Awhit's Lessons Learned BB AP2 Build
#1
Awhit's Lessons Learned BB AP2 Build
Here we are again. A few years ago I purchased an AP1 and went way off the rails trying to build it up. Things progressed like most plans subject to poor discipline - I woke up one morning realizing I was trying to achieve something impossible and I sold the car and its parts.
Fast forward to now and I’ve been around the block in too many cars over too short of a period trying to figure out what I truly want. The good news is that trying different things coupled with getting older and starting a family gave me perspective and context that I previously lacked. That context and perspective returned me to where I started, but now with a much better (or so I tell myself) idea of what I actually want to achieve. Enter this 2004 BB AP2, purchased from a long-time friend and forum member (and already donning a few parts I snagged ahead of the acquisition).
This time I’m setting out to keep my S more subtle, more enjoyable to drive in the shrinking number of chances that present themselves and less about the parts than it is about the S2000 experience as a whole….. I’ll still find SOME JDM bling to put on it though.
Will I actually keep and drive this one? And how will time judge my habit of journaling to myself on a dying medium? I guess we'll find out.
Fast forward to now and I’ve been around the block in too many cars over too short of a period trying to figure out what I truly want. The good news is that trying different things coupled with getting older and starting a family gave me perspective and context that I previously lacked. That context and perspective returned me to where I started, but now with a much better (or so I tell myself) idea of what I actually want to achieve. Enter this 2004 BB AP2, purchased from a long-time friend and forum member (and already donning a few parts I snagged ahead of the acquisition).
This time I’m setting out to keep my S more subtle, more enjoyable to drive in the shrinking number of chances that present themselves and less about the parts than it is about the S2000 experience as a whole….. I’ll still find SOME JDM bling to put on it though.
Will I actually keep and drive this one? And how will time judge my habit of journaling to myself on a dying medium? I guess we'll find out.
The following 8 users liked this post by awhit17:
adrs2k (06-19-2023),
Bri (07-06-2023),
Bullwings (06-09-2023),
Langelo DeMysterioso (06-28-2023),
Mugen_is_best (09-14-2023),
and 3 others liked this post.
#3
Welcome back.
enjoy shouting into the void that is build threads in 2023
enjoy shouting into the void that is build threads in 2023
The following 5 users liked this post by TsukubaCody:
Feezy (06-28-2023),
Langelo DeMysterioso (06-28-2023),
Scigheras (06-09-2023),
ThreeD (06-28-2023),
Toonces (06-09-2023)
#4
I'm really happy with how they turned out. When they redid the TE molds for the Saga/Sonic some of the sizes and faces just didn't look right. These present very well in my eyes, almost having that OG TE vibe now that you can get a proper silver color.
It's too bad. Reading build threads was one of the best ways for me to learn more about a car and to get into modifying it. Plus it's just cool to see how people attack things differently. Maybe one day things will turn back around.
#5
Wheels, tires, bbk, coilovers, and oem hardtop.
Looks ready and done to just keep driving with a sprinkling of track days here and there. Anything after what I can visually see is venturing back to the slippery slope. LOL.
Good luck and welcome back.
Looks ready and done to just keep driving with a sprinkling of track days here and there. Anything after what I can visually see is venturing back to the slippery slope. LOL.
Good luck and welcome back.
The following users liked this post:
adrs2k (06-19-2023)
The following users liked this post:
awhit17 (06-12-2023)
#7
Registered User
Trending Topics
#8
#9
To really kick things off, we’ve got to talk about the car itself. The last time I was in an S2000, I purchased a clean but high (165k) mile AP1. The miles on that car were a partial contributor to me just wanting to change everything, so this time I set out knowing I wanted an S that was a little fresher and had some solid mods on it right off the bat. No-brainer type mods that I wouldn’t have to repurchase but also would still allow me to add my own touch to the car.
It was looking daunting trying to find a truly clean and fresh feeling S2000 since almost all of these cars have a story at this point. But in a stroke of luck, a good friend mentioned he was ready to move on from his after a long ownership. I took it as a sign and picked up this Berlina Black AP2.
Vitals on the car are:
Parts on the car when I picked it up:
Since this car is such a peach, I’ll probably have it detailed and PPF’d. It’s definitely not concours perfect but I want to be able to drive it, have it look just as good as it did when I picked it up and also reduce the effort needed to keep it clean. I’ve got some parts I want to pick up and add as well (for example the OEM exhaust is CRAZY quiet even with the header) that will make the driving experience/overall feel of the car more what I want. All that can come in time though…but….like not too much time. Ha.
It was looking daunting trying to find a truly clean and fresh feeling S2000 since almost all of these cars have a story at this point. But in a stroke of luck, a good friend mentioned he was ready to move on from his after a long ownership. I took it as a sign and picked up this Berlina Black AP2.
Vitals on the car are:
- 2004 AP2
- 2 owners before me
- All VINs/OG paint
- Just under 24k miles
Parts on the car when I picked it up:
- OEM BB hardtop
- Ohlins DFVs + 12k/11k springs
- Koyo radiator
- Toda torquie-kun header
- Catted test pipe
- Stoptech trophy bbk
- ARP extended studs w/ new OEM bearings
- Origin Fab UCA bushings + Kingpin spherical compliance bearings
- Some other small things
Since this car is such a peach, I’ll probably have it detailed and PPF’d. It’s definitely not concours perfect but I want to be able to drive it, have it look just as good as it did when I picked it up and also reduce the effort needed to keep it clean. I’ve got some parts I want to pick up and add as well (for example the OEM exhaust is CRAZY quiet even with the header) that will make the driving experience/overall feel of the car more what I want. All that can come in time though…but….like not too much time. Ha.
Last edited by awhit17; 06-18-2023 at 09:36 AM.
#10
Moderator
Welcome back!