This month, as promised, the focus for my 700hp D16 is on the turbocharger system, controls and electronics. Bisimoto Engineering has always been synonymous with excellence; we also only choose the best parts for our own facility and customer builds to ensure reliable power.inline_mediumwraptextright27052519/features/sstp_0912_honda_sohc_d16_engine_buildsstp_0912_01_o+bisimoto+engine_top.jpgTrue

It's that monthly time again for us to dedicate a few pages to our loyal readers. For the month of April, we had some unusual readers submit rides. If you want to see your car here and possibly win some free parts, send some high-resolution photos of your ride to readersrides@superstreetonline.com. Make sure they are the JPEGs are 1500x1000 dpi. Do not try to use your camera phone. We don't care how much you like your iPhone, it will suck and will not look good in print. For snail mail users, send your letters to Super Street, c/o Readers Rides, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. Don't forget to tell us your full name, where you live, highlights of your mods and your quote.

Here's where we act like we know something technical about cars. Feel free to ask us about your technical troubles. Write us at tech superstreetonline.com or Super Street c/o Tech Support, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. Feel free to include a picture of your project or tech problem.inline_mediumwraptextright31290612/techarticles/sstp_0912_tech_support_december_2009sstp_0912_02_o+tech_support+import_model.jpgTrue

You try to do everything you can to prepare yourself for situations like this. You keep your expectations a bit lower than normal, tell yourself "if it's meant to be, it'll happen" but still it was hard to see the Z limp into the pit much much later than expected. The fuel pump had started to give out, and to quote Billy "the car fell flat on its face and just wouldn't go anywhere." Thankfully we did have at least one timed lap in the books in the 20-minute session, but still, all the hard work (and money) you put into a car to do well at the track, it felt to me that I had somehow failed my sponsors and I couldn't do a better job of representing them in the way that I wanted to. It was only because of their generosity that I could have gotten the Z to be selected in the competition, and to not do as well as you hoped, was hard to swallow.inline_mediumwraptextright27102811/techarticles/sstp_0912_castrol_syntec_top_car_challenge_final_part_twosstp_0912_26_o+top_car_challenge+personal.jpgTrue

Around the mid '90s the Honda phenomenon had caught on in a big way. People were constantly testing the waters - finding ways of tuning these once thought eco boxes into full-blown racecars. At the forefront of style were many odd conversions, grotesque color schemes and bizarre graphics. Enter the purveyors of OG JDM style, the FF Squad. They helped to usher in the classic JDM style and fused it with proven performance. Thanks in part to the FF Squad, the scene never looked back. Now more than 10 years after their internet boom we took some time to sit down with five original members of FF Squad, Jason "Katman" Kaplan, Lee Randle, Steve Joo and brothers Dylan and Erik Huig, to see why they're still addicted to FWD Hondas.

There seems to be a set template that people follow when it comes to building EVOs. Typically, you'll see them lowered with an exhaust; some will change the wing and the blow-off valve, then they throw some wheels on. Those who attempt to front like they like the stock wheels will even go as far as to paint them and roll up to a meet and stunt the freshly-painted stockies as new rolling stock. To say that some of them lack their own sense of style would be an understatement. If you've been to an EVO meet you'll notice that many of them just seem to blend in with each other.inline_mediumwraptextright25795976/featuredvehicles/sstp_0912_2006_mitsubishi_lancer_evolution_9sstp_0912_01_o+2006_mitsubishi_evolution_9+front.jpgTrue

Get Off In Two Pages What is TRA Kyoto? Who is Kei Muira? TRA Kyoto (Top Resin Art) is a company based out of Kyoto, South Japan towards Osaka. Known mostly for their fiberglass work, TRA has a few other product lines - 6666 Customs, Rocket Bunny and Number 6 - that produce aero parts, wheels and a few other custom parts. Kei Muira, the owner of TRA, designs all of the aero and wheels from CAD software and machining. His CAD design skills have even landed him contract work doing fiberglass work for everything from drift kits, to VIP kits to off-road 4x4 projects. Some of the companies that get in line for his services include Supermade, D-Max, NKB, B-Spark, Schmieden, Top Rankaz and Quadruped.inline_mediumwraptextright30997578/featuredvehicles/sstp_0912_honda_civic_ef_mad_max_muirasstp_0912_01_o+honda_civic_ef+front_view.jpgTrue

Let's Get Going Love driving? Of course you do. We all do. The Nation of GO is a new site that has more interaction than Tila Tequila. Drivers from all over can log onto the social website and plot out their favorite drives, upload pictures and video clips. If you have an iPhone or a Blackberry (so much better than the iPhone and you know it Bernice! -CT) then you can download the Nation of GO mobile app and upload your pics, videos and your route through GPS, all in real time. Whether you prefer canyon roads, racetracks, off-road courses or simply scenic routes, users can share driving impressions about a particular spot through blogs, forums and profiles. Tips and current conditions about certain courses like Baja or Thunderhill can always help a fellow GOer out. Samuel Hubinette, RJ DeVera, Verena Mei and many other drivers will all be part of the Nation of GO Tour. Follow them as they launch in San Francisco, go down the coast to Orange County, through the south to Texas, up to Chi Town and end in Pennsylvania. Source: www.nationofgo.cominline_mediumwraptextright25793768/features/sstp_0912_intel_nation_of_go_launchessstp_0912_06_o+news_intel+nationofgo.jpgTrue

One of the few rear wheel driven hatchbacks, the KP61 Toyota Starlet is definitely my favorite hatchback of all time. These are pretty rare here and I wouldn't blame you if you haven't ever seen one. Only the second generation Starlet made it to the States, and only from the years 1981 to 1984. But if you have seen a modified one in person, up or even just lowered, you'd know this car is incredibly small. To give you an idea of how small this is, in stock form (before removing any unnecessary weight), Starlets weigh less than 1700 pounds. Starlets aren't ridiculously small like a Mini Cooper and they're not as large as the newer MINI. And it definitely doesn't have the feminine clout that the MINI does.inline_mediumwraptextright26925439/featuredvehicles/sstp_0912_1981_toyota_starletsstp_0912_01_o+1981_toyota_starlet+sunset.jpgTrue

2010 Nissan Cube I love the Cube. There, I said it. This oddly-shaped and quirky looking (let's just say it) "box" has me feeling excited and the last time I felt like that was this morning at 6something a.m. and also when the first gen Scion xB came out a few years ago. It's a superb offering for the B-spec market from Nissan, making up plenty of ground over the Versa sedan mostly because it just looks and performs like it is: totally f'in bueno. And in a small car segment that's quickly growing by the minute, it's good to see another JDM original take over and score big in the realm of cool.inline_mediumwraptextright26786287/featuredvehicles/sstp_0912_nissan_cube_new_carsstp_0912_01_o+nissan_cube+side_view.jpgTrue

November 26-December 2 Extreme Autofest. Moscone Center. San Francisco, CA. www.extremeautofest.com

December 12 Hot Import Nights. Chandler, AZ Www.hotimportnights.cominline_mediumwraptextright31256796/eventcoverage/sstp_0912_december_2009_calendar_extreme_autofestsstp_0912_01_o+calander+import_model.jpgTrue

Chris Forsberg piloting his NOS/Maxxis 350Z came into Round 5 leading in points for both the Formula D series as well as the Tires.com Triple Crown bonus award. Forsberg ran through the whole event and left the same way he came in, as the points leader.inline_mediumwraptextright26785945/eventcoverage/sstp_0912_formula_drift_round_5_evergreen_speedwaysstp_0912_01_o+formula_drift_washington+drifting_car.jpgTrue

My Favorite Moments Of 2009 (In No Particular Order) What a weird year it's been, no? Bad? Yeah, but I can also say that it had its moments nonetheless. When I think of all the stress and complexities life threw our way, I can always look back here and remember fonder times:inline_mediumwraptextright26924692/features/sstp_0912_honda_ff_battle_holeshotsstp_0912_10_o+holeshot+group_photo.jpgTrue

Subarus are rare in the drift circuit. Podium position is even more rare. At this Formula D event, Eric O'Sullivan managed second place with his WRX. While Stephan Verdier and his Cooper Tires/Crawford Performance Subaru WRX STI took the first place trophy. "This is a dream come true. My first victory after three years of competition and it is also the first victory for a Subaru and Cooper Tires. I'm number one and it's a great feeling." If you've ever met the Frenchman, you'd know Verdier is very passionate about drift and rally racing. I actually met Verdier on a Hyundai Genesis press trip where Verdier gave me lessons on how to drift, and I must say his victory is long overdue. He is a very methodical and calculated driver.inline_mediumwraptextright31019364/eventcoverage/sstp_0912_formlua_drift_round_6_infineon_racewaysstp_0912_01_o+infineon_raceway_drift+mazda_rx7.jpgTrue

October 30-November 1 Formula 1: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix; Yas Marina Circuit www.formula1.cominline_mediumwraptextright25750193/eventcoverage/sstp_0911_november_2009_calendar_formula_1_abu_dhabisstp_0911_01_o+calendar+model.jpgTrue

Since its inception in 2006, Import Alliance has become "sort of a big deal." How big of a deal you ask? IA has become the largest multi-make Japanese car meet in the United States. This year the grassroots get together drew in over 2800 cars - packing the speedway to full capacity, with another 700 or so forced to wait outside the gates while over 5500 spectators walked around inside. Being that the meet originated from Honda-Tech it's no surprise that VTEC-equipped rides dominated the event. Some of our favorites you will be able to drool over in upcoming issues - but for now here are our photographic memoirs from the meet.inline_mediumwraptextright26557612/eventcoverage/130_0911_import_alliance_meet_2009sstp_0911_01_o+import_alliance+honda_s2k.jpgTrue

For a long time I've been waiting for someone stateside to build a Corolla just like this one and at TORC's Toyotafest I finally did. Cesar Fernandez's orange AE71 was one of the most impressive cars at the show. I have to admit, my first car was one of these generation Corollas (but a coupe), and I hated it. But long after I got rid of it, I started to realize they had some serious potential. Maybe even more potential than the Honda I traded up for.

Ed note: While the event is long over, the Castrol Syntec Top Car Challenge winner has yet to be announced (don't worry, the results are coming next month). That doesn't mean we can't fill you in on how our car did during the testing, so we asked our car's owner, Cheston Chiu, to help tell the story from his eyes of how his car did from beginning to end. We'd like to thank all of the companies who were involved and all of the readers who voted on Castrol Syntec's Top Car Challenge website for Super Street; your votes meant the world to us although they didn't go towards any actual points in the contest (although they should have).

It's hard to imagine that it's been 15 years since I went to my first Import Showoff, way back when I was a young buck, and that this past summer, at the tender age of 31, marked the last. I know it's been a long time because my old car club shirt that I brought out of my underwear drawer with its perfect creases and half-defunct sponsor logos tell me that it's been a long time - that, plus the stench. But I couldn't miss this Import Showoff for the world. For as long as I've been going, Ken Miyoshi and Mainstream have always used this key event as the "it" show - if you weren't rockin' the best shit, you weren't gonna survive at Nisei and everyone brought the goods to Nisei. This one stayed true to that ideology and mentality.inline_mediumwraptextright25373540/eventcoverage/sstp_0911_nisei_showoff_little_tokyosstp_0911_03_o+nisei_showoff+acura_integra.jpgTrue

The most ultimate and expensive part of a project car is usually the engine. But before you build your engine, take a look at what popular swaps might suit your car. For the ultimate build, people are not just building the engines given to them with their cars; they're doing a swap and building on top of that. These days the import scene knows no bounds. Tuners are doing swaps with engines from different chassis manufacturers and some are even going with domestic engines. Here are the top 10 swaps based not just on engine performance but also on the popularity of the swap. If it were up to just engine performance it would easily be just the three biggest engines on top. Whatever you decide is the right heart transplant for your car, there's nothing like having a more powerful, high-tech engine swap.

Tech Support
Where We Cure All Your Tech Problems
Here's where we act like we know something technical about cars. Feel free to ask us about your technical troubles. Write us at tech@ superstreetonline.com or Super Street c/o Tech Support, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. Feel free to include a picture of your project or tech problem.

Summer's over and you haven't even started on your projects, right?! Maybe it's fortunate that you procrastinate like you're going to live forever. We got some new gear for you that might inspire you to get back into that oven of a garage. So if you need navigation, some new speakers, a woofer or some wiring for the DIY projects you promised yourself you were going to finish before the end of summer, then lookie here. These products are just as good at twice the price but available for half that.

Super Street used to say (way back when) that the Honda Civic was this generation's hot rod, the next evolutionary step in street performance. Their line of small gas savers (and those from the Acura lineup) were reminiscent of the domestics from even way back'er in the days - took well to aftermarket tuning, made big power that nobody really expected, performed well at the track and most of all was just so damn cheap to do. Made perfect sense to keep following the Honda scene, I guess, and so did the rest of the country. We featured Hondas so much that we were often times called Honda Street, not that we minded.

Growing up as a product of the '80s was both weird and interesting. Off the top of my head, I can name plenty of things that serve as sentimental reminders of that era. Do things like Storm Shadow with kung fu grip, flux capacitors, and HKS jog your memory?inline_mediumwraptextright26501869/featuredvehicles/sstp_9905_1994_toyota_supra_jza80sstp_9905_02_z+1994_toyota_supra+side_view.jpgTrue

Nine-Second HKS Front-Drive Celica Coming To America? While we Americans are busy tinkering with Honda Civics, making a seemingly futile attempt to reach the 9-second quarter-mile barrier, HKS Japan has gone out and blasted everybody out of water with its sixth-generation Celica. Its best time so far has been an astounding 9.727 seconds (though this was in the Japanese version of the quarter-mile). HKS reports that the car has yet to reach its fullest potential.inline_mediumwraptextright30700239/features/sstp_9905_hks_engineering_toyota_celica_z_concept_wheel_contestsstp_9905_02_z+news_toyota_celica+celica.jpgTrue