You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
WORDS Bisi Ezerioha as told to the Super Str et staff<br />
SNAPS Sean Klingelhoefer<br />
SOHC ON THIS: PART 4<br />
TUNING THE CHASSIS OF THE WAR WAGON<br />
If you’ve been sleeping under a rock and haven’t been reading every<br />
page of the greatest magazine ever to materialize, then let us get you<br />
up to speed. This is Bisi Ezerioha’s ultimate street car build up. An EF<br />
Civic Wagon with a SOHC 1.6L D16A aimed to hit 700hp on unleaded<br />
gas. This month’s update includes <strong>tuning</strong> the chassis; bushings,<br />
rollcage, alignment, sway bars and coilovers.<br />
After paint-master Luis Rueda of Rueda Custom Paint and Body performed his<br />
meticulous cleaning, stripping and painting the entire Civic Wagon (including the<br />
custom NHRA approved Steen Chassis “Cage-Tuck” rollcage), the Bisimoto Wagon<br />
was promptly sent off to Progress Suspension in Anaheim, CA. The Bisimoto<br />
Electric Blue multi-stage paint scheme (same as the Insight racecar) was sprayed<br />
and wet-sanded to a high shine luster, and the engine was gently placed in the bay<br />
with Hasport EF/EE hydro mounts. The Hasport kit allowed the ease of installing<br />
a 1998 Civic gearbox, with an Action 2MS clutch to handle the torque to come.<br />
With the basemap in place with the AEM Gen 2 EMS, at idle, the Hasport mount<br />
kit did not present harsh chassis vibration, as other mount kits tend to do.<br />
Progress has been the suspension facility of choice for all Bisimoto Engineering<br />
projects, and many successful road race, time attack, drag and salt flat teams in<br />
the US and overseas.<br />
Progress creates and calibrates the dyno curves on all coilovers designed,<br />
utilizing an in-house shock dyno, and matching the spring rates to optimize<br />
performance and ride compliance. All sport spring designs are painstakingly<br />
designed in-house and extensively tested to meet exacting standards.<br />
The Bisimoto Engineering WagoVan was graced with the Progress Series<br />
I coilover kit. The “easy to install” coilover system is the perfect balance for<br />
88 SUPER STREET FEBRUARY 2010<br />
www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com<br />
the performance-minded enthusiast looking to make huge<br />
improvements in handling and appearance where quality,<br />
durability and proven track performance is of the utmost<br />
value. The aggressive suspension tune is ideal for superior<br />
street performance, light drag and autocross applications.<br />
The Series I exclusive take-apart dampers are tunable and<br />
rebuild-able; in addition, the threaded steel bodies are plated<br />
with attractive corrosion-resistant electroless nickel. This kit<br />
gave us the ride height adjustments we desired, ideal for on<br />
the track or at the show. The average Honda enthusiast will<br />
love the fact that these kits are covered under a one-year<br />
warranty to protect them from any defects in workmanship<br />
or parts failure.<br />
An obvious weak point on the EE suspension was the<br />
skinny OEM sway bar. On spirited driving days, I would love<br />
to prevent traction robbing “leans” that rolls part of the<br />
outside tires off the pavement. Progress Sport-tuned<br />
anti-roll bars came to the rescue: replacing wimpy OEM<br />
bar and rubber bushings with larger diameter (stiffer) alloy<br />
steel bars and polyurethane bushing. More roll stiffness<br />
means less body “lean”, and the Toyo tires stay flatter on the<br />
pavement (for a larger contact patch). The result is more<br />
grip and added driver control. After two decades of abuse,<br />
the rear trailing arms were in a horrible state. Progress<br />
Civic rear trailing arm bushings are a high durometer,
Change language