The cylinder head received some massaging to help it keep up with the increased airflow demands of the punched-out engine. A massive 295-duration/13.0mm-lift camshaft opens and closes the intake valves, while a 290-duration/12.0mm lift bumpstick controls the valves on the exhaust side of the head. But what's under the valve cover is destined to play second fiddle to what has to be the most desirable NA mod for any high-performance Honda: individual throttle bodies... made by none other than Tracy Sports themselves.
The "Big Throttle" 65.5mm ITBs not only move gobs of air into the hungry engine, they look breathtaking. Supplying adequate fuel to the injectors mounted on the ITBs is a Bosch 282lph fuel pump, while NGKR7433 spark plugs provide the spark to get things ignited.
We're all used to drooling over the accessories bolted to the intake side of a tuned naturally aspirated car, or ogling the hardware on the exhaust side of a turbo car, but few cars have awe-inspiring accessories bolted to both sides. This one does.
Proving that trick and fancy exhaust manifolds aren't just for turbo cars, this NA S2k wears a titanium Tracy Sports exhaust manifold that rivals the ITBs in cool factor. They chose titanium instead of stainless steel to keep weight down, and the tapered primaries of the manifold help fatten up the midrange and top end power without sacrificing low-end grunt.
Engine management was the last area to tackle. The F20 (or should we call it a F23C?) now takes its orders from a HKS F Con V-Pro engine management system, which is the perfect unit to get the most out of the engine mods. All told, the combo makes a very respectable 298ps@8500rpm (294 hp) and 28.6kg@6000rpm (206 lb-ft of torque). More than enough for the a car of this size and weight (2643 lbs).
The engine was only part of the focus and the chassis received just as much attention, having been reinforced with additional bracing and a 10-point rollcage. After that, a Tracy Sports widebody kit was installed. If you're wondering what a body kit has to do with chassis mods, it's there for more than just looks, making it possible to fit wider tires and wheels than the stock fenders would allow. Tires with 40mm more tread in the front, and 50mm in the rear can now be used and make all the difference.
Under the bulging fenders is a set of lightweight Gram Lights 57 Maximum wheels, measuring 17x9 all around with a 12mm offset. Wrapped in Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 tires, sized 255/50R17 all around, the Gram Lights give the S2k grip to match its power.
The widebody kit includes a front bumper and diffuser, front and rear canards, a rear bumper, side skirts, front fenders and rear fenders. If you're considering rocking this gorgeous and swoopy kit on your S2k, expect to pay around $5,700 for it... and that's if you can find someone to import it for you (which also costs a pretty penny). The sexy hardtop is a M-tec/Mugen piece and we must admit, makes the S2k look like a million bucks.
The chassis mods were rounded out with Tracy Sports anti-roll bars, A-arm reinforcements and the installation and tuning of TEIN Super Racing coilovers with pillowball mounts. The TEIN dampers use Hyperco springs, rated at 14kg/mm in the front and 16kg/mm in the rear, an ATS 2-way limited-slip differential, Tracy Sports 4.78 ring and pinion set and, Exedy Hyper clutch to make sure both tires get power.
Tracy Sports set out to build a car that could not only mop up the competition at the track, but be a good driver too. How much power they got out of their car while keeping it totally streetable is a testament to their ability. As good as a stock S2000 is, they've shown it can be made better. The trick is to maintain the balance of the car and only enhance the good about the stock car, just like Tracy Sports has done here, not to try and make it into something entirely different.