Page 2 - Honda

The Honda Civic is a mod machine. To some, they might be the butt of a joke, but for many, these little compact cars hold a treasure trove of modification and tuning potential. Even though the FK8 comes from the factory as a track devouring top performer complete with the towering wing, monstrous brakes, and sport bucket seats, it's no exception to this trend. The heavy-hitting K20C1 under the hood and handling that almost defies physics only add to the to-do list for these civic owners. The drivers want more, and we're here to deliver.

Given the Civic Type R's potential both on the road and the track, big turbos and custom tunes are becoming the norm for enhancing performance. However, the joy of big boost hits a wall due to the restrictive MAF (mass airflow) sensor housing.

To many, Hondas are blank canvases. For years, enthusiasts of all kinds have found the Accord to be an ideal base for their unique brushstrokes of modification. Given the tenth generation's addition of forced induction, it comes as no surprise that this Accord is also popular among tuners. Every build starts with a vision, though, and our intercooler project is no exception. We might only be in the sketching phase of our next masterpiece, but we're eager to share the plans.

We have our work cut out for us to improve on the Accord's intercooler design. Specifically, the space available to us is extremely limited. In Honda's never-ending quest for driver safety and comfort, every Accord model comes with Honda Sensing as standard equipment. That's all well and good for the driving experience but less than ideal for us since the radar sensor is mounted very close to the OEM intercooler. In short, this sensor doesn't leave us much room to expand core thickness.

Anything deemed "for the masses" doesn't happen on a whim. Just think of all of the items that took the world by storm, like the Beetle, the iPod, or even this Accord. Plenty of careful thought and consideration went into the design, production, and distribution to ensure that every individual unit rolling off the production line would live up to the sensation created around it. While our intake kit for the 1.5T powered Accord won't reach the same tier as the iPod, we still want to ensure that we put equal consideration into the development, starting with the plan.

To start, we need to know precisely how well the stock intake performs in terms of flow. For that, as part of our previous "intakectamy," our engineer, Ye, strapped the factory kit on to our flow bench for preliminary testing. Ye then

Practicality comes in many forms in the automotive world. From the towering full-size SUVs to the micro hatchbacks, there's a version of practicality that suits everyone. For most, the mid-sized sedan fits that vision, which is where the 2018+ Honda Accord shines. Not only does it deliver four doors, cavernous trunk space, and plenty of legroom, but also two potent turbocharged engines and the option to row through the gears manually. The 2018+ Accord provides practicality tailored to the enthusiast.

There is, however, one aspect that stifles the potential of both the 1.5T and 2.0T variants of the Accord: the intercooler. When it comes to squeezing every drop of power out of your L15B7 or K20C4, keeping intake air temperatures down while promoting flow is vital. But, the stock heat exchanger isn't quite up to the task, especially once the boost increases. We here at Mishimoto are already hard at work on our new intercooler design, but first, let's dive into the stock unit and why it's

The last few years have solidified Honda's turbo generation. Sure, there have been sprinklings in the past, but the 2016 Civic was a gateway to the flood of turboed Hondas, including the darling mid-sized sedan, the Accord. The 2.0T variant stole the show with boasting CTR-esque power in a big cushy sedan, but let's face it, as good as the 2.0T is, the 1.5T is going to be the Accord for the masses. Even with the smaller displacement, there's still plenty of available power and efficiency that lend the 1.5T Accord for being a great all-around sedan and robust platform with tons of potential. Granted, for most owners, bone stock is perfect for their daily commutes, but some want to squeeze even more performance out of their Accord, starting with an intake.

The L15B7, more commonly known as the 1.5T, is, for the most part, shared between the core of Honda's current lineup, specifically this Accord, the CR-H, HR-V, and the Civic. The Accord received the second most potent iteration of the

One of the many wonders of science and engineering is its ability to progress continuously. Ten years ago, the mention of a bone-stock Honda Civic setting front-wheel drive track records would be met with ridicule. Sure, they had some formidable variants, but it was the intro of the K20C1 and armada of aero in the FK2, and now the FK8, Honda wanted their Civic to be taken more seriously. Even with their leaps and bounds in such a short time, the mighty K-series still has some issues staying cool, which is where we step in.

Honda isn't the only company out there continuously improving. If you might remember, after our initial evaluation of the cooling system, our best course of action was to add to or beef up other parts of the system, specifically with our Secondary Race Radiator and Oil

A makeover is typically more about appearances. However, what's the use of all those cool new clothes, and the dramatic spin in the barbershop chair, if the subject in question is going around with the same dull attitude? It might be better if the general demeaner can meet and compliment the modern new look. The case is the same as with the 2.0T Accord. It recently received a fresh new look, with plenty of new gadgets, but was still a little too much on the comfortable side for some. This is supposed to be the bad boy of the Accord line, and we wanted to tease that out of the K20C4.

In our last post we left you off with the fresh new production sample, ready to go through the ringer on the dyno. However, as we started testing, we found that there was still

Most of us have that food that we can't resist but we know isn't going to agree with us. We know the outcome is going to be unpleasant, but we still scarf it down anyways with antacids at the ready all the while asking if it's really worth it. That's sort of the same situation that's happening inside your L15B7. We know that there's blow-by. We know the consequences of leaving the intake valves unprotected. Do we just sit back and use a chemical clean as a sort of temporary relief, or do we look for a more permanent solution?

If you already read our last post, you'll know that a cure for this ailment is underway. So far, we've designed our prototype kit and set our donor vehicle out for the Mishi equivalent of clinical trials, a 1000-mile road test. This cycle tests

The more the 2.0T Accord visits our shop, the more it takes on a sort of sleeper agent persona. Under the skin of this mid-sized sedan's refined exterior lies hidden skills. It blends in. It's unsuspecting. Even this detuned version of the brash Civic Type R is enough to push you back against the seat, but we still want to stir up the Accord even more.

The James Bond films would have likely ended up being a lot less thrilling without the dramatic use of all those gadgets thanks to Q. Since our fresh new 2.0T intake kit's production sample just arrived, we'd like to assume the role of head gadgeteer in charge and take you on a tour of the updated system. In our last post, we were able to provide you with an in-depth preview of our intake kit design thanks to the magic of our 3D printers. This time, however, we can provide the real deal.