Terminology plays a huge role in our tuning community. Facts are usually spread through person to person and whatever we read on the Internet, though everything we do as being a hobby is based heavily about what we see. You can find those who are very picky with the words they utilize and some who just often toss terms around with little good care of whether or not they are spreading misinformation. Like the cars themselves, there are actually the purists who follow the unwritten handbook of how to state and do things, and those that just don’t seem to care at all. Within this “handbook”, one of several words most often misused and overly verbalized is the acronym JDM. For the past decade, enthusiasts young and old took the term JDM and butchered it. When a very underground term has become as mainstream as it gets what was. People toss it around, believing that it describes a car or perhaps a particular method of building it, when its original definition has nothing to do with either. JDM, needless to say, stands for Japanese Domestic Market, indicating that a particular vehicle or part is from Japan’s own sales and trade market. Today, the term is commonly used everywhere to describe anything. The truth is a part you’ve never heard of? It’s JDM. The vehicle is lowered on wheels? It’s JDM. Some have even gone as far as to label their cars as JDM when they don’t even possess anything remotely in the Land of your Rising Sun.
Another popular expression that has essentially lost all and then any meaning within our import-tuning dictionary is the term clean. When a highly touted compliment has recently become the generic response for anyone who is asked how they feel about a car build which they may or may not like what was. You yourself have most likely encountered a situation where someone has asked you what you think, and fearing the backlash of expressing your true feelings, you deliver the universally accepted response, “It’s clean.” Telling someone who his car is clean is now a polite, diplomatic way of not saying anything in any way. It shouldn’t be that way though. Clean used to mean something; it meant that you built your car right. It wasn’t overly modded and consisted of parts that left your build with a timeless quality regarding thisways to wipe the slate clean (pun totally intended) and reintroduce the terminology to the community correctly, this Milano Red Civic hatchback would have been a great visual interpretation of the items clean is. The owner, Jorge Ortiz, is no stranger to Hondas. In reality, this is his fifth Honda endeavor. Though we weren’t familiar with his previous builds, we knew right away this was possibly one of the cleanest Hondas we had experienced. He informs us that autobody and paint are a hobby of his, and it shows; the attention to detail along with his skill together with the paint gun are very evident.
“Every vehicle that I’ve ever owned has been a Honda,” Jorge says. “I’ve wanted one ever since high school graduation and bought my first Honda in 2004. A couple of years ago, I needed to locate a new daily driver, but none of the newer-model Hondas appealed to me-so I just decided to build my own. The objective was to get the reliability of an older-model Honda with the strength of a new one, plus it all just came together.”
It took some searching, but Jorge could acquire this ’92 Honda Civic Si that was well-maintained, and more importantly, enjoyed a clean title. He was competent in paint and body thus it wasn’t a difficulty, though the body needed some minor work due to its aging. To achieve the power of a newer Honda, Jorge procured a minimal-mileage K20Z3 motor from an eighth-generation Civic Si. Being that his intentions were to maintain a street-able daily cruiser, there aren’t many modifications performed about the motor itself. He’s added an R-Crew header and bolt-on Password: It is otherwise as stock like a K-swapped Honda can be, although jDM intake. All of the factory engine covers from a K-motor have been retained to make the swap look as OEM as possible. For the untrained eye, one could imagine this being completely factory-built. He has even added an OEM Civic Type R muffler to preserve that stock-ish appearance. Living in California, the last thing you want to do is get caught up with a K-swapped Honda, so it is vital for Jorge’s Civic to search unassuming and alsoIn most cases, it matches the execution of the engine bay, though a Next Miracle X-bar and bolt-in rollcage might draw some unwanted attention. Additions come as factory Honda optional components mixed with a restricted number of aftermarket products. A Personal steering wheel, NRG quick release, and Skunk2 shift knob blend well with the 25th Anniversary interior. A JL Audio subwoofer has also been seamlessly integrated into the trunk to reduce the need for a bulky sub box.
Visually, the exterior of Jorge’s Civic is really a Honda purist’s dream. The complete shell has become massaged, eliminating all body flaws before you apply fresh coats of Honda’s signature red hue, R81 Milano Red. The classic tone is offset with carbon Kevlar pieces from Backyard Special. Bringing the entire ride height down a couple of inches is a set of Tein SS dampers. Seated in each wheelwell are timeless Mugen MF10s paired with twin-block stoppers in advance from Spoon Sports. “the devil is in the details,” so Jorge has gone far to source the proper Mugen valve lug and stems nuts to match his wheels, as the saying goes.
Nowadays, it is almost cliché to express that a build is “clean”. Once did and it’s a shame because there really isn’t a better word to describe Jorge’s Civic the term lacks the impact which it. The overall build is remarkably simple nevertheless the execution is the reason why this Honda special. For the unwise, it’s just another Honda that is seeking to be JDM (whatever it means). For the privileged enthusiasts who understand the nuances and appreciate everything that accompany building a timeless Honda, there is only one word that accurately defines this Civic-and well, you already know what that is.