Repeat Offender - 2002 Acura RSX Turbo

Tuning has evolved from a Black Magic piggyback ECU to a Hondata K-Pro EMS. Boost has been bumped from 9 psi on the stock bottom end iteration to 14 psi on the current fully built block. Giles Gilbert at Holyroller Dyno handled the tuning and extracted an impressive 428 wheel hp from the combination, a titanic 123 wheel hp jump from the previous 305 wheel hp (251 lbs-ft torque). Hong reports the build up was one of those "worth the wait" ordeals. "It took over a year to get the engine just the way I wanted it. Delays for parts to be released; not just performance parts but detail parts. If you want to be leading edge in the JDM world, you need to be very patient," says Hong. Some of those Holy Grail-like details include a J's Racing valve cover, Mugen thermostat, Mugen fan switch, GReddy oil catch can, Mugen spark plug cover, J's Racing engine damper and Tein hood dampers.

We asked Hong what are his favorite three mods on the car. "First," recounts Hong, " has got be the turbo because I love the feel of power when the boost hits. The sound coming from the engine bay is wicked. Hearing it while you are feeling it is awesome. For me everything has to be JDM and second, my interiors must be clean and simple. Form with function, no gimmicks."

The cabin of the RSX testifies to simplicity and function. From the JDM pulpit come blindingly red Bride Brix seats, Takata harnesses, a Cusco pillar bar, a J's Racing C-pillar bar, a JDM pedal set and a Mugen shift knob. An interesting grouping of Defi Link gauges including fuel pressure, oil pressure, oil and water temp, exhaust temp and a 5-inch tach are housed in a pillar pod. In classic import tuning style, an array of tuning computers is housed in the glove box. These gems consist of Blitz SBC i-D boost controller, Blitz i-D Power Meter, APEXi S-AFC II and an AEM UEGO air/fuel monitor. Hong has re-upholstered the rear portion of the interior in Bride fabric to tie the look together. The carbon-fiber framed center dash is home to a three-pack of gauges and the Panasonic head unit that adds some thump to this ride's bump. The Panasonic unit features a 7-inch monitor with DVD player. The head unit and a Panasonic 8-disc changer feed the need of the 6x9 MB Quart Premium component speakers, 6x9 MB Quart Reference two-way speakers and a trio of 10-inch Rockford Fosgate Punch subwoofers, with a big assist from two Kenwood Excelon X50IF amps. The system is also configured to run a Sony Playstation.

The rolling stock remains more or less true to the previous version of the car. When you have special black-hued 18-inch Volk Racing TE-37s, there are few improvements to be made. The 18x7.5 Volks are wrapped with Dunlop SP Sport Max rubber and backed by a Rotora front brake upgrade featuring heavy duty four-piston calipers, 11-inch rotors and stainless-steel lines. The rear runs Power Slot rotors and StopTech braided lines. Footwork consists of Tein HA-spec coilovers, a Mugen upper strut bar and a Carbing rear lower strut bar.

Hong's RSX is the complete package; it's built and boosted with an eye toward leading edge JDM parts and supreme motoring comfort. Where others will move on to a different platform or, if smitten with a particular model, build another car of said model, Hong is showing his loyalty by sticking with the same individual car through thick and thin. Will he do it again? Like his first version, this car is not in need of a Phoenix-like resurrection, but will he tear this thing down and go for version 3.0?

By Henry Z. Dekuyper

Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!