Turbocharged 2004 Acura RSX DC5 - Carte Blanche

Turbocharged 2004 Acura Rsx Dc5 Air Filter

The next step was picking the right wheel and tire to accompany the stout suspension, which wasn't so hard of a decision seeing that the primo wheels come from Rays and the sticky rubbers come from BFGoodrich. Joshua went with a set of 17x8.5 Rays Gram Lights with 245/40-17 BFGoodrich G-Force sport tires, a combination that's almost a standard at any track across the country. He followed up with some additions to the body, starting with the GReddy front lip and authentic DC5R HID headlights. Though the GReddy front lip did its job and was nothing to scoff at, Joshua took it a notch up and replaced it later in the process with an entire J's Racing CFRP Type-S aero kit, highlighted by a J's Racing 3D GT-wing, carbon fiber diffusers, and +20mm front wide fenders, making his RSX Peter North thick. Besides, the GReddy front lips and Nebraska streets don't get along too well. "I went through three Greddy front lips in less than a year; the roads in Nebraska suck!" Joshua says.

After the aesthetics were done, he tackled the most vital section, where a wrong choice of part can make or break the car, literally and figuratively-under the hood. Joshua went with a GReddy turbo kit and IPS KT1 forced induction cams to help the engine run strong and smooth on the track. He followed it up with a GReddy Evo TT catback exhaust and Hondata K-Pro programmable ECU, keeping the K20A2 motor in check. The GReddy Profec Spec II boost controller and turbo timer help the turbocharger stay in line with rest of the engine, while the FastTurbo.com upgraded oil lines control the speed and efficiency of oil needed to keep it durable.

Turbocharged 2004 Acura Rsx Dc5 Strut Tower

The last steps in Joshua's building process were among the interior, which also reflects his JDM aesthetic. From the DC5R red Recaro front seats to the DC5R shift knob and shift boot, the inside of Joshua's RSX is comprised of the perfect blend of gauging and lever controls, complementing the exterior to the tee. The 350mm MOMO Monte Carlo steering wheel with Splash hub adaptor provides a hint of class and elegance; reasons why his whip has placed in many car shows in and around the Midwest, a testament to Joshua's new approach at car building.

Naturally, he's not done with this project just yet. It's an evolving piece of work that Joshua refuses to simply lay down and move on. "The car is far from done. I still plan to add a lot of things to this car and possibly move from a boosted K20A2 to an all-motor 300whp K24," he explains, "I also think I'll be painting the car a completely different color, so be on the look out!" So it goes to show that a tuner doesn't have to be from a big city to compete, that the possibilities are endless even if you are from Lincoln, Nebraska, and pressing that "reset" button to start over is definitely within the bounds of reality. All it takes is hard work and patience.