Reader’s Rides & Import Tuners

It seems alot of the top rated cars on this site all have a story, so here's mine:  At the age of 13 i started a band (as most kids that age) for my love of music.  I'd sit at our concerts and think to myself "when I drive, I want to have a car that sounds this kick ass."  Now unlike most of the people into cars, my dad thought they were bad investments, so I can't say I am one of those kids that has been working on cars since he learned to walk, because thats far from the truth.  Luckily my parents gave me their 1998 Eddie Bauer Explorer for my 16th birthday present.  So I immediately went to the local audio shop (SpeedofSound) and questioned the bejesus out of the salesmen there.  I eventually settled on what at the time, was a brand new subwoofer on the market...a 12" JL Audio W7.  They convinced me it was worth the boatloads of money it costed, especially for a 16 year old.  And boy were they right.  I had to throw in some MB Quart Premium speakers, which at the time were still hand made in Germany, and I was hooked on cars.  In the following years I spent so much time and money at the shop, that the manager eventually offered me a job, which was far from my other job at Burger King, so I couldn't resist.  I went everyday after school until the shop closed every night in an attempt to learn everything there was to know about car audio.  About 3 years after that I felt that I had learned everything there is to know about audio, and bought a 93 Honda Civic hatch, because everyone knows they're the cheapest and easiest cars to work on.  The kid before me thought he was a body man, so he had the car in complete primer, dropped to the ground, completely gutted, but...he swapped the factory D15 for a D16z6.  So it was quick simply because it was light.  Then the modifications got out of control.  It started with your simple bolt ons, and before I knew it the primer gray hatch on factory rusted thirteens had a greddy turbo kit, a twin 10lb bottle fed zex nitrous system, and EAI air struts to make it hop.  It was on its way to becoming something special...until I had a friend offer me his 94 Del Sol.  By this time the D16z6 had a healthy 214,000 miles on it, and needless to say, finally blew a headgasket from all of the abuse I had put it through.  So unlike everyone else that quick fixes problems, I did it right.  I pulled the motor and sent it to Courson Racing Engines in Emlenton, PA for the build.  The motor was done just in time for me to take delivery of my Del Sol.  It one long night the D15y8 from the Del Sol got transfered into the Civic Hatch, and the now built D16z6 with a Full-Race stage 1 kit got stuffed into the engine bay of the Del Sol.  The next morning a friend and I embarked on a 250 or so mile journey across PA to Evans-Tuning.  From there on, the car has had multiple other upgrades that puts it to where it is at in these pictures and these paragraphs of modifications.  However you can be sure that it is no where near complete, and I don't mean that gawdy, bright paint job, fiberglass everywhere complete.  I mean that fresh coat of paint, factory looking, but still custom complete that everyone loves.

Interior:
Autometer Ultra-Lite Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge
Autometer Ultra-Lite Boost Gauge
Tenzo R Turismo Steering Wheel
Tenzo R Type R Seats
Tenzo R Sliders/Adapters
NRG Quick Release Adapter
NRG 4 Pt. Camlock Harnesses
Greddy Shift Knob w/ Blue Insert
Clifford 2.2X
Power Doors Locks

Exterior:
ATI Buddy Club 2 Front Bumper
ATI Buddy Club 2 Rear Bumper
NSX Rear Quarter Inserts
Z3 Fenders

Engine:
NGK Ignition Wires
NGK V-Power Racing Plugs
RC Racing 750CC Injectors
Walbro 255 Fuel Pump
Custom 3 Inch Turbo Back Exhaust
GM 5 Bar MAP Sensor
Garrett T3-T04E Turbo
Full-Race Front Mount Intercooler
Full-Race T3 ProStreet Manifold
Full-Race 3 Inch Piping
Full-Race 3 Inch Down Pipe
TIAL 44mm Wastegate
TIAL 50 mm Blow Off Valve
Greddy Full Auto Turbo Timer
Greddy Spec-II Boost Controller
SRP 9.0:1 Forged Pistons
JE Piston Rings
Overboard to 75.5 mm
Eagle H Beam Rods
ARP Head Studs
Zex 59300 Cam
Crower Titanium Valves Springs and Retainers
Crower Exhaust and Intake Valves
Crower Cam Timing Gear
Competition Clutch Stage 5 Clutch
Competition Clutch Ultralight Flywheel
Skunk 2 Pro Series Intake Manifold
Tenzo R Valve Cover
Tenzo R Fuse Box Cover
P28 ECU tuned with Neptune
Engine Built by Courson Racing Engines


Suspension:
Matrix Coilovers
KYB GSX Shocks
Neuspeed Sway Bar Bushings
DC Polished Front Upper Strut Bar
DC Polished Rear Upper Strut Bar
DC Polished Rear Lower Strut Bar
95 Del Sol SI Rear Disk Conversion
Powerslot Front Cross Drilled and Slotted Rotors
Powerslot Rear Cross Drilled and Slotted Rotors
AEM Ceramic pads all around
Enkei RSV 18" in Bronze
Nitto NeoGen 225/35/18

In Car Electronics:
Ohio Generator 14801 160 Amp Alternator
Diamond Audio D64002
Diamond Audio Hex 6.5" Components
3 JL Audio Blue Series RCAs
Alpine CDA-9884