Thongvone Choumphimmasen's Uncle T owned his own auto shop and inspired him to build his own car. Choumphimmasen's first build was an all-motor 1992 Honda Civic CX with a H22 swap. "From then on my hobby turned into a passion," mentions Choumphimmasen.
In 2007, Choumphimmasen bought a 1997 Honda Civic EK in silver with a B16A motor. "I bought the car bone stock." The original plan for the Civic was to put in a fully built GSR engine, but a close friend of his convinced him to put in a K (series). "Before going to a K, I woke up one day and just decided to go all out and make it a RHD conversion," remembers Choumphimmasen. A week after going to paint, his dad left a huge scratch on the corner panel of the EK. "I kicked in the door in anger, and instead of going to fix it (a complete new paint job), I decided to get carbon fiber doors." But it didn’t stop there and Choumphimmasen ended up getting as much carbon fiber as he could find! "Things just kept on getting crazier (and crazier) for the build," recalls Choumphimmasen, "and I started adding on everything that I could find to make the car different from any other."
The RHD conversion was all done in Choumphimmasen's garage and it took 7 long years to get it to where it is today. It finally was up and running in 2016.
"I had given up on the car for a while due to not being able to find certain parts for the car going RHD," mentions Choumphimmasen. "After awhile of looking, I talked to Steve at Hmotors and he helped me find the parts that I needed." PFI helped Choumphimmasen build the motor and MoFab helped him finalize some of the things on the vehicle before he opened his very own shop. His friend Steve also helped him build the cage.
"Everyone inspires me to try new things and that’s why I do it. Without the inspiration of ideas, there wouldn’t be a build. My family also inspires me to go above and beyond with my build, and my son loves cars and says that it will be his one day."
Owner: Thongvone Choumphimmasen
Location: Commerce City, CO
Vehicle: 1997 Honda Civic RHD EK
Horsepower: 987 whp
Club: Street Status
SOCIAL
Facebook: Thongvone Choumphimmasen
Instagram: @ewerkz
YouTube: video
Photography by @amp_media_denver, Cody Lind Photography.
ENGINE & PERFORMANCE
K24A2 block
AEBS sleeves
Arias pistons
Manley Turbo Tuff rods
ACL race bearings
Skunk2 Ultra Stage 4 camshafts, Alpha valves, Pro valve springs, titanium retainers, Ultra intake manifold
Supertech bronze guides
Stage 5 port job
Golden Eagle head gasket
K20Z1 head
ARP head studs
K-Tuned 90mm throttle body, fuel rail, fuel pressure gauge, water pump; custom air induction system, sidewinder turbo manifold, downpipe
TiAL MVR 44 wastegates, blow-off valve; custom Belle intercooler
Injector Dynamics 2,000cc injectors
Aeromotive A1000 fuel pump
Sump gas tank
NGK plugs
Custom MoFab radiator
ERL oil pump
EFR 9180 T4 twin scroll compressor
1.45 A/R T4 twin scroll turbine housing
EXHAUST
2.5"-to-3" exhaust
Vibrant V-band clamps
Burns muffler
PERFORMANCE ELECTRONICS
Rywire Milspec Harness, Aem Series 2 ECU
AEM Oil Pressure, boost, Wide Band
Davies Craig electric water control
K-Tuned Electric Water Pump
DRIVETRAIN
Five-speed RSX transmission
Competition twin-disc clutch
PBG gears
4.1 final drive
Driveshaft Shop Level 2.9 axles
K-Tuned full race spec shifter with cables
WHEELS & TIRES
AG wheels - 16x8 +25
Kumho tires - 215/40R16
ARP extended studs
Titek lug nuts
BRAKES
Type R calipers and rotors
Hawk pads
Stainless steel lines
CHASSIS & SUSPENSION
Automotive Koncepts & Designs Chromoly V1.5 Tubular Subframe
Chromoly V1.5 Trailing Arms
Karcepts Spherical Top Hats
4340 Chromoly 5x114.3 Wheel Hubs
Automotive Koncepts & Designs 2 Piece Driveshaft
8.8 Ford Explorer Differential
Automotive Koncepts & Designs Billet sway bar brace
ESM Race Spherical Lower Control Arms
ESM Rear Camber Kit
EXTERIOR
1999 front-end
J Blood Bumper, side splitters, rear diffuser
Carbon fiber canards
Seibon carbon fiber fenders, hood, side skirts, hatch, doors
Type R carbon fiber rear lip and spoiler
EK9 headlights, taillights
Spoon carbon fiber mirrors
Carbon fiber grill
Gloss FIerce Fuchsia
LIGHTING
CTR Headlights, Tailights
INTERIOR
Right-hand drive conversion
CTR door panels, rear panels, floor mats, gauge cluster, backseat
Custom six-point roll cage
DC5 Recaro seats
Takata harnesses
MOMO 280 steering wheel
LTB quick release
Custom carbon fiber headliner, shifting console, arm console, gauge pod, steering column cover, A-pillars, rear window pillars
Skunk2 shift knob
AUDIO & MULTIMEDIA
OEMCTR dash
FAVORITE MODIFICATION
"I don't have just one favorite modification. I built this car from the ground up. Every little detail in this car matters to me."
FUTURE MODIFICATIONS
AWD Setup
Track Setup
SPONSORS
Vibrant Performance
Automotive KND
MPC Motorsports
SHOPS & MECHANICS
Brent Leivestad of PFI Speed for being my mentor, friend, and helping hand
Dustin Morris of Performance Porting for the amazing porting job and mental support
Scott Molitor of Mofab for all the custom fabrication
Cody Lind for the sensational photos
Mike Hackett at K-Tuned for sponsoring the build
Yuya at AG Wheels for the custom rollers
Tony at Carbon Fiber Element for all of the custom carbon pieces
E Werkz LLC
