Written by Eric Backstrom
Photography by James Soriano
Edited by Michael Hendershot

Name: Rudy "Royalty" Reynoso
Location: Pasadena, CA
Age: 22
Car: 2005 Honda Civic Si (EP3)

In the search for the perfect Honda that fills your every desire, you might not always find what you’re looking for. Sometimes you just get lucky and that perfect car jumps out at you, pulls you in, and can’t be denied.  This is how Rudy Reynoso felt at the dealership in Pasadena, CA when he spotted his minty fresh 2005 Si.

Rudy has always been interested in cars ever since he began working on them at an early age with his grandfather.  Within his blood, the need for something to "take him to his limits" has always been prominent.  At the age of ten he remembers helping his grandfather change a battery and hearing "One day you're going to need to know how to do this."  With early memories like these, we realize why we tend to put so much work into our cars.  Late nights in his aunt's garage caused blood, sweat, tears, and frustration.  The satisfaction of driving a canyon-carving Civic that would make Keiichi Tsuchiya shed a tear must seem to make it all worthwhile.

Starting with the suspension, Rudy decided to go with Tien type Flex coilovers with their electronic dampening system (EDFC).  These shocks include Tein’s latest technology; Micro Speed Valving (MSV).  This allows the driver to feel a greater difference in the adjustments made to the dampening.  This, coupled with the EDFC is what helps make this Si a Royal Canyon-Carver.  At the push of a button, Rudy can adjust the dampers on his shocks for any type of road or driving style. Sick! 

That's not all, folks.  This EP3 takes the cake in suspension & brakes with a full DC5-R Conversion.  This includes hubs, knuckles, axles, lower control arms, sway bar, D3 double X brace and rear V brace, Progress 24MM rear sway bar and J's racing steering arms.  Now this is a lot of work and one sick setup!  Rudy had to design a custom steering arm relocation bracket to accommodate for the beefier DC5R and had to extend the tie rod ends to make everything work properly. 

With all this cornering capability and the chance of the occasional J-walker in mind, brakes were taken care of with Brembo calipers, slotted rotors and Endless Brakelines.  Although the motor was left nearly stock, this car sure has it's bragging rights.  What it lacks in hp, it makes up in suspension.  If you've ever driven through the canyons of California, you know what I mean.

Rudy chose Super Advans 17x7 (+35mm) offset wheels with Federals 215/45/17 for his pavement craving fun machine, making it stand out from the others.  An HPF lip kit was added, along with a carbon fiber hatch, carbon fiber mugen style wing, JDM window visors, and a Benen rear tow hook.  Stepping inside, you start to realize how serious Rudy and his team treated this build when you see the interior stripped down with its Status Kevlar Imola driver seat and Status FRP Laugna passenger seat. Handling was even taken into consideration when planning out the interior by lowering his own center of gravity with Nagisa Auto Super Low Seat Rails.  At this point I'm almost sure he had something hidden up his sleeve that he won't share even with us.

Holdin' him down is Takata racing harness and shoulder pads with a DGI harness bar.  His own personal eye candy while driving is a gauge cluster from an AP1 S2K, a push start and a Greddy counter weight shift knob with a Circuit Hero shift extender and Buddy club short shifter.  Rudy tops off the int. with a Nardi Steering wheel and Mugen pedals.
This Si is on it's way to being among the elite.  With a vision like Rudy's, and good help from   friends like Diego and James, Cesar from Silver Star Merceds-Benz, Brian & TPF, inspiration from his brothers Brian and David, and a Hero like his Grandfather, I'm sure he will dare a challenge.  

Discuss this article on our message boards!

Exterior: Hfp Lip Kit, C/F Hatch, C/F Mugen Style Wing, Jdm Window Visors, Benen Rear Tow Hook

Interior:Status Kevlar Imola Driver Seat, Status Frp Laguna Seca Passenger Seat, Nagisa Auto Super Low Seat Rails, Takata Racing Harness And Pads, Dgi Harness Bar, S2k (Ap1) Gauge Cluster And Push Start, Greddy Counter Weight Shift Knob, Circuit Hero Shift Extender, Buddy Club Short Shifter, Works Bell Short Hub, Rapfix Ii Quick Release With Flipper, Nardi Sport Rally Steering Wheel, And Mugen Pedals

Engine:Aem Cold Air Intake

Suspension:Dc5-R Full Conversion: Hubs, Knuckles, Axles, Lca’s, Brakes, Sway Bar. Tein Type Flex Dc5 Spec With Edfc, D3 Double X Brace And Rear V Brace, Progress 24mm Rear Sway Bar With Brace, J’s Racing Steering Arms, Custom “0857” Steering Arm Relocation Bracket And Custom “Rsxonrails” Extended Tie Rod Ends

Wheels/tires/brakes:Super Advans 17x7 +35 Offset, Federals 215/45/17 Tires, Dc5-R Brembo Calipers, Endless Brakelines, Pads And Rotors

Numbers:  N/A