hey guys, just picked up an 03 yesterday.

it was a random act of craig'slist. i had narrowed my search down to g35/350z, rsx-s or tsx. i was basically just looking for a sporty six speed to replace my rover as my DD. i stumbled upon a couple of S2K'S, but never really considered them much, mainly because i wasn't in to the idea of a convertible, but also because most of the s2k's with decently low mileage were 16k+ in my area.. but then i found this one https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/940938-2003-s2k-nc/

i normally wouldn't even consider a salvage titled car, no matter the price, but this one looked clean and upon my first meet with the owner i did a thorough inspection. checked the fluids cold and hot, no funny build up in the radiator, oil was syn and super clean, i listened to the valve train with a scope, cold and hot, not the slightest tick, i also took a long look inside of the oil filler cap... the motor was the cleanest i'd ever seen, not even a golden tint to the aluminum. everything was spotless, not the first drip on the entire motor and it looked like it had been awhile since he last wiped it down. drove it and it tracked true, braked straight, shifted awesome and made my lap feel warm and fuzzy, so i decided to buy. we worked out a good deal on it, a considerable amount below what he last listed in the linked post.
basically i feel like the luckiest man on earth right now. i've had money saved for a few months now and i was hawking c-list about twice a day for as long as i've had the cash set back. i knew that if i waited something would jump out at me, and it did.

i love the car, really can't say enough about it. i've had tue and wed off this week, so i've been able to ride and get acquainted for two solid days. i absolutely love it! ok i'll shut up now.

i know the last couple of paragraphs should've been in the introduction section, but i do have a mods question.

in the post i linked to vatko says that the car has "4.44 cryo treated lsd rear end and 4.77 final drive gearing"
he didn't seem to know a lot about the car, as it was modded when he bought it.

i've done a bit of research in the last couple of days and i'm pretty sure i have the 4.77 final driving gear. my car rpms just like this S2000in 6th gear at 65. sitting somewhere along 4- 4.25 grand on a nice hwy flat. i do know that this is an ap2 in the video as it redline's different.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWffR3R6-Xk

so to the question, what do you guys think he meant by "4.44 cryo tested lsd rear end"?? do you think it has something to do with the diff housing (pumpkin) and not the final gearing??

i haven't had a chance to crawl under there yet (that's the only part of the inspection i wasn't thorough with. brought ramps, but no-go on a lowered s2)

also any of you guys have a link to the pdf version of the service and owners manual? i plan on buying the paperback versions of both but the pdf will do for the immediate future.

thanks for the help guys.

 

Welcome to the world of the S2000. You won't regret your decision and this site (S2KI) is full of information on just about any subject that you can think of relating to the S2000.

Don't think that there is a PDF version of the manual available - better to acquire a complete one anyhow - they are not that expensive - think I paid ~$60 for mine and I use it all the time. Then you can pass it on to a purchaser in the future when you are ready to sell - shows a commitment to the proper maintenance of the vehicle I think.

 

I cant remember exactly where I found it, but I got a copy of the 00-03 service manual on pdf. Search google and something should pop up.

4.44 is the ratio for the rear end (ring and pinion). Stock is 4.10.

 

thanks nutterbutter, But I think I'm actually 4.77, at least when compared to the video I linked.
In the description of vatko's "for sale" S2 ( the one i bought) that I linked to, it says that it has a cryo treated 4.44 LSD rear end AND a 4.77 final drive gear. Does that make any sense? From the research I've done it's either one or the other. Once I get under there maybe I'll be able to tell if it's an aftermarket pumpkin and then go from there.

Thanks for the heads up on the PDF. I'll give it a shot tomorrow.

 

If you have 4.77's you'll be over 5k rpms at 80 mph in 6th gear.

Congrats on the purchase!

 

yes and no. if he doesn't have a yellow box then he could have them, or the yellow box is set wrong etc.. just saying.

theres 2 or more of them btw
http://modifry.com/products/yj/details.htm
and
http://www.ricks2k.com/products/yellowbox.php

i had 4.77s in my ap1 loved them, but 4.77s would be over kill in a ap2 .4.44s would be the best

to the OP do have one of them?

 

Here's a gear calc. Play around with it and see what matches up with your revs at what speed and gear.

http://www.turnzero.com/technical_re...ear_calculator

 

but agin if he has a yellow box they wont mach up with that

 

gps.

 

ap2 has different transmission gear ratios, so you can't easily compare your ap1 to that video