Issue 83

Issue 83
September 2008

Engine conversions have been a mainstay of modifying since the days of Hot Rods in the US, and they've always been popular within the Japanese car scene too.

Usually, conversions have been limited to powerplants from the same manufacturer, which is why companies such as Hasport have been so successful in producing billet mounts for specific swaps. You could probably count on one hand the amount of Civics on the road with B- and K-series engine conversions that don't feature Hasport mounts. But today we find that nepotism is no more.

Simply choose a great engine, one with plenty of tuning potential, and shoehorn it in. There's no shame in creating a Nisota or Toysan hybrid, performance and reliability are more important issues here.

Who wouldn't question the sanity of forking out for an expensive rebuild with forged internals when a more gutsy, standard engine can be sourced for a fifth of the price? That is the primary reason why cover car owner Steve Usher chose a Toyota 2JZ straight-six over a highly strung SR20 in his Silvia, but in doing so he's built a car that is right at the forefront of current thinking. His decision is one that is being replicated all over the world at the moment; modifiers can't seem to get enough of the 1JZ (2.5-litre single turbo) and 2JZ (3.0- litre twin-turbo) engines.

Powerful, eminently tuneable, over-engineered, and rev-happy, it's no wonder you'll also find a Toyota straightsix installed in the Mazda RX-7 of Tech-2 Motorsport's project on p124 of this issue. Elsewhere in this month's issue we go backwards in time with an astounding restoration project on a first-generation Prelude (p18), watch the flurry of activity that surrounds the birth of a new Group N rally car (p48), and experience Honda specialist Icetronix's take on a Time Attack Jazz.

Of course, there is our usual unmatched show  coverage and reporting of the recent Time Attack and European Drift Championship rounds. I also get the chance to bid a premature farewell to Project Aygo in my concluding feature on the car (p38). So if you like the look of this laugh-a-minute pocket rocket then don't forget to turn to p44 and enter the competition to win it. Where else can you get the chance to drive off in a fullon magazine project car for just £2?

Joe Clifford, Editor

In the September 2008 Issue..

The car that time forgot
Sparkling as if it just rolled off the production line, Simon Alexander's 1981 Prelude is almost too good to believe. How is it that time has not taken it's toll on this classic Honda?

Small wonder
Before it vacates his garage and heads off to a new owner, Joe reminisces about his diminutive but hard-charging city-to-track Aygo project

Birth of an icon
Our reporter watches a new Group N rally car being born and the blur of spanners as this Evo IX is prepared for its first outing.

Version 3.0
The car formerly nicknamed the 'Skyline of Death' is still very much alive and kicking. Once again transformed by creator and former columnist Neil Tjin, is this the version that is here to stay?

Flyin' in the wind
This year, it was full speed ahead at Santa Pod for Jap Show and the HKS Drag Series. Not even a strong headwind could slow down the action!

House party
When car-mad Lord March invites everybody for a party at his place, there’s so much to see you don’t know where to begin

Jazz festival
Following in the footstep of Japan's top tuners, there's now a Honda Jazz racing in the Irish Time Attack series

Creamcracker
Steve Usher shows us how to build a cracking S14 on a budget. But with a 440bhp 2JZ Toyota engine on board and an arsenal of drift suspension components it looks and performs like the cream of the crop

Experi-mental
Honda tuner Mugen used this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon to unveil the world’s most radical Civic – too extreme and experimental for the ‘RR’ tag

Round four
Halfway through the 2008 Time Attack series and the competitors converged on Oulton Park for some BTCC busting action

A day at the races
We visit the Green Hell, aka, Nürburgring Nordschleife, for the epic ADAC Zurich 24-Hour race, with Dirk Schoysman and the Falken 350Z

Revision time
A swift nip/tuck has kept the RX-8’s halo shining brightly for Mazda

Excel-lent stuff
The British International Motor Show returned to London with a tantalising collection of vehicles from the Honda CR-Z to the Lexus LF-A

Six into seven does go
Rotor-heads may call it heresy but Tech-2 Motorsport’s 1JZ conversion for the RX-7 gives the little Mazda some tyre-burning torque in its belly

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