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Honda Civic Hatchback RHD: Chad Scott’s Stunning Type R Conversion Build
Honda Civic Hatchback RHD:
Chad Scott – 1997 Honda Civic DX Hatchback (Converted to RHD 99 Type R)
Instagram: @Chadillack03
TikTok: Chadillack
Photographer/Author – Donnie Rochin
Instagram – @r0cean11
Facebook – r0cean11 Photography
“Don’t stop dreaming. You see these kids and people pointing at your car? We were once those kids. Stay humble and don’t discourage the future generations of gearheads who look up to you.” ~ Chad
Introduction: Meet Chad Scott
I’m Chad Scott, 37 years old, and I grew up in Lake Stevens, Washington. I left home at 18 and have since lived all over the U.S., from Oklahoma to Georgia, South Carolina, Las Vegas, and Florida. My journey in the automotive world began when I started working at dealerships at 19, and I also proudly served eight years in the Army.
Featured in Our JDM Tuners Magazine
My Automotive Journey Begins
From playing in the dirt with Hot Wheels to racing video games and watching the first Fast and the Furious, I was hooked on cars from birth. After moving to Oklahoma, I met a small group of friends who formed a car club called Team MEC (Medieval Customs). They invited me to my first two-day car show in Lawton, Oklahoma, called Spring Bash. I didn’t even own a car at the time, but the experience left a lasting impression on me. Immediately after the show, I began searching for my own car.
I chose this vehicle because I’ve always wanted a right-hand drive car, and it had to be a Honda. My late wife, who tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident, owned a ’99 Honda Civic Si (EM1), which we sold a few years before her passing. She had always wanted an EK hatch, so when I found this EK, I knew it was the one.
Honda Civic Hatchback RHD: My Car History
The first car I owned was a 1986-and-a-half Toyota Supra MK3, followed by a 1992 Honda Prelude Si, which I still own today. I’ve also owned a Nissan 300ZX, two 1999 Honda Civic Si models, and several Chevy Silverado trucks for daily driving. Now, I have this EK. Not a single vehicle I’ve owned has ever stayed stock; I’ve always felt the need to stand out. “Imagine dating someone who blends in with regular traffic.”
People I had never even met would recognize me because of what I drove. When I park and walk away, I always look back at it and think, “Sheeeesh!” If you don’t look back at it when you walk away, you picked the wrong vehicle. At shows or out in public, it brings a smile to my face to see others drawn to it. I often get asked, “Isn’t it confusing driving on the passenger side?” Surprisingly, the answer is no. Everything is the same, except you pull the gears toward you instead of pushing them away, and the wipers and turn signals are on opposite sides.
Driving this car around brings pure joy. It’s not fast—“like at all”—but you will never forget that feeling of cruising in a ’90s Honda.
Finding the Perfect Project Car
When searching for a project car to buy and build, I always strive to find one that is as close to stock as possible. I want to avoid dealing with other people’s problems, but that’s almost impossible today.
What makes my car stand out from others is its simplicity, yet it also has a wildness about it. Not everything in the catalog is just thrown in; it’s far removed from everything else you see. Staying true to my love for the Prelude, I opted for the H-series engine, as everyone else seems to be doing K-swaps.
Modifications: Honda Civic DX Hatchback
Honda Civic Hatchback RHD: Engine/Drivetrain
- H22A4 engine swap with M2F4 non-LSD transmission
- Innovative billet mounts
- 4-2-1 headers
- MSD extreme power distributor cap
- MSD plug wires
- Billet EGR block-off
- Billet fuel rail
- Billet idle air control valve
- AEM full cold air intake
- Downstar VTEC solenoid cover
- Downstar clutch master cylinder plate
- Skunk 2 Alpha ½ radiator
- Mishimoto coolant temp sensor
- Aluminum in-line fuel filter
- Chasing J’s titanium dress-up bolts
- Chasing J’s titanium spark plug cover
- Buddy Club racing spec header-back exhaust
- Handmade tucked engine harness
Honda Civic Hatchback RHD: Suspension
- Air Lift Performance front struts
- Air Lift Performance rear shocks
- Air Lift Performance 3P manifold
- Twin Viair 444C compressors
- Powder-coated 5-gal air tank
- P1 adjustable upper control arms
- Hard Race front lower control arms
- Truehart rear lower control arm
- Hard Race rear cross member
- Hard Race trailing arm bushings
- Hard Race adjustable lateral arms
Honda Civic Hatchback RHD: Brakes, Wheels, and Tires
- Rays TE57 Gram Lights 17×9
- Federal 595 RSRR 235/40ZR17
- Rays locking lug nuts
- Rays valve stem caps
- Drilled and slotted rotors front and rear
- Wilwood master cylinder
- Wilwood manual proportioning valve
- Downstar brake booster delete plate
Honda Civic Hatchback RHD: Interior
- Bride low max buckets
- Buddy Club rails
- Takata 4-point 3” harnesses
- 4-point powder-coated bolt-in roll cage
- Momo Italy steering wheel (signed by Noel, aka “Hector”)
- NRG red slim quick release
- Glow Shift digital tach with shift light
- Glow Shift Seven Series digital oil temp/pressure gauge
- Glow Shift Seven Series digital coolant temp gauge
- Acuity weighted shift knob
- Handmade Crown Royal shift boot
- Full Type R interior
Honda Civic Hatchback RHD: Audio/Video
- JVC CD player
- Alpine Series S front and rear speakers
Honda Civic Hatchback RHD: Exterior
- M&M Honda R super tuning wide-body
- Ominique Bellagio blue tint
- Japanese illuminated front plate with light box
- Type R rear lip
- Type R spoiler with aluminum adjustable brackets
- Custom mixed paint
- Type R front grill
- Type R power folding mirrors
- Black housing headlights with JDM parking bulbs
- Fully shaved engine bay
- Extended strut towers for arm clearance
- Billet quick-release hood hinges
- 99 Type R right-hand drive front clip (facelift) conversion
- Underglow lighting
Future Plans for My Honda Civic
I bought the car already converted, but up to this point, I’ve done all the other work myself. My next project is to finish the trunk audio and clean it up with hardlines for the Air Lift system. I want to be able to hand this car down to my son, Klutch. I hope he keeps this passion for cars alive, and one day we can truly work on it together.
Community and Connections
I’m not part of any clubs; I’ve always been a solo flyer. However, I love making new friends and forming great connections within the automotive community. Once I reached a certain level within the car scene, it opened doors to places I never thought possible. I’ve made friends who welcomed me into their group as if we had all grown up together.
My Dream Car
My dream car has always been, and will always be, a 2002 Honda NSX-R. It truly is a work of art.
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