It's weird when things just seem to happen for a reason. You may or may not believe in fate, but you can't argue that sometimes things just have a way of working out. The same is true of the lifetime of this Prelude we have here. It truly had a prelude to the perfection you see before you. Let's just say that the governing vehicular laws of California also had their say on how this Prelude was going to spend its days.
Owner Justin Rheem purchased this car five years ago and in this short time span the 1993 Prelude has been completely redone three times. Throughout the years he had struggled to make his ride look nice and was always modifying the vehicle one way or another. The real twist of fate came in 2001. Two years ago Justin was busted for illegal street racing, which he says, "basically changed my life from that point on." His precious Prelude was impounded, leaving him sans car. This put a serious cramp on his previous lifestyle that revolved around cars. Justin found himself losing interest in cars altogether. Even when he finally got his car back from the impound he decided to just chill on the aftermarket mods. Then one day a second twist of fate occurred when his motor blew. It just so happened that at the same time his friend was selling a fully built H22A1 motor with an H23 tranny (KG ported/polished head, titanium retainers, three angle valve, Arias 9:1 pistons, Crower rods and rings, iron sleeve ductiles and bottom end, JG bored throttle body, micropolished crankshaft and 440cc fuel injectors). Justin took that motor off his hands like there was no tomorrow. It was from that point Justin's motivation and passion for his Prelude came back strong again and he threw down on the third makeover of the car, the image of perfection you see here.
With the new motor came an H22 VTEC changeover. Justin realized after much thought that he wanted to get his car looking good and in shape again. He wanted it to be a vision that would inspire other people. So within a year of his bust for street racing, Justin had renewed his love for his Prelude. Justin set his sights on a car show six months ahead, which lemme tell ya, is not much time to completely makeover a show car. Justin knew he had to work fast. This was going to be a very big job.
First in line came the completion of the engine modifications. Beyond the built engine, Justin installed an A'PEXi GTR Skyline intercooler and end tanks with custom chrome piping. He rounded things out with an FMAX manifold and downpipe, B&M oil cooler and fuel pressure regulator, AEM fuel rail, 255lph Walboro fuel pump and an MSD three-bar map sensor. Not to be left choking in someone else's dust, Justin added a 60-shot NOS dry system, purge kit and gauge. Justin wisely monitors his car's performance with the Hondata stage 3B system. Finally, Justin ensuresdthat things would run smoothly and look pur-tee with a Weapon-R throttle rotor, steel radiator hose, Hose Techniques dress up kit, and Earl's fuel line hose and steel braided lines.
Justin then set off to have fender flares custom fabricated as well as adding a new Black Widow body kit to the Honda. He also had a custom fabricated T3/T4 Turbonetics turbo kit (with Tial wastegate and A'PEXi BOV) installed concurrently with the bodywork. Also installed on the Prelude was an A'PEXi N1 exhaust system with custom 2.75-in piping and a Hayame clutch. After catching the Hayame bug, Justin went all out with matching Hayame carbon-fiber racing pedals, filter, fuel gauge, hoses/clamps, oil, brake, clutch and radiator caps, cam gears and a carbon-fiber wire cover. I hope they gave that boy a discount! As if that wasn't enough installation going on at the same time, Justin decided to set up his Tanabe Sustec Pro coilover rear and front suspension himself. You gotta love people taking matters into their own hands. While waiting on the bodywork, Justin selected some Volk GT-P gunmetal 18X9-in wheels with Nitto NT555 tires to roll on. Peeking through the Volks are slotted rotors and Project Mu brake pads. The mounting and balancing took place at Savas Tires & Wheels in Bell, Calif.