Hey Jay, while I'm not exactly an expert on S2000s helped setup "Big Bad Wolf" which is a national winning S2000 for it's class. You should install "Kingpin" bushings. It helps eliminate the squish in the suspension and they rotate freer without the issue of it binding. The poly bushings cause more issues than it's worth replacing hardened rubber ones. The Sock/wrist straps are meant to absorb the brake fluid from the clutch/brake master cylinders if they boil. It's corrosive and not good for your paint as well as flammable... So yeah... The oil filler cap is meant to be plastic so you can add oil when it is hot & the metal one will get loose when hot. Many owners have had them come off on track or in the canyons. The hood prop has a service position which you can raise the hood STRAIGHT up for servicing. For more mid-range the "Scavenger Exhaust" from Urge which is a mid pipe will give you a lot more gains in the mid range which is a high flow cat. For your airbox, Baero makes some excellent ducts you could use to route your intake.
@@omerali7826 imo theres nothing better than NA. Just cant wait for him to put in the parts and go for a test drive. Vtec gonna hit hard with those itbs 🤤
You need to replace the whole set of suspension bushes with new STANDARD HONDA bushes before taking it to the suspension specialists. That way you will retain the very good NVH isolation of the standard car with more than enough alignment stability for what you are proposing to do with the car AND, it will last. There is nothing worse than modifying a car for weekend fun and then making it not fun. There is a very good reason why manufacturers use rubber.
@@ayowser01 no. Absolutely not. Spherical bushes wear out and and PU compliance bushes offer absolutely no compliance. Horrific ride quality. Poly horizontal bushes and rubber compliance are optimal.
Ahhh ITB's... a choice of only a connoisseur petrol head! And respect for taking a plunge on the Ohlins been out in a friends evo a few year back with them and WOW!
That spoon brace goes at the back of the trans tunnel it's for the floor. The spoon motor mount set will make your shifts feel better as it comes with a gusset reinforced trans mount with new bushings. I have it and love it. If you wanted an exhaust that's not obnoxious the Mugen catback is perfect. And you are doing the right thing coming from someone with a miserable s2000 that gets driven on the street.
nice itb's sounds good get the exhaust header ceramic coated it lowers under the bonnet temps the ppl applying the coating will sandblast the headers before coating it no worries :)
You'll love the öhlins. Its firm, but it rounds off the edges on the harsher bumps. It also improves body roll too and forms up nicely on track. I moved to Öhlins R&T DFV from Bilstein B12 on my e46 M3 and it was a huge difference, especially on track. Where the bilstein was crashy, the Öhlins took the edge off, where the bilstein overheated, the Öhlins remained composed. It seems your build is a very similar ethos to mine. Except I have ITBs and bonnet struts from the factory 😜
The attention to detail on Japanese products is phenomenal. The collate and staple for the certification documents on a mitutoyo calipers I purchased was perfection like nothing I've seen before..
Don't get the powerflex, get the Mugen metalastics. That Spoon manifold will net you some mid range, but lose you power up top as the runner length between the Ys is too short for high end scavenging. The OEM exhaust does cost you power and it also weighs 23kg. Get a single for leightweight and more ponies. The OEM manifold, for design, is actually pretty unbeatable it just weights a ton. Don't get an ME, get a Haltech or an AEM V2. And if I were you if you want to sort the rear handling, look to get a 2004 rear end as this gives less aggressive steering geometry. That rear arb won't do anything to yours as the 03 had a softer spec front and rear bar anyway. The front of the car is plenty stiff and it's the rear, according to Shigeru Uhera, that needs the strength. That little rear beam brace is crucial and makes a huge difference, but that X brace will just add weight and is a waste of time (as are front strut braces). Speaking of the rear, get some spherical bearing toe arms. These help with bump steer on the rear and give a more predictable rear end. Make sure you get some with bearing boots otherwise they do wear. Get (or make) a brake master cylinder brace. Next video you do, you can get your mate to press the brake pedal hard and watch the entire servo bow. Obviously, this robs a significant amount of pedal feel when pushing on. Engine mounts. The OEM engine mounts are fluid filled. They wear out within about 5 years from new. Either get new engine mounts (which cost a fortune from Honda) or fill the old ones with liquid polyurethane. Once you've done that, get an engine damper as that will stop the engine rock/rotation and give you much sharper throttle response (this is again something you can see before and after fitting). Wheels... Get some 17s. I mean getting decent 16" tyres is almost impossible for a kick off and the reduced sidewall shuffle/wider wheel is much better for the car. By all means get some aftermarket wheels, but the offset's on OEM S2000 wheels are really high so the more you deviate, the larger the scrub radius and more tramlining. Tyre wise, do a 225ff, 245r. Radiator... The OEM rad is great except is corrodes and you can't see it corrode. Had a look at the hose clamp on the bottom. If it's rusted to buggery, it'll probably mean the rad has a good deal of corrosion so I'd recommend replacing. Finally, you need to get a different final drive. OEM is 4.1, but an RX8 4.44 CWP will fit and this will make a huge difference to the eagerness of the car. Sure, you can go 4.625 and a 4.77 are also common. You are losing some cruising ability then. Pretty sure you'll ignore all of this as you seem to be getting free stuff, but seeing as I have tried everything, I can tell you what works and what doesn't. Good luck :)
I’m super excited to see how this build goes! I’ve wanted to go the ITB route on my S2000 as well. Some tips: On the subject of reducing undesirable suspension play, you should look into purchasing a Spoon subframe rigid collar kit. They’re fairly affordable and have a similar benefit to the bushings in just tightening everything up reducing the loss of connection between your inputs and what the car does. Also for the gear knob, although nowadays I just stick with the oem knob, moddiction makes a weighted countersunk shift knob that you may like. I know AP1’s shift a little notchy, the weight of this knob helps smooth that out (I don’t think I’ve ever talked about a knob this extensively). Also the S2000CR knob would fit your yellow interior trim bits and is another great option. Other things: the exhaust mods may net you less horsepower than you think. The OEM exhaust manifold breathes really well already. I’d chase sound before I chase power with the exhaust personally. I also don’t like my cars to annoy the neighbors, so my personal top pick is the Sparrow T1R in either single or dual (whatever tickles your berries). Sounds great, minimal rasp, not too loud. If you want a really good header and you enjoy spending copious amounts of money, this is the best you can buy for these cars: urgedesigns.com/sonic-2/ Enjoy your build and most importantly have fun! I’ve been enjoying S2000’s now for almost seven years. I’ve driven a lot different cars but there aren’t many this side of a 911 GT3 that deliver as satisfying an experience as the S2000 does, in my personal opinion.
ITBs are a lot of work for limited gains. There isn't much left in engine; Speed Academy put ITBs on their S2000 and got like 4 horsepower. Such is S2000 life. Just K swap and sell the F series.
@@taylorc2542 yes you’re right but it’s not all about numbers. With the toda cams and all that he’ll definitely gain some power but the important part is the power band won’t be so peaky, throttle response will improve and it’ll make glorious noises. Nobody buys an S2000 because they want a powerful car anyways
Looks like this car will be something else when all is said and done. Can't wait to hear how it sounds when you have that new head installed. Looking forward to the next episode.
YES! Finally someone who buys the correct TODA cams. The B’s are good too but everyone buys the A’s thinking they will gain hp but the A’s are just slightly refined OEM cams. I hope you’re doing atleast 12:1 compression or close
I've been successfully pedalling a S2K in the UK Hill Climbing scene over the last few years. The characteristics of discipline echo the recquirements of a rally / B-road setup. That's a strong mid-range and compliance throughout the ride. Some of the decision of the parts here follow that philosophy, but some don't. What others have said about tyre package is certainly worth consideration. To dial out the twitchy rear on the early cars, its best to stiffen the front ARB as well. The "because race car" crowd will recommend a lot of parts and practices, but that isn't necessarily the right direction for the road.
I give it a week and that oil cap is going to come off. Please put the OEM one back on if you want to keep the oil in the engine :) With roll bars, use 30mm front and leave rear alone. The issue is the front isn't stiff enough in an 03 to support the rear so gives up mid corner.
This is what car modding is about, getting the car you want. I went down the Supercharged route with mine but this is going to sound epic with those Trumpets. Can't wait to hear it.
I had the AP1. A final drive change did more to the driving feel than any other mod. Think it was a Kia or Hyundai component. But J’s racing sold the same thing under their own brand. Cheapest bang for buck mod.
Good looking bit of kit for the build Jay. You'll love the Ohlins for street driving. They aren't bad for track/autocross/gymkhana either. I would suggest putting the included front springs in the rear and rear springs in the front. Some would say its blasphemy but screw them, they don't know what they're talking about. Ohlins gives you a "safe" setup out of the box. Doing so you keep the oem balance, responsiveness, and ride comfort. This also helps with the rear ohlins dambers not having enough suspension travel. Sakebomb makes some lower mounts to address that issue. This setup will pair well with a big front sway bar. If you don't like it no harm you can always swap the springs back. I'm kind of jelly over the ITBs. That 50 quid brace that you have to replace the driveshaft hoop is the best bang for buck mod on the s2000 IMO. I hear the powerflex bushing are better than others in terms of them not eventually squeaking but if you put zerk fittings in the control arms you can easily add grease to them without having to take the control arms off the car to regrease. I had some poly but didn't like them, took them out and went to full spherical bushings all around. The best handling mod you can do for the car is put on a large front sway bar. At least put on a 32mm eibach front sway bar or larger. You said that you were going to get the subframe rigid collars, those are good. If you lower the car I would get spherical rear toe arms that allow you to adjust the geometry of the rear toe to get a confidence inspiring rear end. The ap1 is geared way too tall. 66mph in 2nd gear and 90mph in 3rd gear would be fine if the car actually had torque. I'm in the process of installing 4.77 gears out of a Kia sportage, part number 0K014-27110 that were less than 150 quid. I would also recommend the megan racing front strut brace with x brace for a great feeling front end that would compliment the spoon x brace and it's inexpensive to boot. Best of luck with the build.
Also modifry makes an adapter that allows you to use the factory radio/volume knobs with an aftermarket stereo, which you'll probably want for bluetooth/usb.
Also the backyard special seat rail will help get some more room between the wheel and your thighs if you need it. Probably number one mod for a big guy in a s2000.
Genuinely excited to follow your build! I've had mine for nearly 3 years and there are so few down-to-earth UA-camrs that own these so very keen to see where you take it!
I’ve applied the same ethos to mine. Get spoon rubber bushes, not power flex. Get 17’s, inspires a lot more confidence than on 16’s. No need for softer roll bar IMO Me221 with a map gave nice mid range bump. Get an engine torque damper, makes the shift even better. But can introduce more vibrations to the cabin. Get a brake master cylinder brace and braided hoses. Improves braking feel somewhat. I’ve heard it’s hard to tune Tbs on these. But good luck. Look forward to seeing it finished. Interested to know if the bracing makes any difference. Make sure you do the project bit by bit so you can single out any feedback in relation to individual mods rather than changing the whole car at once
@@JayEmmOnCars good man. What are you going for? Oem? Get the etd and cylinder brace very cheap effective mods. You'll like them. Also dixcel type z pads if you can stretch. They are brilliant
Just a heads up, those filters for the ITBs might get sucked apart and go through the engine. I had the same on my Altezza 3SGE, and indeed they got chewed up at 8000~ RPM while being tuned but thankfully I avoided any lasting damage. They also affect flow of air going in to the trumpets as most of the air comes from around the edges, so without an airbox the best option seems to be a hefty dome filter such as the Pipercross PX600 on a mounting plate.
My 996.2 followed you into CG last week, alongside the very rare black 993 Carreras S, though I think I might have been there a little longer than you were (21:00 finish!). The service that Chris and Pete provide is little short of amazing, so hope the S2K felt as transformed as my 911 did👍🏻😀
Jay your doing the right thing man, that's going to be one bad-ass S2000 motor bro, I would be king here in the States with that beautiful yellow Honda S2000..look forward to more on this build 🖒
ITBs should be mandatory, simply because they’re so very delightful. Ohlins are great but I have a personal preference for Leda. Titanium exhaust from Tomei would be the cherry on the top of the cake
Dont worry about your exhaust waking the Neighbours the Throttle bodies will do that for you! I took my mates itb'd mx5 for a spin during the summer and I never realized how loud they are, you can never tell from a video. They are epic though, I also have an mx5 and I'm at the stage where I want to get some power, I was unsure until I drove the itb'd car and now that's the route I'll be taking when time and money allows! Great to see you doing a fairly big build on the s2000 though, I'm looking forward to it and best of luck
Long time s2k owner, few tips: 1) don't polybush the front compliance bushes, get mugen rubber ones. These are the most important bushes in the whole car. The rest should be fine polyd. 2) invest in a master cylinder brace, a proper one not a tegiwa one (google dle brake stopper). 3) don't bother with the me ecu unit. Stick with either the proven aem v2, or the newer haltech units. Both are plug and play with the correct kit. Lookup AJI Tuning on fb, he's the man for s2k tuning! 4) have a look at hard race rear toe arms and buddy club roll centre adjusters as you'll be going lower. 5) look up the shifter regrease process, it improves the shifter feel even more so. Oh and ditch the spoon knob, this box loves a weighted shifter, I had a custom one made at around 350grams which was perfect for me. 6) get some 17" wheels, better tyre choice and look much better, I had the oem ap2v1. 7) super important, check your new head has the upgraded ap2 valve retainers, I really can't state how important this is for reliability!!! This should probably be number 1 on the list. 8) enjoy the car, can't wait to see your itb build, but those bits above are proven upgrades that you'll reap the rewards of 👍🏼
Really looking forward to this! My s2k is currently stripped down and I'm overhauling all the suspension, rust proofing, poly bushing the whole car, new brake lines, fuel lines etc. If you ever fancy a coffee and a natter I don't think I'm too far from you!
Very nice spec Jay. Have a look at Speed Academy, they did a very nice Ap2 S2000 build. Whatever you do, don't put socks on your Throttle bodies. I have seen a build, where they did this and the air filter socks couldn't pull enough air through, so the socks disintegrated and his freshly new built engine was lunched after it consumed his filters. A nice carbon box would work lovely and keep the lovely sounds of the itb's. Also is it worth refreshing the bottom end. Big power will bring the shells to there knees. Looking forward to the build!!!
So amazing car love the colour, I've been watching since you had under 100 subscribers. Nice touches not tacky, paint the rear wing yellow body colour and maybe the rocker cover the same yellow or purple to match the little details , do some yellow touches on the interior
I suspect it would be a smart move to fit some weatherproofing boots onto those lovely Ohlins dampers to improve their longevity. Unshielded struts do pull in small quantities of grit from the road/track which inevitably wears out the internal seals, such that similarly unshielded motorsport dampers typically NEED annual rebuilds (if not more frequently!) to keep them from obviously degrading. Not expensive & not difficult to fit!!
A couple of things i would offer my opinion on. Those trumpet socks for the itb’s are a bad idea and sap power, you want a decent airbox with proper cold air feed. Any decent tuner will tell you this. Also while all the ohlins tech stuff sounds great, i found in reality when i ran them an an e90 m3 they really were very stiff and spoilt the car on the road, especially for low speed normal driving, found the same with some bilstien coilovers i ran before those. It dosent matter what you do with the adjustment knobs either, made very little difference in my experience. Ive found for road use by far the best upgraded suspension setup on any car ( i have had many performance cars and they have all been modified) is upgraded standard type shocks like koni adjustables or the bilstien b8’s. Much better for performance driving whilst retaining comfort almost like standard.
This just popped into my recommended section after buying my own S2000 on Saturday- Coincidence? 😂 Looking forward to seeing this build come to fruition, the N/A + ITBs way is the best for an S2000 imo! If you're going for an *OEM+* look, you might want to look for some of the 17 inch facelift AP2 rims- the wider, lower profile tyres can give a whole lot more grip 👍
If the car makes decent power it will be a very fun weekend car. The one thing I would get is the spoon ridged collars. I hear they make a very good difference in drivability.
Careful with the itb sock filters... Heard a few stories of some engines sucking in the socks! The sausage stlye foam filter and backplate is less restrictive.
You will leave a significant amount of (mid range) power on the table if you don't replace your cat with a 70mm test pipe and a 3 inch exhaust. From my understanding with a good cold air intake, test pipe and exhaust, the bump in power comes from being able to (Tune) lower the vtech engagement from 5800 to 4000-4500 depending on who is tuning your car and what the car is happy with. Us AP1 owners have to go to a full stand alone (AEM, HALTECH) I can't wait to see how everything goes together, very exciting. The ITB's are gorgeous btw
@@JayEmmOnCars I know what you mean, I still have my cat. There's a company here in the state that makes an interesting exhaust design that is similar to an expansion chamber on a 2-stroke engine, Urge Design is the company. Just like anything for the S2000 it's expensive but it might be worth looking into. It utilizes a high flow cat but moves it much further away from the engine.
James you’re a man after my own heart if I was specing my dream S2000 in my head, I can’t wait to see what you think once everything in place. The only thing you’re missing from the spec is another Spoon part their Rigid Collar kit which will hold your sub frames to take full advantage of your suspension work
I went Powerflex all round apart from the front compliance bushes ( Mugen 51391-XGS-S0N0) - still no squeaks after 7 years. It does dial out some of the, originally intended, passive rear wheel steer. Subjectively the whole car felt better but that could have just been getting the geo set right. Hopefully you don't have seized bolts, that would be several episodes and many demolition blades right there :)
As mods go, I think you‘ve got quite a comprehensive package going. Save for Brakes and Tyres, which I believe is an issue since you‘ll be increasing power. For a street and track application I would advise to at least go for some good aftermarket discs, pads and stainless brake lines. Some lightweight wheels and UHP tires would also help. Good luck and have fun!!!
Probably wanna do all your engine exhaust intake all together to save on retuning/dyno itb since they can be less forgiving for changes unless you update the tune
👍👍👍Wow looks fantastic, I waited for this video for so long and now I'm very excited for this build! I'm not sure how heavy the flywheel in the F20C engine is but that could also be one modification which could make a big difference. I also really appreciate the fact that you keep the engine naturally aspirated. Can't wait to watch the next videos of this series👍
This should be good, however please do a Dyno run or two before any performance upgrades so that when finished we will know the full power increase rather than, the induction noise is greater and the sound is better so it must be making much more power scenario ! Also £400 for a battery and an 8kg saving ( the same as burning through 3 gallons of fuel but you don't notice that do you) and you will need another (lithium) battery charger. Awaiting the next episode.
I love the S2000. I am a sucker for high revs. Maybe one day I will have my own. I do like the low down surge a turbo engine can give you too. But if I had to pick between the two. I would settle on high revs first. Ear tingles all the way.
We all are shaving in a garage with no sink and water there, don't even need a mirror, aren't we. Marvelous advertising in a garage 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Besides that your wee yellow s2000 is one of on my list cars.Would Love it someday. Can't wait for the content about improving it👍
Just my opinion, but I would definitely have the spoiler body colour, just as I have on my s2000. Edit: all of the other mods seem great, looking forward to the build!
Really looking forward to the next steps of the build anyone else though curious or what's happening to his garden?is that spoon compost🤣 those carbs are beautiful it's a shame you can't leave them exposed with some sort of protection inside the trumpets👍
Very nice mod plan. For the suspension, might worth to consider move an extra step to fit in the Spoon rigid collar. Also LSD may worth to replace for better driving experience.
I would have just got the LHT super charger (400 hp with a linear power curve) oh baby. Get the brakes, clutch, shocks and tires to go a long with it. Probable around $13,000.00 total. Yeah, exciting to think about it. You can also get the undercarriage aerodynamic kit to suck it to the road for the Ultimate S2000!
Great choice on all the kit. Just interested in what you mean by more mid-range and accessible power? Wouldn't that be easier with more torque, best way way to increase torque is too but a bigger bottom end on it. Good luck with the build I think you will have the perfect car after this, I chased power for years when I was younger and its just a short term fix, you adapt to it very easily. A good chassis rewards every time you drive and improves as you improve your driving.
Wow that’s some fantastic parts you’ve got there for the car. Looking forward to seeing the difference these make. I had a toda exhaust for my Dc5 and the quality and sound was fantastic.
Janko Lind well be happy with the Ohlins choice. ITB's is a nice move, hopefully provides amazing throttle response. Interested to see if any changes with the brakes are on cards only because brake technology has evolved so much since the S2000 was being build.
Alot of similar parts to mine, I opted for the Bilstein pss9 b16 pro and find them very compliant on the road and great on track. Ohlins will be great aswell, will be following
Hey Jay, while I'm not exactly an expert on S2000s helped setup "Big Bad Wolf" which is a national winning S2000 for it's class.
You should install "Kingpin" bushings. It helps eliminate the squish in the suspension and they rotate freer without the issue of it binding. The poly bushings cause more issues than it's worth replacing hardened rubber ones.
The Sock/wrist straps are meant to absorb the brake fluid from the clutch/brake master cylinders if they boil. It's corrosive and not good for your paint as well as flammable... So yeah...
The oil filler cap is meant to be plastic so you can add oil when it is hot & the metal one will get loose when hot. Many owners have had them come off on track or in the canyons.
The hood prop has a service position which you can raise the hood STRAIGHT up for servicing.
For more mid-range the "Scavenger Exhaust" from Urge which is a mid pipe will give you a lot more gains in the mid range which is a high flow cat.
For your airbox, Baero makes some excellent ducts you could use to route your intake.
This my dream car and this is EXACTLY how i wanted to tune it. Man did this made me mouthwater when i looked at that new head 🤤
I swear its the exact same parts I'd pick too! I was watching thinking Jay has such great taste lol
@@omerali7826 imo theres nothing better than NA. Just cant wait for him to put in the parts and go for a test drive. Vtec gonna hit hard with those itbs 🤤
You need to replace the whole set of suspension bushes with new STANDARD HONDA bushes before taking it to the suspension specialists. That way you will retain the very good NVH isolation of the standard car with more than enough alignment stability for what you are proposing to do with the car AND, it will last. There is nothing worse than modifying a car for weekend fun and then making it not fun. There is a very good reason why manufacturers use rubber.
@@garyparker2262 or solid bushes, like Mugen or Spoon, or just jump into sphericals
@@ayowser01 no. Absolutely not. Spherical bushes wear out and and PU compliance bushes offer absolutely no compliance. Horrific ride quality. Poly horizontal bushes and rubber compliance are optimal.
Jesse don't do it! I be you JayEmm has more than 100 grand beneath the hood of that car!
Ahhh ITB's... a choice of only a connoisseur petrol head! And respect for taking a plunge on the Ohlins been out in a friends evo a few year back with them and WOW!
Holds a small aluminium bracket: "it only cost 50 quid!"
It is a precision machined piece brought over from Japan - £50 was a good price for it!
@@JayEmmOnCars Tell us its billet atleast!
for a Spoon part that's pretty cheap
That spoon brace goes at the back of the trans tunnel it's for the floor. The spoon motor mount set will make your shifts feel better as it comes with a gusset reinforced trans mount with new bushings. I have it and love it. If you wanted an exhaust that's not obnoxious the Mugen catback is perfect. And you are doing the right thing coming from someone with a miserable s2000 that gets driven on the street.
Haven't been following your channel too closely for a while and I didn't expect this at all! I'm super excited for this build, man.
nice itb's sounds good
get the exhaust header ceramic coated it lowers under the bonnet temps
the ppl applying the coating will sandblast the headers before coating it no worries :)
@2:50
F.E.A.R. - Such a good game. Big up.
God yes, the sequel was ruined by being multi-format and just not as good. The first one was a total classic that made me wee myself a few times!
The spoon master cylinder cover is ment to cover the entire plastic reservoir lol
That head and those coilovers are very nice indeed. I’m Keen to hear this thing scream.
You'll love the öhlins. Its firm, but it rounds off the edges on the harsher bumps. It also improves body roll too and forms up nicely on track. I moved to Öhlins R&T DFV from Bilstein B12 on my e46 M3 and it was a huge difference, especially on track. Where the bilstein was crashy, the Öhlins took the edge off, where the bilstein overheated, the Öhlins remained composed.
It seems your build is a very similar ethos to mine. Except I have ITBs and bonnet struts from the factory 😜
The attention to detail on Japanese products is phenomenal. The collate and staple for the certification documents on a mitutoyo calipers I purchased was perfection like nothing I've seen before..
Happy to help you on the spoon & bonnet struts parts jay. Look forward to seeing the progress
Don't forget a new set of quality tyres all round to go with the new suspension set up !
Spooner restorations for the rocker cover. Can’t fault his work 👏🏼👏🏼
Yes
You're just like me! Garage full of Arcam boxes and car bits!
This car is dear to my heart. There is one sitting in my garage after all. Can't wait to see this build progress.
Don't get the powerflex, get the Mugen metalastics. That Spoon manifold will net you some mid range, but lose you power up top as the runner length between the Ys is too short for high end scavenging. The OEM exhaust does cost you power and it also weighs 23kg. Get a single for leightweight and more ponies. The OEM manifold, for design, is actually pretty unbeatable it just weights a ton. Don't get an ME, get a Haltech or an AEM V2. And if I were you if you want to sort the rear handling, look to get a 2004 rear end as this gives less aggressive steering geometry. That rear arb won't do anything to yours as the 03 had a softer spec front and rear bar anyway. The front of the car is plenty stiff and it's the rear, according to Shigeru Uhera, that needs the strength. That little rear beam brace is crucial and makes a huge difference, but that X brace will just add weight and is a waste of time (as are front strut braces). Speaking of the rear, get some spherical bearing toe arms. These help with bump steer on the rear and give a more predictable rear end. Make sure you get some with bearing boots otherwise they do wear. Get (or make) a brake master cylinder brace. Next video you do, you can get your mate to press the brake pedal hard and watch the entire servo bow. Obviously, this robs a significant amount of pedal feel when pushing on. Engine mounts. The OEM engine mounts are fluid filled. They wear out within about 5 years from new. Either get new engine mounts (which cost a fortune from Honda) or fill the old ones with liquid polyurethane. Once you've done that, get an engine damper as that will stop the engine rock/rotation and give you much sharper throttle response (this is again something you can see before and after fitting). Wheels... Get some 17s. I mean getting decent 16" tyres is almost impossible for a kick off and the reduced sidewall shuffle/wider wheel is much better for the car. By all means get some aftermarket wheels, but the offset's on OEM S2000 wheels are really high so the more you deviate, the larger the scrub radius and more tramlining. Tyre wise, do a 225ff, 245r. Radiator... The OEM rad is great except is corrodes and you can't see it corrode. Had a look at the hose clamp on the bottom. If it's rusted to buggery, it'll probably mean the rad has a good deal of corrosion so I'd recommend replacing. Finally, you need to get a different final drive. OEM is 4.1, but an RX8 4.44 CWP will fit and this will make a huge difference to the eagerness of the car. Sure, you can go 4.625 and a 4.77 are also common. You are losing some cruising ability then.
Pretty sure you'll ignore all of this as you seem to be getting free stuff, but seeing as I have tried everything, I can tell you what works and what doesn't.
Good luck :)
Spot on.
Jay, you need to get the Spoon subframe collars if you're going to do the suspension. Good luck with the project!
That head with the ITB’s is pure art ❤️
I’m super excited to see how this build goes! I’ve wanted to go the ITB route on my S2000 as well. Some tips:
On the subject of reducing undesirable suspension play, you should look into purchasing a Spoon subframe rigid collar kit. They’re fairly affordable and have a similar benefit to the bushings in just tightening everything up reducing the loss of connection between your inputs and what the car does.
Also for the gear knob, although nowadays I just stick with the oem knob, moddiction makes a weighted countersunk shift knob that you may like. I know AP1’s shift a little notchy, the weight of this knob helps smooth that out (I don’t think I’ve ever talked about a knob this extensively). Also the S2000CR knob would fit your yellow interior trim bits and is another great option.
Other things: the exhaust mods may net you less horsepower than you think. The OEM exhaust manifold breathes really well already. I’d chase sound before I chase power with the exhaust personally. I also don’t like my cars to annoy the neighbors, so my personal top pick is the Sparrow T1R in either single or dual (whatever tickles your berries). Sounds great, minimal rasp, not too loud.
If you want a really good header and you enjoy spending copious amounts of money, this is the best you can buy for these cars: urgedesigns.com/sonic-2/
Enjoy your build and most importantly have fun! I’ve been enjoying S2000’s now for almost seven years. I’ve driven a lot different cars but there aren’t many this side of a 911 GT3 that deliver as satisfying an experience as the S2000 does, in my personal opinion.
ITBs are a lot of work for limited gains. There isn't much left in engine; Speed Academy put ITBs on their S2000 and got like 4 horsepower. Such is S2000 life. Just K swap and sell the F series.
It isn't about making big numbers though
@@taylorc2542 yes you’re right but it’s not all about numbers. With the toda cams and all that he’ll definitely gain some power but the important part is the power band won’t be so peaky, throttle response will improve and it’ll make glorious noises. Nobody buys an S2000 because they want a powerful car anyways
ITB's provide unrivaled throttle response, don't think it was ever a big horse power gainer.
Looks like this car will be something else when all is said and done. Can't wait to hear how it sounds when you have that new head installed. Looking forward to the next episode.
You are in safe hands at Centre Gravity - Pete and Chris really know their stuff, great guys
YES! Finally someone who buys the correct TODA cams. The B’s are good too but everyone buys the A’s thinking they will gain hp but the A’s are just slightly refined OEM cams. I hope you’re doing atleast 12:1 compression or close
Immediately goes to auto trader to look at S2000's
James be worth getting the manifold cleaned off and ceramic coated, great to keep heat under control
Hmmm thats some nice single throttle body's and youre never wrong with öhlins, there's a good reason so many racecars are using them!
I've been successfully pedalling a S2K in the UK Hill Climbing scene over the last few years. The characteristics of discipline echo the recquirements of a rally / B-road setup. That's a strong mid-range and compliance throughout the ride. Some of the decision of the parts here follow that philosophy, but some don't. What others have said about tyre package is certainly worth consideration. To dial out the twitchy rear on the early cars, its best to stiffen the front ARB as well. The "because race car" crowd will recommend a lot of parts and practices, but that isn't necessarily the right direction for the road.
Really good find on that head with those itbs
I give it a week and that oil cap is going to come off.
Please put the OEM one back on if you want to keep the oil in the engine :)
With roll bars, use 30mm front and leave rear alone. The issue is the front isn't stiff enough in an 03 to support the rear so gives up mid corner.
The oem hood stick serves two purposes, there is a hole for it on the right side of the engine bay to prop the hood up higher for easier maintenance.
I'm SO looking forward to following this project. I love the route you're taking with it.
The head is a piece directly from JDM heaven. I think that's the only way to make the S2000 go faster.
This is what car modding is about, getting the car you want. I went down the Supercharged route with mine but this is going to sound epic with those Trumpets. Can't wait to hear it.
I had the AP1. A final drive change did more to the driving feel than any other mod. Think it was a Kia or Hyundai component. But J’s racing sold the same thing under their own brand. Cheapest bang for buck mod.
Good looking bit of kit for the build Jay. You'll love the Ohlins for street driving. They aren't bad for track/autocross/gymkhana either. I would suggest putting the included front springs in the rear and rear springs in the front. Some would say its blasphemy but screw them, they don't know what they're talking about. Ohlins gives you a "safe" setup out of the box. Doing so you keep the oem balance, responsiveness, and ride comfort. This also helps with the rear ohlins dambers not having enough suspension travel. Sakebomb makes some lower mounts to address that issue. This setup will pair well with a big front sway bar. If you don't like it no harm you can always swap the springs back. I'm kind of jelly over the ITBs. That 50 quid brace that you have to replace the driveshaft hoop is the best bang for buck mod on the s2000 IMO. I hear the powerflex bushing are better than others in terms of them not eventually squeaking but if you put zerk fittings in the control arms you can easily add grease to them without having to take the control arms off the car to regrease. I had some poly but didn't like them, took them out and went to full spherical bushings all around. The best handling mod you can do for the car is put on a large front sway bar. At least put on a 32mm eibach front sway bar or larger. You said that you were going to get the subframe rigid collars, those are good. If you lower the car I would get spherical rear toe arms that allow you to adjust the geometry of the rear toe to get a confidence inspiring rear end. The ap1 is geared way too tall. 66mph in 2nd gear and 90mph in 3rd gear would be fine if the car actually had torque. I'm in the process of installing 4.77 gears out of a Kia sportage, part number 0K014-27110 that were less than 150 quid. I would also recommend the megan racing front strut brace with x brace for a great feeling front end that would compliment the spoon x brace and it's inexpensive to boot. Best of luck with the build.
Also modifry makes an adapter that allows you to use the factory radio/volume knobs with an aftermarket stereo, which you'll probably want for bluetooth/usb.
Also the backyard special seat rail will help get some more room between the wheel and your thighs if you need it. Probably number one mod for a big guy in a s2000.
Genuinely excited to follow your build! I've had mine for nearly 3 years and there are so few down-to-earth UA-camrs that own these so very keen to see where you take it!
I’ve applied the same ethos to mine. Get spoon rubber bushes, not power flex. Get 17’s, inspires a lot more confidence than on 16’s. No need for softer roll bar IMO Me221 with a map gave nice mid range bump. Get an engine torque damper, makes the shift even better. But can introduce more vibrations to the cabin. Get a brake master cylinder brace and braided hoses. Improves braking feel somewhat. I’ve heard it’s hard to tune Tbs on these. But good luck. Look forward to seeing it finished. Interested to know if the bracing makes any difference. Make sure you do the project bit by bit so you can single out any feedback in relation to individual mods rather than changing the whole car at once
17s are on the way
@@JayEmmOnCars good man. What are you going for? Oem? Get the etd and cylinder brace very cheap effective mods. You'll like them. Also dixcel type z pads if you can stretch. They are brilliant
To be revealed in an upcoming video
Great start and I am looking forward to the rest of the series. P. S. That was the best Harry's promo so far on UA-cam! 😂😂😂
All very interesting. Look forward to seeing the progress.
It’s great to see how much your channel is growing. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Gregor! It is very exciting
Perfectly tasteful for the ultimate *ROAD* driving machine. Fun at any speed but also connected and visceral
That's the hope!
Just a heads up, those filters for the ITBs might get sucked apart and go through the engine. I had the same on my Altezza 3SGE, and indeed they got chewed up at 8000~ RPM while being tuned but thankfully I avoided any lasting damage.
They also affect flow of air going in to the trumpets as most of the air comes from around the edges, so without an airbox the best option seems to be a hefty dome filter such as the Pipercross PX600 on a mounting plate.
My 996.2 followed you into CG last week, alongside the very rare black 993 Carreras S, though I think I might have been there a little longer than you were (21:00 finish!). The service that Chris and Pete provide is little short of amazing, so hope the S2K felt as transformed as my 911 did👍🏻😀
Jay your doing the right thing man, that's going to be one bad-ass S2000 motor bro, I would be king here in the States with that beautiful yellow Honda S2000..look forward to more on this build 🖒
ITBs should be mandatory, simply because they’re so very delightful. Ohlins are great but I have a personal preference for Leda. Titanium exhaust from Tomei would be the cherry on the top of the cake
Really looking forward to this, I'd love to do this to mine...just enhancing the S2000-ness of it.
Love following this as I own an AP2. Just bought my own DFV set as well and I'm super excited for it to arrive!
Awesome, earlier I was checking your channel for this update, went on an s2000 drive and bammm,, new upload..
Dont worry about your exhaust waking the Neighbours the Throttle bodies will do that for you! I took my mates itb'd mx5 for a spin during the summer and I never realized how loud they are, you can never tell from a video. They are epic though, I also have an mx5 and I'm at the stage where I want to get some power, I was unsure until I drove the itb'd car and now that's the route I'll be taking when time and money allows! Great to see you doing a fairly big build on the s2000 though, I'm looking forward to it and best of luck
Excellent video , great to see the head on the bench before you fit it
Those itb look the absolute Buisness , they should sound rather nice too 👍🏻
Long time s2k owner, few tips:
1) don't polybush the front compliance bushes, get mugen rubber ones. These are the most important bushes in the whole car. The rest should be fine polyd.
2) invest in a master cylinder brace, a proper one not a tegiwa one (google dle brake stopper).
3) don't bother with the me ecu unit. Stick with either the proven aem v2, or the newer haltech units. Both are plug and play with the correct kit. Lookup AJI Tuning on fb, he's the man for s2k tuning!
4) have a look at hard race rear toe arms and buddy club roll centre adjusters as you'll be going lower.
5) look up the shifter regrease process, it improves the shifter feel even more so. Oh and ditch the spoon knob, this box loves a weighted shifter, I had a custom one made at around 350grams which was perfect for me.
6) get some 17" wheels, better tyre choice and look much better, I had the oem ap2v1.
7) super important, check your new head has the upgraded ap2 valve retainers, I really can't state how important this is for reliability!!! This should probably be number 1 on the list.
8) enjoy the car, can't wait to see your itb build, but those bits above are proven upgrades that you'll reap the rewards of 👍🏼
Really looking forward to this! My s2k is currently stripped down and I'm overhauling all the suspension, rust proofing, poly bushing the whole car, new brake lines, fuel lines etc. If you ever fancy a coffee and a natter I don't think I'm too far from you!
Very nice spec Jay. Have a look at Speed Academy, they did a very nice Ap2 S2000 build. Whatever you do, don't put socks on your Throttle bodies. I have seen a build, where they did this and the air filter socks couldn't pull enough air through, so the socks disintegrated and his freshly new built engine was lunched after it consumed his filters.
A nice carbon box would work lovely and keep the lovely sounds of the itb's. Also is it worth refreshing the bottom end. Big power will bring the shells to there knees.
Looking forward to the build!!!
Yay free plug 😁😁 thanks jay
Wow! Santa has arrived early!! Can't wait to see the final result!
So amazing car love the colour, I've been watching since you had under 100 subscribers. Nice touches not tacky, paint the rear wing yellow body colour and maybe the rocker cover the same yellow or purple to match the little details , do some yellow touches on the interior
That's the idea. Thanks for your support over the years Connor!
A very good video, with a well-explained set of sensible mods. Looking forward to the next clip.
I suspect it would be a smart move to fit some weatherproofing boots onto those lovely Ohlins dampers to improve their longevity. Unshielded struts do pull in small quantities of grit from the road/track which inevitably wears out the internal seals, such that similarly unshielded motorsport dampers typically NEED annual rebuilds (if not more frequently!) to keep them from obviously degrading. Not expensive & not difficult to fit!!
They come with rubber covers
Will be following this with interest! Would be nice to have costs, approximations would be helpful to those who want to modify their own s2000s
As each bit gets fitted I'll try and give prices
Don't get carried away with this one your m3 ended up a bit silly
@@jasondunphy1170 the M3 started silly - I didn't really do anything to it. This is designed for road use not track
JayEmm just here making the absolute perfect S2000 👌
A couple of things i would offer my opinion on. Those trumpet socks for the itb’s are a bad idea and sap power, you want a decent airbox with proper cold air feed. Any decent tuner will tell you this.
Also while all the ohlins tech stuff sounds great, i found in reality when i ran them an an e90 m3 they really were very stiff and spoilt the car on the road, especially for low speed normal driving, found the same with some bilstien coilovers i ran before those. It dosent matter what you do with the adjustment knobs either, made very little difference in my experience. Ive found for road use by far the best upgraded suspension setup on any car ( i have had many performance cars and they have all been modified) is upgraded standard type shocks like koni adjustables or the bilstien b8’s. Much better for performance driving whilst retaining comfort almost like standard.
This just popped into my recommended section after buying my own S2000 on Saturday- Coincidence? 😂
Looking forward to seeing this build come to fruition, the N/A + ITBs way is the best for an S2000 imo!
If you're going for an *OEM+* look, you might want to look for some of the 17 inch facelift AP2 rims- the wider, lower profile tyres can give a whole lot more grip 👍
If the car makes decent power it will be a very fun weekend car. The one thing I would get is the spoon ridged collars. I hear they make a very good difference in drivability.
May want to check out LHT performance the guy knows his s2000s
Agreed! He’s a guru here in the states. He’s done most of the work on mine. John is amazing. The brake booster brace is worth it’s weight in gold.
But he wants naturally aspirated. Not a turbo, Ps. Love LHT performance video's as well. He knows the S2000 inside and out. Good stuff. 👍
Careful with the itb sock filters... Heard a few stories of some engines sucking in the socks! The sausage stlye foam filter and backplate is less restrictive.
You will leave a significant amount of (mid range) power on the table if you don't replace your cat with a 70mm test pipe and a 3 inch exhaust. From my understanding with a good cold air intake, test pipe and exhaust, the bump in power comes from being able to (Tune) lower the vtech engagement from 5800 to 4000-4500 depending on who is tuning your car and what the car is happy with. Us AP1 owners have to go to a full stand alone (AEM, HALTECH) I can't wait to see how everything goes together, very exciting. The ITB's are gorgeous btw
I am going to go sports cat, I don't like decats
@@JayEmmOnCars I know what you mean, I still have my cat. There's a company here in the state that makes an interesting exhaust design that is similar to an expansion chamber on a 2-stroke engine, Urge Design is the company. Just like anything for the S2000 it's expensive but it might be worth looking into. It utilizes a high flow cat but moves it much further away from the engine.
This looks amazing, can’t wait for the things to be finished
Another well worth upgrade for any convertible is a chassis brace! goes well with poly bushes and worked wonders on my MR2 Roadster
Beautiful spec!! Just lovely😍😍😍😍😍
Been after an s2000 for a while now and hopefully buy one soon before the prices rocket. This is exactly how I would mod it. I tip my hat!
James you’re a man after my own heart if I was specing my dream S2000 in my head, I can’t wait to see what you think once everything in place. The only thing you’re missing from the spec is another Spoon part their Rigid Collar kit which will hold your sub frames to take full advantage of your suspension work
Love the way you explained your build plan
Looking forward to seeing it all come together
I love it when a plan comes together
@@JayEmmOnCars let's hope you have to change the plan like the Ateam often did
@@leebuckles2364 What'll happen is I will be stuck in a shed with my S2000 and some old oil drums, and I'll come out with a fully armed battle tank
@@JayEmmOnCars not sure that would fit your bill of a week end b roader but at least it would then go anywhere 😂
I think the only thing missing for me is a titanium exhaust ! Improves sound and you will save quite a bit of weight .
I went Powerflex all round apart from the front compliance bushes ( Mugen 51391-XGS-S0N0) - still no squeaks after 7 years. It does dial out some of the, originally intended, passive rear wheel steer. Subjectively the whole car felt better but that could have just been getting the geo set right. Hopefully you don't have seized bolts, that would be several episodes and many demolition blades right there :)
I've owned an AP1 and now own an AP2.
Love both.
As mods go, I think you‘ve got quite a comprehensive package going. Save for Brakes and Tyres, which I believe is an issue since you‘ll be increasing power. For a street and track application I would advise to at least go for some good aftermarket discs, pads and stainless brake lines. Some lightweight wheels and UHP tires would also help. Good luck and have fun!!!
Lightweight wheels, new tyres and better brakes are on order
@@JayEmmOnCars Always the first bits I order really. :) Curious to see the outcome!
You are doing it the proper way! Too many people are going turbo/supercharger with k/f20 builds.
Good start. I would also suggest going square with your wheel setup. It makes the platform that much more competent.
Probably wanna do all your engine exhaust intake all together to save on retuning/dyno itb since they can be less forgiving for changes unless you update the tune
👍👍👍Wow looks fantastic, I waited for this video for so long and now I'm very excited for this build! I'm not sure how heavy the flywheel in the F20C engine is but that could also be one modification which could make a big difference. I also really appreciate the fact that you keep the engine naturally aspirated. Can't wait to watch the next videos of this series👍
Nothing else matters, you went itb’s and that’s an outright win
This should be good, however please do a Dyno run or two before any performance upgrades so that when finished we will know the full power increase rather than, the induction noise is greater and the sound is better so it must be making much more power scenario !
Also £400 for a battery and an 8kg saving ( the same as burning through 3 gallons of fuel but you don't notice that do you) and you will need another (lithium) battery charger. Awaiting the next episode.
First youtuber I’ve seen with a normal garage
I love the S2000. I am a sucker for high revs. Maybe one day I will have my own.
I do like the low down surge a turbo engine can give you too. But if I had to pick between the two. I would settle on high revs first.
Ear tingles all the way.
We all are shaving in a garage with no sink and water there, don't even need a mirror, aren't we. Marvelous advertising in a garage 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Besides that your wee yellow s2000 is one of on my list cars.Would Love it someday. Can't wait for the content about improving it👍
Just my opinion, but I would definitely have the spoiler body colour, just as I have on my s2000.
Edit: all of the other mods seem great, looking forward to the build!
You may want to consider moving some of your boxes from the back of the garage
Really looking forward to the next steps of the build anyone else though curious or what's happening to his garden?is that spoon compost🤣 those carbs are beautiful it's a shame you can't leave them exposed with some sort of protection inside the trumpets👍
Lord this will sound amazing! Real big fan of the toda itb's and if i could i would be like you and run spoon! Cant wait for the rest of the series
Very nice mod plan.
For the suspension, might worth to consider move an extra step to fit in the Spoon rigid collar. Also LSD may worth to replace for better driving experience.
Actually really liked this type of video! Looking forward to the rest of the series!
I would have just got the LHT super charger (400 hp with a linear power curve) oh baby. Get the brakes, clutch, shocks and tires to go a long with it. Probable around $13,000.00 total. Yeah, exciting to think about it. You can also get the undercarriage aerodynamic kit to suck it to the road for the Ultimate S2000!
Great choice on all the kit. Just interested in what you mean by more mid-range and accessible power? Wouldn't that be easier with more torque, best way way to increase torque is too but a bigger bottom end on it. Good luck with the build I think you will have the perfect car after this, I chased power for years when I was younger and its just a short term fix, you adapt to it very easily. A good chassis rewards every time you drive and improves as you improve your driving.
Great that you laid out your plan to us, hope it goes well ... looking forward to the journey.
Wow that’s some fantastic parts you’ve got there for the car. Looking forward to seeing the difference these make.
I had a toda exhaust for my Dc5 and the quality and sound was fantastic.
Janko Lind well be happy with the Ohlins choice. ITB's is a nice move, hopefully provides amazing throttle response. Interested to see if any changes with the brakes are on cards only because brake technology has evolved so much since the S2000 was being build.
Super excited to continue to see the build!!
Alot of similar parts to mine, I opted for the Bilstein pss9 b16 pro and find them very compliant on the road and great on track. Ohlins will be great aswell, will be following
Not too sure about poly bushes but the rest looks great, especially the head!