My 1997 Honda Civic EK9 Project Car Build Costing $19,450

As a huge fan of the JDM scene, I have been modifying my 1997 Honda Civic EK9 hatchback over the past 3 years. In this article, I will provide a full breakdown of all the modifications that have been done to the car and the total cost of the build.

The Starting Point

I purchased the Civic 3 years ago for $4,000. It came with a B18 engine swap already completed but the engine was in need of a full rebuild. The 2000 front end had also been fitted from an Integra at some point by the previous owner.

Exterior Modifications

One of the first exterior modifications I did was fit a J-Blood front bumper for around $1,000. I then upgraded the wheels and tires with a set of 15x7 +25 Fortune Auto 510R wheels wrapped in 195/50R15 Achilles ATR Sport tires, costing around $3,000. I also fitted a Civic Type R style rear wing for $600 and IPCI side skirts for $285.

Suspension Upgrades

To lower the car and improve the handling, I installed a set of Fortuna Coilover suspension which set me back $1,600 and added camber arms up front.

Interior Modifications

In the interior I have fitted Innovative gauges for $300, a Hybrid Racing short shifter for $350, D lock springs, an Arena Carbon Fiber Steering wheel for $330, a Civic SI style gauge cluster for $250, Sparco seats for $200 and a Brom Racing roll cage and harness bar for $300.

Engine Build

The B18 engine was rebuilt with Integra Type R pistons, Skunk2 cams and springs and retainers at a cost of $6,000.

Total Cost

Including all the modifications above plus regular maintenance costs over the past 3 years, the total spent modifying my 1997 Honda Civic EK9 project car comes to $19,450.

FAQs

What does JDM stand for?

JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market and refers to cars and car culture designed and marketed in Japan.

Why did you choose a 1997 Honda Civic EK9?

As a big fan of 1990s Japanese tuning culture, the EK9 Civic was the perfect blank canvas to build my JDM dream project car.

What are your future modification plans?

I plan to eventually upgrade the turbo and fit a big brake kit to handle the extra power.

Do you track your Civic?

No, it's currently just a fun street car but track days could be on the cards once the build is complete.