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Honda Civic EJ1: A Supercharged B18c1 Build Story

Discover Jon Urban’s 1994 Honda Civic EJ1 journey: Vortech supercharged B18c1, TE37SL wheels, and custom mods reflecting 14 years of passion and growth.

Mr2mivin

Honda Civic EJ1

TL;DR

Jon Urban’s 1994 Honda Civic EJ1 reflects 14 years of personal growth, evolving alongside him from his first car to a fully custom build.
Engine highlights include a Vortech supercharged B18c1, custom water-to-air cooler, ARP head studs, and tucked flex-fuel lines.
Exterior and interior mods, TE37SL wheels, Tein Flex Z coilovers, Porsche 986 front callipers, and hidden gauges make this Civic a unique, street-legal JDM coupe build.

Jon Urban

1994 Honda Civic EX

Instagram: @Camellia_EJ1

Photographer: Marvin Recinos

Instagram: @mr2mivin

Performance Stats:e85 317 HP , 91 273hp

Jon Urban: From Childhood Car Enthusiast to Civic Builder

My name’s Jon Urban, 31, a naturally competitive, work-driven guy. When I’m not tackling projects, I feel like I’m wasting time—probably why I gravitate toward goal-driven video games. I’m always chasing improvement, whether at work, cars, or any new skill I attempt. Learning from people who know more than me fuels me, and then I put my own twist on it, making any project distinctly mine.

Cars run in my family. My dad’s 1969 El Camino was a constant presence, sparking my early fascination. Games like Need for Speed, Gran Turismo, and Forza deepened my obsession, and I’d comb Barnes & Noble for car magazines—Honda Tuning and SuperStreet were my staples. Those magazines still sit in my drawer today.

1994 Honda Civic EX

Early Car Life: From First Coupe to the Civic EJ1

This Civic is actually my second car. My first was a 1993 Civic Coupe, which I wrecked within three months of getting my license—a classic rookie mistake. After that, I got a loan from my parents to buy this 1994 Civic EJ1 so I could drive to college, promising to repay it before touching the car.

Once the loan was paid off, I began learning car maintenance. My early work was far from perfect, but functional. Eventually, I swapped in a manual transmission from my old wrecked coupe—my first step toward personalising the car.

The Turning Point: Choosing to Build, Not Sell

At one point, I considered selling the Civic. My dad told me, “You can’t afford your dream car right now, so why don’t you build it?” That advice changed everything. Over the years, I corrected early mistakes, saved for a professional paint job, and truly fell in love with the car. Even when COVID hit and I explored Subarus and other vehicles, this coupe remained my passion.

A friend encouraged me to take it to a Honda meet, reigniting my obsession. I called my trusted shop, and from there, the build entered its next phase.

1994 Honda Civic EX engine bay

Engine & Performance: Vortech Supercharged B18c1

The engine is the heart of this build:

Vortech SC B18c1 with custom water-to-air cooler.
ARP head studs for strength and reliability.
Flex fuel kit and custom fuel lines, tucked to maintain a clean engine bay.
Repainted bay in satin clear for an OEM-style aesthetic.
Custom AN lines and hidden wiring to clean up the look.

The supercharger came from Marketplace at 2 AM—an impulse I’m glad I acted on. The bottle cooler setup was designed with Spearmint Dyno, and the overflow tank was relocated using a custom bent hardline inspired by my old Subaru. Mini gauges from Engintix Performance were discreetly installed in the clock and defroster pod.

After tuning, the results exceeded expectations on both pump gas and E85, delivering 317 HP on E85 and 273 HP on 91 octane. This engine reflects both technical precision and the evolution of my automotive knowledge over 14 years.

1994 Honda Civic EX interior

Interior: Blacked-Out, Functional, and Personal

Bride seats for ultimate support.
OEM Honda of America coupe floormats.
Interior transformed from grey to black.
Custom dual-din console and Momo wheel.
Hidden gauges in clock and defroster pod for a clean, functional layout.

Exterior, Wheels & Suspension

Modified OEM Ferio wing for the coupe.
Exceed front lip and UKDM SiR headlights/corner lights.
TE37SL wheels wrapped in Falken RT660 tires.
Suspension: Tein Flex Z coilovers, front ST sway bar, Progress rear sway bar, and PCI upper control arms with Energy/Hardrace bushings.
Brakes: Porsche 986 front calipers with Honed Development adapters, rear Type R calipers with EP3 rotors.

DIY Ethos & Shop Collaborations

Most of the work was done in my garage. Exceptions: welding the bottle cooler, slight supercharger bracket modification, and engine rebuild performed by a shop. Everything else, from lines to interior, is my handiwork.

1994 Honda Civic EX

Future Plans

Install LSD in the transmission.
Possibly a 5-lug conversion to expand wheel options.
Build will evolve naturally—this car grows as I do.

Reflection: A Car as a Life Story

This Civic isn’t just a car—it’s a timeline of growth. The OEM coupe color, supercharged B-series engine, and personal touches reflect my journey over the last 14 years. It’s a story of persistence, creativity, and life lessons, all under the hood of a Honda Civic EJ1.

Shoutouts

Spearmint Dyno, Ali Garage
Family for endless support
EJ1/EJ2 Instagram community for inspiration

Dream Cars

Any air-cooled Porsche
Toyota Chaser
1972 Corolla Levin

Amazon Magazine References

Call to Action

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