Nelson believes in the the-best-dyno-is-the-track philosophy, but admits that a chassis dyno helped him out once. "I've dyno'd the thing once, and I got 380 hp at 8,000 rpm. But I was only going low 13s, and we couldn't figure out why. Turns out that we needed to turn the sensitivity down on the J&S Safeguard; it was retarding ignition by about 20 degrees all the way down the track. We gained 100 hp from simply tuning the knock sensor."
And once he's at the track? "I launch at 7 grand and just drop it; my redline is at 8,500 rpm, and I shift maybe 200 rpm below that. My best 60-foot with stock suspension is a 1.65 60-foot. Last season, I was timid and careful since it was a real street car; I'd always bring extra axles. They're kind of a pain in the ass to change in the heat of the moment. But now I've stripped a lot of weight out, and it's less of a strain on the components." Next stop: 11s. And just one camshaft. Believe it, bumpstick snobs.
Fast factsOwner Nelson TerraHometown Fall River, MARide '94 Honda Civic SiDaily Grind EMT Training Technician
Under the Hood SOHC 1.6L Honda, .020 over, balanced and blueprinted rotating assembly, TEC T3-T04E turbo with HKS blow-off valve and wastegate (manual boost control), Sparco air-to-water intercooler with custom piping, 60mm honda throttle body, STR intake, one JG 84VT cam, Clevite 77 bearings, deburred '91 Integra connecting rods, Arias 8.5:1 pistons with JG rings, ported head by John at Nick's Automotive, Russ Collins 550cc injectors, MSD 6AL ignition and 8.5mm wires, J&S Safeguard, colder NGK plugs, Thermal 3-inch exhaust (DEI Cool-Wrapped), Paxton 90 gal/hr fuel pump, stock rebuilt transaxle with phantom limited-slip (stock gears) and ACT clutch. Rated at 380 hp at 8,000 rpm; best time 12.1 seconds at 106 mph
Stiff Stuff Skunk2 coilovers
Rollers 17-inch Kelly tires on Tenzo R AV7 rims (Bogart 5-star rims, Mickey Thompson E/T Drag 24.5x8x13-inch slicks up front for the track)
Outside Fiberglass nose, shaved body moldings, DuPont Chromalusion Pure Fire flip-flop paint squirted by Steve Russell, Fall River; graphics by Signs up America, Fall River, MA
Inside Sparco Sprint chair and pedals, VDO gauges, Grant steering wheel, custom aluminum dash
Ice what, the whooshing sound of the turbo ain't enough for you? Sheesh.
Props His wife, Stephanie. "I learned that I have a very understanding wife." Also: James Forzono and the crew at Manchester Honda, Dave's Tire and Auto, Nick's Automotive, Berkley Used Auto, Saber Auto Body, Signs up America, Paramount Tool, and Darren at Artspeed in Los Angeles
By Richard S. Chang
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