Developed SIR
Ive Known Barry and his EK4 for a good while. Barry has owned this car since it came into Ireland just over six years ago as a relatively clean standard enough EK4 SIR. It has been amazing to watch this car develop over the years into its most recent incarnation that we have here today. Just as we were talking about a while ago, this car landed in Ireland and the owner stuck with it over the year. The car was a perfect way for Barry to learn new skills and try different things out over time to achieve his idea of what a civic should be.
Barry is a modest enough human being, the exterior of this car easily reflects his personality. After years of giving the car a proper trashing, both on and off track the shell was treated to a full restoration. The shell was taken back and every little imperfection removed. Selecting the right colour and putting the car back together barry chose wisely on what parts were fitted to the car.
Barry just wanted it to look clean and simple, no nonsense, everything on the car is there for a purpose. He managed to track down an OEM fron SIR splitter to finish off the front end, super subtle touches that go the extra mile like all new OEM bump-strips and an OEM ariel delete.
The front end was treated to a CTR bonnet and grille. To the average onlooker the car looks like a simple enough Civic which is exactly what Barry wanted, nothing obvious or flashy.
Its when you get closer to the car and have a look inside your perception of this Civic changes instantly. A brief look inside and you start to realise how this car has been crafted over the years. Barry has taken out pretty much anything that is not needed, and in their place something that is needed. The car has changed over the years into a tool that is used for drag and circuit, with plenty of fun in between with the focus on driving more than looks.
Barry is not one to cut corners either, the parts that have been fitted have been carefully selected and really do compliment the cars interior, the driver sits into a Bride zeta II on a bride low rail, while the passenger sits in a standard SIR seat whenever it is actually fitted to the car!
The original clocks were swapped out for the Type R version along to make way for a higher revving engine, along with other bits like gear linkages.
On the Dash sits some Defi gauges in the form of oil temp water temp and oil pressure.
The centre console and stereo have been all taken out. In place sits an RSM along with an Aem AFR gauge on the bottom. Launch control and switchable maps on trigger switches are fitted nicely into the dash.
The crown jewel lays under the bonnet. I enjoy the fact that Barry has pushed the limits of his B16 over the years, dedicating his efforts and car to that mission along with good friend Taylor. They set about pushing this 1600 and their knowledge as far as they could, which hasn’t been a cheapest adventure. They could have easily went the turbo route but this is what makes the civic that bit more enjoyable..
The block has all new oil pumps timing belts. Weisco high comp pistons were fitted along with Carrillo a beam rods which were the lightest on the market at the time. A Custom breather tank was also fitted.
The head was sent to be ported and polished. Aem cam gears were fitted along with a set of DDtech custom camshafts. Barry then added Ferrea oversize valves. Ferrea bronze valve guides. Ferrea valve springs. Ferrea retainers. Ferrea collets. The rocker arms were balanced along with an Ati crank pulley. For breathing a Plm big tube exhaust manifold was fitted.
To feed more fuel a Walbro fuel pump was needed, along with an Aem fuel pressure regulator, Injector dynamics 725cc injectors and an Edelbrock Victor x intake manifold which was fitted with a Skunk 2 70mm throttle body, Short ram 70mm air intake arm and a Blox’s velocity stack, to keep everything cool a Koyo Halfrad was fitted.
Sourcing as much as he could to achieve the goal Barry knew the car would be an angry little animal. Out back he wanted to give all that power a nice note and not compromise the subtle exterior look so a Skunk2 70mm exhaust was fitted. To tone down the chaos of the angry little heart an Apexi ECV is used for controlling the noise when needed. This is all powered by a ECtune mapped by Taylor and his magical shed.
The perfect match for a Civic would be the TE37 wheelswhich have been fitted with grippy Toyo R888 tyres.After the shoot some 5 stud hubs and bigger brakes were fitted. Other handling essentials include Tein type flex coilovers with skunk 2 camber arms front and back accompanied by D2 lower control arms.
The SIR has also been kitted out with Buddyclub balljoints and a Civic Type R racebase manual rack. The transmission is an OEM LSD box with a 4,7 final drive and a long 5th gear. Mating the power to the box is an ACT paddle clutch and Exedy flywheel.
Barry’s EK4 has been shaped by the places it is driven around him, building something that can be at home on a back road but but hold it to many 1600s in a straight line if needs be, and pushing all this from an NA1600 B16. The car was built for purpose and both owner and car have built up a special bond over the years since it landed here. Im sure this civic will stay with Barry for years to come, being more refined, re developed and re imagined.
Barry has put together the perfect balance of form an function. Its been a pleasure watching this grow over the years.
Wheels/Tires/Suspension/Handling/Transmission
Tein type flex coilovers
Skunk 2 camber arms front and back
D2 rear lcas
Te37s with Toyo R1RS
Buddyclub balljoints
Civic type r racebase manual rack
Fully Polybushed shell
OEM lsd box with a 4.7 final drive and long 5Th gear
Act paddle clutch
Exedy flywheel
Exterior
S.I.R front splitter
Oem bumpstrips
Oem aerial delete on it
Ctr as bonnet
Ctr Grille
Engine
Walbro fuel pump
Aem fuel pressure regulator
Injector dynamics 725cc injectors
Edelbrock Victor x intake manifold
Skunk 2 70mm throttle body
Short ram 70mm air intake arm
Bloxs v stack
Block has all new oil pumps timing belts
Weisco high comp pistons
Carrillo a beam rods
Custom breather tank
Head is ported and polished
Aem cam gears
DDtech custom camshafts
Ferrea oversize valves
Ferrea bronze valve guides
Ferrea valve springs
Ferrea retainers
Ferrea collets
Rocker arms were balanced
Ati crank pulley
Plm big tube exhaust manifold
Koyo Half radiator
Interior
Bride zeta II on bride low rail.
Type r clocks and gear linkages.
Apexi rsm.
Defi oil temp water temp and oil pressure gauges.
Aem afr gauge.
Launch control and switchable maps on the trigger switchs.
Ectune ECU mapped by Taylor.