Bolts&Washers
JE Import Performance 1996 Civic DX hatchback
PropulsionPop the hood on this latest JE creation and you'll find an H22A staring back at you from the engine bay, balanced, blueprinted, and assembled by the shop. When the project began, the H-series block was sent off to ERL Performance for machining and sleeves that are 3mm over stock, increasing bore to 90mm and raising displacement from 2.2 to 2.3 liters. JE knife edged the factory crankshaft, and after dropping it in, connected Crower rods and Wiseco 8.5:1 compression pistons to it.
Attached to the head via a JE Pro Fab equal-length stainless manifold is a GT35R turbocharger, boasting a turbine A/R of .82 and a compressor A/R of .70. Exhaust makes its way out through a JE Fab downpipe bolted to a custom 3-inch exhaust, with turbine bypass handled by a Tial 44mm wastegate. Meanwhile, the cold side sends the charge to a Precision intercooler and Skunk2 Pro series intake manifold via custom JE plumbing. An NOS wet nitrous kit set up to deliver a 150-shot adds laughing gas to the induction.
Inside the top, JE went for the full custom valve job, port, and polish. They put together a valvetrain made up of Supertech valves, Skunk2 springs, retainers, and cam gears, and Crower turbo cams. JE also revised the fuel system with an Aeromotive A1000 pump, -10 lines, custom sump to prevent fuel starvation, and 1000cc RC Engineering injectors. Matching the elaborate fuel configuration is an equally sophisticated Electromotive crank triggered distributor-less ignition, and the fuel mix and ignition are governed by Electromotive's Tec3 engine management. To protect everything, JE opts for Motul coolant and 300V motor oil to flow through the engine.
Energy from the motor is passed off to the transmission by way of a Competition Clutch flywheel and twin-disc clutch. The 5-speed OE gearbox itself has been upgraded with carbon-coated synchros, a Quaife LSD, and Motul gear fluid. Power makes the last leg of its journey to the wheels through Drive Shaft Shop stage-5 axles.
EvidenceOn the bottle, this JE-built Civic puts down 852 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque-hot damn!
StancePrepped to optimize traction, JE set up the EJ chassis with Progress race series custom shocks and spring rates and a custom Pro Fab traction bar. The shop also installed a custom rollcage for rigidity and driver protection.
ResistanceThe full complement of rotors and calipers has been switched out for GS-R issue, front and rear. Calipers have been loaded with Hawk pads, and Motul RBF 600 fluid is pushed out to each corner via Goodridge lines.
Rims & RubberTucked into the forward wheelwells are Mickey Thompson slicks, sized 24.5/9/13, wrapped around 13x8 Weld wheels. For daily driving, the hatch rides on Rota Slipstream rims adorned in Hankook rubber.
Fashion
Outside
Outward cosmetic tweaks are mostly functional-Seibon front lip, a modified bumper that can accommodate the intercooler, and rolled fenders for the massive slicks. Speedesign Custom Graphics handles the Civic's sparse decals.
InsideEssentially everything from behind the front seats back was removed-mostly paneling and carpeting-for the sake of weight reduction; the car now weighs 2140 pounds. JE then hooked up an AEM Uego wideband meter and Autometer oil pressure, water temp, and boost pressure gauges to keep tabs on engine performance. Unexpected JDM flair, namely the Bride seats and Takata harnesses, gives the cabin some street cred.