i cant say i really have the problem with the 4 cyl but u had a bud who bought a older civic and said that i couldnt make my old mx3 be able to beat it... prooved him wrong in fact we wont race me at all (scared)... had a smoke issue just like u stated.. so i rebuild the top end( i have a v6 1.8l dohc 24valve) got some after market cams, and valves.... might i say it runs amazing... working on the bottom end on it... plus i threw on a better clutch that the old owner had... lil things make a big difference... find a ford probe... identical engine swap! so easy a cave man could do it lol