Installed: Mugen Parts...
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Hey all,
I just got back the S2000 today. We installed the Mugen header, ECM, thermostat, intake, and front sway bar, and also installed custom front brake ducts, along with stainless steel braided brake lines, Hawk Blue pads, and a set of worn S-02 PP OEM tires for the track... Tire pressures are set at 39f/34r.
Initial impressions-
The car has better throttle response, especially at rpms about 5K. I did not dyno the car, but I believe the car has gained significant HP from 4K-8500. The car is also better balanced, and doesn't step out as readily as when using the stock front swaybar and stock tire pressures. It will hold a line and can be pushed farther than before.
I will be testing the car at Blackhawk Farms Raceway tomorrow, to see what appreciable differences are. I should be reporting my feelings on the modifications later this weekend...
-Nick
I just got back the S2000 today. We installed the Mugen header, ECM, thermostat, intake, and front sway bar, and also installed custom front brake ducts, along with stainless steel braided brake lines, Hawk Blue pads, and a set of worn S-02 PP OEM tires for the track... Tire pressures are set at 39f/34r.
Initial impressions-
The car has better throttle response, especially at rpms about 5K. I did not dyno the car, but I believe the car has gained significant HP from 4K-8500. The car is also better balanced, and doesn't step out as readily as when using the stock front swaybar and stock tire pressures. It will hold a line and can be pushed farther than before.
I will be testing the car at Blackhawk Farms Raceway tomorrow, to see what appreciable differences are. I should be reporting my feelings on the modifications later this weekend...
-Nick
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Johnson City
Wow, let us know how things go! I for one have been very interested in the Mugen header. I added a Comptech cat-back exhaust on my Type R before I added a header and I couldn't tell if the header made the car much louder because of the exhaust (sure did wonders for mid-range power) Does the header by itself with the stock exhaust make the car much louder??
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,644
Likes: 143
From: Chapel Hill, NC
The stock exhaust gets a bit quieter and less deep. More of a motorcycle sound. Not a big change though. I like it a lot now but I have gotten used to it.
Its quieter in the car because the exhaust isnt so low and low sounds travel into the car higher ones won't.
Its quieter in the car because the exhaust isnt so low and low sounds travel into the car higher ones won't.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 630
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Hey all,
Things I found out about the S2000 this weekend...
The oversteer problem is now solved, but has now magnified the poor rebound dampening of the stock shocks. I, and several other experienced drivers, discovered that the car does not like to "set" into a corner, but rather likes to oscillate up and down several times throughout the turn, upsetting whatever grip I may have with the tires. In other words, the car's shocks/springs are the next upgrade.
The brake ducting works great. FYI- the ducts source air from the fake ducts in the front bumper (now they're real ducts!) and are channeled by a fiberglass duct and 3" silicone/wire hose to the rotor's dust shield where a coupling had been cut and welded on to accept the hose. I had no problems with overheating whatsoever. Brake fade was nonexistent and in conjunction with the Hawk Blue pads I almost couldn't heat them up enough! In fact, there isn't enough tire for the braking power. I found myself inducing ABS almost all the time, and the tires would be screaming. I think a tire/wheel upgrade would be in order- with widths of 225 front, 245 rear. Slightly larger, but not too large. Performance before looks!
The intake is somewhat louder than stock, which is nice since I can hear the car better in the track now, unless a full on Trans Am car is attempting to pass me... The car is much faster than before, with the upgrades. Throttle response is much improved over the stock intake/header/ECM, and I think it will only get better with the exhaust. Again, I think the next upgrade for this car is the spring/shock set, but since the exhaust is on order, the sping/shocks will have to wait until the late spring...
FYI, I saw the Mugen carbon fiber hardtop for the S2000 at King Motorsports on Friday. It's VERY TRICK- I could lift it up by myself. It has a big rear window, and came primered for paint matching. Also, it has carbon fiber panels where there would usually see a rear quarter window.
One last thing... I chased down, and passed, a Viper ACR at Blackhawk Farms... and I have people who'll back me up on it!
-Nick
Things I found out about the S2000 this weekend...
The oversteer problem is now solved, but has now magnified the poor rebound dampening of the stock shocks. I, and several other experienced drivers, discovered that the car does not like to "set" into a corner, but rather likes to oscillate up and down several times throughout the turn, upsetting whatever grip I may have with the tires. In other words, the car's shocks/springs are the next upgrade.
The brake ducting works great. FYI- the ducts source air from the fake ducts in the front bumper (now they're real ducts!) and are channeled by a fiberglass duct and 3" silicone/wire hose to the rotor's dust shield where a coupling had been cut and welded on to accept the hose. I had no problems with overheating whatsoever. Brake fade was nonexistent and in conjunction with the Hawk Blue pads I almost couldn't heat them up enough! In fact, there isn't enough tire for the braking power. I found myself inducing ABS almost all the time, and the tires would be screaming. I think a tire/wheel upgrade would be in order- with widths of 225 front, 245 rear. Slightly larger, but not too large. Performance before looks!
The intake is somewhat louder than stock, which is nice since I can hear the car better in the track now, unless a full on Trans Am car is attempting to pass me... The car is much faster than before, with the upgrades. Throttle response is much improved over the stock intake/header/ECM, and I think it will only get better with the exhaust. Again, I think the next upgrade for this car is the spring/shock set, but since the exhaust is on order, the sping/shocks will have to wait until the late spring...
FYI, I saw the Mugen carbon fiber hardtop for the S2000 at King Motorsports on Friday. It's VERY TRICK- I could lift it up by myself. It has a big rear window, and came primered for paint matching. Also, it has carbon fiber panels where there would usually see a rear quarter window.
One last thing... I chased down, and passed, a Viper ACR at Blackhawk Farms... and I have people who'll back me up on it!
-Nick
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 9,210
Likes: 7
From: WA
Sounds like you really had some fun. Good info about the parts, especially interesting about the front sway bar.
How about a few pictures of your brake ducting. Who did it for you? I assume you will pull those pads for street use.
So what are you going to do for shocks?
Congrats on the Viper kill.. what are the details?
How about a few pictures of your brake ducting. Who did it for you? I assume you will pull those pads for street use.
So what are you going to do for shocks?
Congrats on the Viper kill.. what are the details?
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 257
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From: Des Plaines (Chicago)
GTRPower....
I see that you live in Chicago, where did you buy all you parts?
I live in a Chicago suburb near O'Hare, I would like check out you car sometime, especially the new real air ducts.
FK
I see that you live in Chicago, where did you buy all you parts?
I live in a Chicago suburb near O'Hare, I would like check out you car sometime, especially the new real air ducts.
FK
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,288
Likes: 39
From: Nashville
I think nick (GTRPower) owns a shop. He has a Skyline (hence...GTR Power) too.
Hey, I beat a viper too, but.... he was a little guy shy after a huge 4 wheel skid (no abs on those things)right into the gravel (g.s. style)on the previous outing that day.
scot
[QUOTE]Originally posted by S2KRoadster.com:
[B]GTRPower....
I see that you live in Chicago, where did you buy all you parts?
Hey, I beat a viper too, but.... he was a little guy shy after a huge 4 wheel skid (no abs on those things)right into the gravel (g.s. style)on the previous outing that day.
scot
[QUOTE]Originally posted by S2KRoadster.com:
[B]GTRPower....
I see that you live in Chicago, where did you buy all you parts?
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Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Gardena
I've been emailing a few people my pictures of the carbon fiber brake ducts I've been producing over the past few months. If anyone would like an email of the zip file I've been sending, I'd be glad to send it.
More details will be available on the upcoming webpage update.
Ben
Bulletproof Automotive Inc. www.BulletproofAutomotive.com
Ben@BulletproofAutomotive.com
More details will be available on the upcoming webpage update.
Ben
Bulletproof Automotive Inc. www.BulletproofAutomotive.com
Ben@BulletproofAutomotive.com
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 630
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Hey guys,
The brake ducting was the first thing I wanted done to this car- King Motorsports did the modification/installation. It is VERY clean. I don't know how to upload pictures to bulletin boards, but I could email you some of them if you send me an email address...
Only Mugen parts will go on the car, since I really believe that Mugen produces the absolute best parts for Hondas (my biased, but as of yet, not proven wrong, opinion). Hence, the Mugen exhaust will soon appear on it when I next get a chance to go up to Sullivan, and when I have a bigger nest egg built up by late Spring 2001, the car will get the Mugen shock/spring set too. I'm not really hung up on the whole HP issue- rather, track laptimes are more important to me. I think that the overall package that Mugen has introduced so far for the S2000 is the absolute best one, and least compromising.
Before yesterday, I honestly thought that the stock shocks/springs/swaybars were pretty well designed, but after the front Mugen swaybar install, I realised how the stock swaybar limited the overall performance. In fact, just installing the 31mm Mugen swaybar will probably require the installation of an aftermarket spring/strut set, and some way to use tires with larger footprints- maybe 17" wheels with wider tires. FYI, the 31mm Mugen swaybar increases the front swaybar stiffness by over 150%- according to the HyperRev S2000 book.
I reached the limits of those stock suspension parts very quickly, in fact, in the very first session. I would probably recommend either NOT changing a thing on the car, or changing the front swaybar, shocks, springs, and adding brake ducts as part of the first performance upgrade package, then the wheels/tires as the next package, and intake, header, exhaust, ECM, thermostat as the final package. Installing individual items from these "packages" will only showcase the limits of the stock parts that are related to each subsystem. However, take this opinion with a grain of salt- Like I said earlier, this is only my opinion, and others may or may not agree with the choices I've made...
-Nick
The brake ducting was the first thing I wanted done to this car- King Motorsports did the modification/installation. It is VERY clean. I don't know how to upload pictures to bulletin boards, but I could email you some of them if you send me an email address...
Only Mugen parts will go on the car, since I really believe that Mugen produces the absolute best parts for Hondas (my biased, but as of yet, not proven wrong, opinion). Hence, the Mugen exhaust will soon appear on it when I next get a chance to go up to Sullivan, and when I have a bigger nest egg built up by late Spring 2001, the car will get the Mugen shock/spring set too. I'm not really hung up on the whole HP issue- rather, track laptimes are more important to me. I think that the overall package that Mugen has introduced so far for the S2000 is the absolute best one, and least compromising.
Before yesterday, I honestly thought that the stock shocks/springs/swaybars were pretty well designed, but after the front Mugen swaybar install, I realised how the stock swaybar limited the overall performance. In fact, just installing the 31mm Mugen swaybar will probably require the installation of an aftermarket spring/strut set, and some way to use tires with larger footprints- maybe 17" wheels with wider tires. FYI, the 31mm Mugen swaybar increases the front swaybar stiffness by over 150%- according to the HyperRev S2000 book.
I reached the limits of those stock suspension parts very quickly, in fact, in the very first session. I would probably recommend either NOT changing a thing on the car, or changing the front swaybar, shocks, springs, and adding brake ducts as part of the first performance upgrade package, then the wheels/tires as the next package, and intake, header, exhaust, ECM, thermostat as the final package. Installing individual items from these "packages" will only showcase the limits of the stock parts that are related to each subsystem. However, take this opinion with a grain of salt- Like I said earlier, this is only my opinion, and others may or may not agree with the choices I've made...
-Nick