Thought I'd try and jump start the Del-Val forum since it has been stalled lately.... I know this has been covered on other parts of this site but I want some local opinion. As some of you know my S2000 is almost completely stock and I was wondering what you thought was the single best modification you have made or want to make to your car. I want to start sprucing it up and need some ideas.

 

Well, if its okay to help you jump-start here, my car isn't all that modified (yet )...but for me, the cheapest mod with the largest "grin-factor" was yankin' the...(easy now! )...cover off my airbox.

I luuuuuuuuuv that throaty sound. As much as I love it, on hot & humid days I'm beginning to get a personal understanding regarding "bogging". So I suspect I'll be moving on to a nice CAI down the road. I've heard some nice 'uns at meets that still give the 4-banger a nice throaty roar, yet keep the ponies moving well over 200 all the same.

Anyway...I [showed] you mine...now show me yours!

 

Hey Dave... I actually took your advice on that this past weekend. I LOVED IT!!! especially when I hit VTEC! I'm assuming there are no downsides to doing it except some that complained about a horsepower loss?

 

'Tis all I am aware of. Also, I suppose its worth mentioning that my airbox has a bit more "dust-n-such" in it than with the top on. Given time, that'll clog up the air filter quicker, I suppose. Which, in turn, will further rob HP. But, again, nominal issues IMO for the sake of the seat-o-pants/ears fun of hearing that sound.

Another "downside" for some [and recently posted by another member] might be the underlying "Hoover" effect/sound you also pick up -- sort of hits the ear with a dual-tone that some find dissatisfying. Oh well, personally I like that extra tone too. At idle, folks pick up on it and ask, "Hmm, what've you done to your car?" 'Course, when they hear me hit VTEC, they ask the same thing!

Anyway, I don't believe there's any real disconcerting downside.

 

As you can see from the stuff below this message, I have a fair number of mods to my S. I'd have to say that the one mod that seemed to give me the best results was switching to 16" Regamaster EVO wheels. I saved 26 lbs. of unsprung weight. That made a significant difference in responsiveness and I know that it helped acceleration times as well. I expect that if I'd gone to a larger wheel (17" or even 18"), the effect would not have been near as beneficial, not to mention causing a much rougher ride because of the need to use VERY low profile tires.

I recall reading somewhere that every eleven pounds you shave off of the S is the rough equivilent to capturing one additional horsepower and if it is unsprung weight, the effect is even greater in practical terms.

Between the Spoon Header, the wheels, and the exhaust, I believe that I've cut about 50 lbs. off my car, which equals some 4.5 HP. Of course the header was also useful because it moved the torque peak down in the power band so the mid-range seems more forceful.

I'm not at all confident that the header, the exhaust, or the bored-out throttle body did anything significant in the way of additional horsepower, if any at all.. That would not be the case if I ever got a supercharger though and I may well end up doing that if they ever get a roots type SC into production.

Also, while I thought of my Coastal Metals grill as merely an appearance mod, three days ago I found out that it is functional as well. I got a MAJOR rock (three inches across) embedded in the grill as I was exceeding 80 mph. Who knows how fast it was moving towards me (was ejected from beneath a tractor/trailer truck in front of me). In any event, it hit exactly where the AC mechanism (no idea what it is) is located in front of the radiator. I'm sure that the rock would have taken that part out and maybe even damaged the radiator if I'd not had the grill there protecting them.

 

Just popped the top off my air box - what a sweet sound - took 30 seconds and didnt cost a dime! Wingman gets kudo of the week award for that mini mod.!!

 

There is a change in the tone of the car, but there is a loss of power from drawing hot air from the engine bay. This was kicked around a few times over the past couple of years. You can do a search on this, you should find at least a few strings on it.

 

So far my best mod is the hardtop. Before the end of July i should be running the Comptech supercharger(was against FI for this car for a long time, but i've made my decision i want to go faster & the only thing thats gonna help me do that is going FI ). I'll let you local guys no what i think of the product once i get it. Out of all the research i've done it looks as if Comptech's finally worked out all its problems with the kit, also plan on purchasing the Comptech E.S.M., front sway bar, and reinforced differential housing along with the kit.
Matt

 

I'm not yet certain how my mod will turn out but I believe my best mod will be performance driving classes in August. I can't wait to make that Panzo <sp> car scream at the top of it lungs "Don't - Stop - Don't - Stop". Along with my SSR and Yoko a032 R compound tires, Coastal metals Splitter and next mod Spoon N1. Exhaust is to cut some weight but mostly for that Come hither sound. My suggestion to all is to check the used parts market. It seems people with my00 are getting rid of the car and need to dump the mods. That how I'll be acquiring the rest of mine.

-Reese-

 

I forgot to ask about springs. Does anyone know of beneficial springs for improving handling? I would like to make the car a little stiffer.