OEM+ '92 Berlina build (Volk Racing, Mugen, Recaro content inside)

[Fightex]

Long time Prime lurker and Honda enthusiast since 2003, love this community and thankful for the resources. Here are a few pics of the journey now that all the maintenance is up to date.

How the car currently looks.

Engine:
- Gruppe M carbon kevlar intake
- Lovefab longtube headers
- Taitec GTLW
- Downforce/Taitec AIS (WTB)
- Type R style mesh engine cover
- Davis Designs coilpack guards
- Cedar Ridge Fabrication crankshaft damper pulley shield
- Cedar Ridge Fabrication oil pan baffle
- AJC ATX20HL Powersports 13lb Battery

Drivetrain:
- JDM short gears
- Type R 4.23 R&P
- Type R diff spring plates
- OEM clutch discs and misc parts
- JUN light weight flywheel

Interior:
- 330mm 350mm Personal Neo Grinta
- Wireless steering wheel switches for cruise control
- OEM Type S shifter (cut down an inch or so)
- SOS Type S knob OEM DC2R Titanium knob
- Recaro SPGs
- Kawai rails and sliders
- Nakamichi double din and Kenwood speakers
- Hugo's window regulators

Exterior:
- OEM Honda badges
- JDM tail lights
- OEM 97-01 lip
- Garage Kite rear valence
- DIY aluminum bumper beams

Suspension/chassis:
- MFactory/YCW coilovers /w 10k/10k Swift springs (amazing ride quality because they use Penske double digressive valves)
- Cedar Ridge beam bushings and toe arms
- Cedar Ridge front camber bushings
- Quaife 15:1 steering rack
- NA2 Type R 22mm front sway bar
- NSX-R upper chassis bar
- NSX-R lower chassis bar (WTB)

Wheels/Tires:
- Volk Racing CE28N, 17x7.5 +43 (/w 10mm spacer), 18x9.5 +22, 215/265 RT615K+ (sold)
- Volk Racing TE37, 16x7.5 +30, 17x9 +22 /w 215/255 RT615K+
- Mugen MF10, S2000 specs + spacers, 205/255 Indy 500 (replaced with 215/255 RT615K+)

The day i brought it home, bone stock '92 /w 75k miles

Had a good friend of mine polish it

Put on the mods and ceramic coated it

I actually prefer the sunken period correct look

One for the track, one for the street

Vanity plate a nod to the Father of the NSX

How it sits right now

I'll add some photos of the interior down the road. The long term goal is to get it down to around to 2800-2850lbs 2750lb with a full tank and 260-270whp dynojet but I'm extremely happy with where it is otherwise - its quiet and comfy yet sharp and engaging when I want it to be.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Honcho]

Wow! That's a really nice build you've got going. I think your philosophy is tasteful and will bring out the best of the NSX. I'm definitely in the weight reduction/NA camp.

 

[Fightex]

Wow! That's a really nice build you've got going. I think your philosophy is tasteful and will bring out the best of the NSX. I'm definitely in the weight reduction/NA camp.

Appreciate the kind words Honcho! Here's a little update -

I've switched to a smaller and less aggressive set of 16/17 TE37s to further reduce unsprung mass and MOI. The increase in cornering limit doesn't justify the incremental laziness going from stock 15/16 -> 17/17 ->17/18 to me. Feel is more important as a cruiser so 16x7.5 +30 strikes me as a good balance between aggressiveness, good fit on 215 wide tires as well as not throwing off the scrub radius too much.

 

[bogle]

Looks great! I really love the 16/17 TEs. They work so well on the car. You had a rear 3/4 shot with the TEs on ig recently that was [emoji108][emoji108][emoji108][emoji108][emoji3062]

 

[Fightex]

Looks great! I really love the 16/17 TEs. They work so well on the car. You had a rear 3/4 shot with the TEs on ig recently that was [emoji108][emoji108][emoji108][emoji108][emoji3062]

Thanks Bogle, our cars look so similar besides yours having 5 spoke 17/18 :biggrin:

Said photo for those that don't have IG

 

[Fightex]

Huge thanks to Marc at Mita for sending me his last JDM countershaft 2nd. Words cannot describe how excited I am to put this in next month (I love the 4.77 in my AP1).

Swapped out the 320mm Momo Tuner for a 330mm Personal Neo Grinta - I prefer this size and grip.

 

[SpeedAddict502]

Which steering wheel hub kit did you use and do you like it?

 

[MaxGeek]

LOL I love the license plate. I considered doing GAN SAN as well!

 

[JohnWayne]

Is the personal steering wheel thicker than the momo?
I may switch as well

 

[Chris_Lum]

Excited to see the build continue! have any pictures of the coilovers? where did you purchase them from?

 

[Fightex]

Which steering wheel hub kit did you use and do you like it?

I have the standard Works Bell kit and really like it, it fits perfect for both Momo and Nardi/Personal wheels.

LOL I love the license plate. I considered doing GAN SAN as well!

Yes do it! The ones that know, know.

Is the personal steering wheel thicker than the momo?
I may switch as well

The grip is noticeably thicker than all the Momo's I've had for sure (Tuner, Race, Monte Carlo etc.), it feels very substantial in the hands.

Excited to see the build continue! have any pictures of the coilovers? where did you purchase them from?

Thanks Chris! You can get them direct from MFactory, the co-founder Patrick (@mfactoryofficial) has a NSX, AP2 and original owner of a 97 ITR too. He's knowledgeable and have great support.

I forgot to take photos of the coilovers but here's a pic of them on my S2000, along with the shock dyno for this particular set.

 

[Fightex]

Finally installed the JDM short gears/Type R R&P/LSD, Lovefab long tube headers, JDM tails and Garage Kite 02 style rear valence. Gotta say the gears are one of my favorite mods out of all the cars I've ever had. The response and top end from the headers is very noticeable as well and I really couldn't be happier with the car right now. On a side note, the car weighs 2825lbs with a full tank of gas, looks like I'll just need the Garage Kite crash beams to get into 27xx.

Once I put on the Quaife quick rack and Type R chassis/front sway I'm going to call it good forever.

 

[Superhatch]

What a perfect build. TEs just look so good on these cars it's hard not to get them and I appreciate the smaller diameter too. I've always been a fan of the smallest wheels you can handle aesthetically because they have such a big effect on handling and feel.

Are you using the Aeris or Reference series coilovers?

 

[pvmike]

Love this build! On a side note, I'd consider skipping the AIS. There's probably a small gain in power and it sounds great, but it sucked in a ton of dirt and small debris. I ran one for many miles on my previous 91, and the air filter would get dirty pretty quickly. The stock AIS was designed to route debris in a different direction, and it looks to be a well designed part.

 

[Fightex]

What a perfect build. TEs just look so good on these cars it's hard not to get them and I appreciate the smaller diameter too. I've always been a fan of the smallest wheels you can handle aesthetically because they have such a big effect on handling and feel.

Are you using the Aeris or Reference series coilovers?

Thanks, I'm exactly the same way. Some of the guys get so confused when I tell them I absolutely love the 14s on the Miata lol. BTW the coilovers are the Reference series.

Love this build! On a side note, I'd consider skipping the AIS. There's probably a small gain in power and it sounds great, but it sucked in a ton of dirt and small debris. I ran one for many miles on my previous 91, and the air filter would get dirty pretty quickly. The stock AIS was designed to route debris in a different direction, and it looks to be a well designed part.

Good point, I'm really after the sound and plan on sticking with the OEM filter for maximum filtration. Which filter did you run?

 

[pvmike]

Thanks, I'm exactly the same way. Some of the guys get so confused when I tell them I absolutely love the 14s on the Miata lol. BTW the coilovers are the Reference series.



Good point, I'm really after the sound and plan on sticking with the OEM filter for maximum filtration. Which filter did you run?

I believe I had tried out both a K&N and a Uni filter in the stock airbox (along with the DF intake) before returning to the OEM intake filter. The OEM filter seemed to work the best.

 

[Fightex]

Recently put on some DIY aluminum beams (saved 24lbs total) and a NA2R 22mm front sway bar. I didn't notice a huge difference in turn-in but the car is a little flatter and more confidence inspiring. There is no ETA on new Type R chassis bars so if anyone has a set lmk.

They say variety is the spice of life.

I'm not a big car show guy but decided to enter the car with my buddies at Balance Auto for the last Ilmotion show in Calgary last month, had a blast with the guys.

 

[Fightex]

Found a good deal on a used Gruppe M carbon kevlar intake and it sounds great.

Also picked up a Type R style maintenance cover, just waiting for my Type R black expansion tank cover now.

 

[MexiRicer]

Found a good deal on a used Gruppe M carbon kevlar intake and it sounds great.

Also picked up a Type R style maintenance cover, just waiting for my Type R black expansion tank cover now.

Wow, it must sound like an f355!

 

[Superhatch]

/chef's kiss.

 

[Fightex]

Finally got around to Installing the Quaife quick steering rack. I haven't had a chance to push the car to get a feel of how heavy it gets loaded up at the limit but so far so good. The steering is a bit heavier but the weighting is about perfect once rolling now (keep in mind I run baby 12lb 16" front wheels without overly messed up scrub radius and a 350mm steering wheel so YMMV). I'd say the extra heft is about the same as going from a 350mm to 330mm wheel or maybe a tad less.

The turn in is a bit quicker and there is definitely less input required for all turns making it feel more modern. I don't feel any extra harshness either, so unless you have some form of wrist or forearm injury, I don't see any downsides to this mod.

A few more lightweight mods to round things off. Installed Route KS carbon fiber B pillars (wrapped in 3M gloss black) and a lightweight battery with custom stay. Was hoping to hit 2750lb with a full tank but I'll take it!

 

[RYU]

You can get to sub 2700lbs! You're almost there. (Mine is low 2600's)

 

[Fightex]

Wow that's light, must feel awesome since 100lbs off 2750lb is a good bit better than 100lb off 3000lb. I've got most of the low hanging fruit but wouldn't mind making 26xx my long term goal, what else would you suggest?

 

[SpeedAddict502]

What all do you have done to yours to lose the weight?

 

[Chris_Lum]

OEM wing is pretty heavy. Something like a BYS wing is very light. I think Route KS makes a carbon OEM wing, but not sure on the weight.

You can do aftermarket side mirrors, a different exhaust (not sure how much yours weighs), Spoon front brake caliper since OEM is heavy, aftermarket exhaust manifolds & cats (not sure if you have). I'm sure there's more.