stanley Clear Sidemarkers
-EDM Stanley Rear Fog Lights
-Custom Crystal Clear Taillights with Red LEDs
-JDM Ferio Badge
-JDM SiR Badge
-Mugen style rear spoiler
-Mugen style rear valances

Wheels/Suspension:
-16×7 Konig Heliums with Neo Chrome Lug Nuts
-Nexen N3000 205-40-16 Tires
-EM1 Si Disk Brakes Front and Rear
-Si Prop Valve and Brake Master Cylinder
-Black Works Racing Full Coilovers
-Skunk2 Lower Control Arms
-ASR Subframe Brace
-CTR Front Anti Roll Bar
-ITR Rear Anti Roll Bar
-OEM Type R Front Strut Bar
-Neuspeed Rear Strut Bar
-Axxis Pads All Around
-OEM Rotors All Around
-Wilwood Dynalite Big Brake Kit (recently installed not pictured)

Audio:
-Dual Din Kenwood 7inch Touch Sceen DVD deck with Ipod
-JL Audio 500/1 Amp
-12″ Eclipse Titanium Sub
-6″ Kenwood Front Speakers
-6×9″ Kenwood Rear Speakers
-JL Audio Bass Controller

Visuals:
-99-00 Civic Si Cluster
-GReddy Turbo Timer
-SRP Boost Controller
-GlowShift Boost Gauge
-GlowShift Oil Pressure Gauge
-Full Digital VTEC Controller

We’ll keep you guys up to date as these builds progress. And thanks to Keith and Eddy for their time…

Thanks for looking!