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Stocking Up

Contrasting the other S2000 that we are featuring this month, this 2001 S2K has taken the all motor route, slamming the car to the ground with plenty of hard-to-find (and get) JDM goodies. Joey Redmond ran into this car at the GT Live event in Fontana and he couldn’t resist the urge to pull it aside for some snaps. Loaded with goods from the inside out, this S2K is truly a rare find – every part on it plays a role in completing the package.

Personally I love the suspension on this S2K; it’s a complete package with not a single component missing. From the Cusco camp come several lower suspension pieces – a Type II front lower bar, a lower sub frame center bar and a Type I rear lower bar. Additionally, a Cusco Type ALC OS rear strut bar was added on, completing that section of the suspension. Drop the convertible top and glistening in the sun is a Cusco 4-point chromoly roll bar with harness bar. But enough of the Cusco goods, underneath the hood is an ARC titanium front strut bar buckling down the already stiffened chassis. All these suspension components, what lies behind each of the Weds Sports SA90 wheels? Giving the car full adjustability in both height and dampening is a set of Zeal Function B6 coilovers. Back to the wheels however, this S2K is perfectly balanced off with a set of 17×7.5 and 17×8 Weds Sports SA90 wheels in a bronze shade. Toyo Tires was then called upon to wrap these lightweight JDM wheels in their T1S series rubber. A pair of 215/45/17 along with a pair of 235/40/17 gives the wheels adequate protection and plenty of rubber to burn. Optimizing braking capabilities is an extremely nice set of Endless brakes. Sporting a 6-pot caliper and 13″ 2-piece rotors, this S2K is looking more and more like a track-ready vehicle.

Already producing 120hp out of every liter in the F20C, it’s amazing that more all motor goodies can be bolted on to squeeze out more. Importing a set of ARC goodies to be bolted on, the S2K breathes easier thanks to an ARC intake chamber and induction box. A Titanium Radiator panel was bolted on to help ease the flow of air through the bay. A Mugen fan switch and thermostat takes the place of the stock units to ensure proper cooling during those extreme high rpms. Capping off the custom painted Long Beach Blue Pearl valve cover is a Mugen oil cap. With the intake complete, a Toda Power 4-2-1 header was bolted onto the head allowing air flow to come through and out a Power House Amuse full titanium exhaust system without resonators. Helping force feed even more air is a Spoon Sports 70mm throttle body. So far we have a plethora of JDM goods underneath the hood, and the amenities that accompany all the components all share different names. An ARC radiator cap is seen on the radiator, while a Spoon Sports Carbon Kevlar spark plug cover is wedged in the valve cover. Also from Spoon is a reservoir tank cover and Carbon Kevlar heat shield. Billet Aluminum components match the gleaming ARC intake components and come from Muz injector cover and battery tie down.

Stocking Up

Taking a step back and closing the Mugen carbon fiber hood, you begin admiring the entire exterior package of the car. All the goods came straight from Japan, starting with the J’s Racing front lip and carbon fiber front canards. Airwalker side skirts were bolted on to flow with the J’s front lip. Scraping the bulky stock mirrors, this S2K enjoys the luxury of carbon fiber C-West mirrors mounted on custom bases on the doors. Out in the rear is a C-Wings carbon fiber trunk that completely finishes off the package. With all the goods bolted on, the entire car was re-splashed with a Long Beach Blue Pearl effect paint job. Shining brilliantly out of the paint booth, it was time to update the headlights and the taillights as Honda did on the S2K. The 2004 components found their way on this 2001 matching it to a brand new model.

All these rare JDM goods under the hood, on the outside and under the wheel wheels it’s hard to imagine that the interior is lacking. What other company but Bride could be called upon to complete the interior package? Version II Ergos in Gradation Black & Gray shade is seen in the two-seater roadster. Matching the Bride fabric are custom door panels, floor mats and visors. Offsetting the bright blue shade of the Cusco harness bars is a set of Takata 4-point harnesses and seat belt harness pads. DEFi electronics brighten up the cockpit along with providing the necessary numbers through a BF Link Oil Pressure Gauge and Exhaust Temperature Gauge. A BF Link Unit II from DEFi is also seen in the interior. The stock shift knob was scraped for a more stylish ARC titanium shift knob that can easily be seen amongst the custom carbon fiber interior trim. The finishing touch comes from a Rick’s custom stitched S2000 leather center console.

Allowing for fuel tuning and VTEC adjustment, an APEXi V-AFC controller is amongst the other in car electronics. Several components from Icon TV provide the entertainment with a 6.5″ widescreen tv and 5.8″ widescreen tvs in the driver and passenger sun visor. Providing the entertainment to the modules is an Icon TV dvd player. A Sony CDXM850 receiver powers the Kenwood custom rear speakers.

A handful of JDM goods stuck in a beautiful S2000 is merely just a dream to many. This car is a reality however, showing that with patience and persistence the best of all worlds can be obtained. I can only imagine what a blast it is to drive this car on and off the track.