Get a load of this 1999 Milano Red Civic.  These days it becomes increasingly difficult to stand out of the crowd, since so many new people are hopping onto the import wagon.  Civics are aplenty in the import scene, with such radically styled body kits and spoilers, they could practically eat you alive.  Generally if you want to stand out, you have to have a crazier kit than the guy parked next to you.  This leads to outrageous styling, often, so outrageous, they become unattractive.  More and more people are going to stock OEM look or the import JDM look for a cleaner more conservative image, without sacrificing originality. Richard Lee decided to take his Civic EX body a step further and do the Si conversion himself.  What he got was a complete redesign of his once mediocre looking Civic.  The conversion started, when Lee decided that his EX just wasn't cutting it.  He was tired of cruising the street of L.A. with only a stock red Civic.  The search for parts began.  Lee started with the body first.  He added a full OEM Si underbody kit, directly from Honda Motors, complete with mesh grill, side skirts, rear lip, and front clip.  It was painted to match the stock Milano Red.  Manuel from Mr. Paintworks added an Si spoiler which also came directly from Honda Motors, and painted it in stock color to match the body.  But Lee knew he was far from an Si.  Although it looked like an Si, he wanted some performance upgrades, to beef up that EX motor and make it perform more like an Si. At first, Lee started with simple mods, such as an Iceman Cold Air Intake, and a Borla Muffler.  He added ADR 17" 10-spoke rims, wrapped by Falken 205/40ZR17's and lowered it 1.2" with a set of Eibach Pro Kit springs with the help of Autolink in Los Angeles.  For a while he was satisfied, but eventually his need for speed and his love for racing caught up with him.  Just in time he met up with Johnny Lam from Belaray Motorsports in Riverside.  With Lam's help, he swapped the Iceman for an AEM Cold Air Intake with Bypass Valve, then added 4-to-1 headers by DC Sports, a Tanabe Racing Medallion Exhaust, and TC Carbon Fiber hood.  Then one by one he began to add performance accessories to the engine.  The ignition system was redone in favor of more precise combustion control, and better performance for the modified car. Lee added an MSD Sport Compact Ignition system with Blaster SS Coil and MSD Ignition 8.5mm wires with the help of Scott Croughwell from oVerboost.com.  Denzo Iridium Spark Plugs one range colder than stock brought the current into the combustion chamber.  With the engines performance up to par, it was time to do some more work to the exterior.  "I wanted that Si look.  I just couldn't get over how clean and neat the Si was when I first saw it.  When the oppurtunity came, I jumped on it."  His previous set of ADR 17's were removed in favor of a set of four 15" Si rims wrapped by Nitto NT450 Extreme Performance tires (195/50ZR15).  Richard went back to Scott again for more help.  "He was very friendly, and was more than willing to do the job.  It seemed more like a hobby to him."  With this came the installation of OEM style Raybrig driving lights into the front facia of the Civic.  Lee also added a set of PIAA Plasma H4 bulbs which, PIAA claims, provide 100/110w of equivalent illuminating power.  PIAA Super White H3 85w bulbs were installed in the driving lights.  To go with the new Si rims, Scott installed Eibach Sportline Springs with a more agressive 1.8" drop, and Tokiko Illumina 5-way adjustable shocks on the front and rear.  A neuspeed 19mm sway bar was added to the rear, for less understeer in the front drive Civic.  To complete the suspension, a DC Sport Front Strut Tower Bar, DC Sports Rear Strut Tower Bar, and a DC Sports Rear Lower Tie Bar were bolted to the frame to increase torsional rigidity and improve handling.  I had the pleasure of test driving the car myself, and noticed a phenomenal increase in handling and much better throttle response, and of course, the feeling of driving in an Si.  With so many more COPS patrolling the streets these days, Richard decided his Racing Medallian exhaust was just too loud.  "The tip was also draggin' way to often." Knowing that the race tuned straight piping of the Tanabe exhaust was crucial to top end power, Richard decided the piping needed to stay, but the muffler had to go.  Power Mufflers of Monrovia, CA. did the sweet swap, by custom welding an HKS Super Dragger Muffler onto the Tanabe piping.  "The sound was much better with the swap, plus it looks nice."  A few interior upgrades were performed, including the installation of pedal covers, a red-stitched leather shift knob from a Prelude, Si headrests and an APC Indiglo dashboard kit.  Giving props to Scott for his hard work on the Si, Lee contacted John from TG Race Graphics & Design for the placement of the oVersized oVerboost.com logo on the rear window.  John also added a set of SOHC VTEC stickers near the rear tires, homologous to the placement of the VTEC sticker on Si models.  But thats not all, Richard's got a thumpin' dual twelve inch system in his trunk.  Richard planted in a thousand dollar system into his car, only a couple hours after these pictures were taken.  One thing I've learned about Richard.  He's got loads of cash, AND, his car is different everytime I meet him.  There is always something new on his car, or some change.  I don't doubt that the next time I see this Korean racer, it will be at a stop light with him and a DRAG Generation 3 Turbo System.  More to come on this Milano Red Beauty.

AEM cam gear
AEM underdrive pulley
Zex flywheel
ACT clutch
Autometer air/fuel ratio
Autometer shift light
Neuspeed short shifter
DRAG Generation 3 Turbo kit