K24 Swap 3rd Gen Prelude in Thailand
On the outside, this 1988 Prelude may look like a mostly stock machine. But a closer look will let you know it's far from ordinary.
Attention Grabber
Of the amazing options offered by Honda back in the late '80s and early '90s, models like the Civic, the CRX, and the Integra were heavily favored by the enthusiasts and the aftermarket over the wonderful third-generation of the Prelude. And that's why we don't come across very many stunning Prelude builds. But when we do, they immediately steal every bit of our attention.
A Rare Find
And that is certainly the case with the 1988 Prelude you see in the photos above. Personally, coming from a family where late '80s Japanese cars are held in high regard, this writer can relate to the owner of this beauty. A massive fan of the third-gen Prelude, Thailand's Satit Suwantong had to search the market for a long time before being able to get his hands on one of these rare birds.
>>Join the conversation about this K24 swapped Prelude right here in the S2Ki forum.
Transformed
But the car didn't look like this when Satit first took possession of it. His vision for the Prelude was to turn it into a full-on drag race machine. And while he enjoyed the car in stock form for a while, he eventually started the process of adding power and removing weight.
>>Join the conversation about this K24 swapped Prelude right here in the S2Ki forum.
K24 Swap
So in went the 2.4-liter K24 motor. Custom engine mounts help situate the block as far forward as possible. This meant the top of the valve cover wouldn't clear the nice sloping hood of the Prelude. So a cutout was made into the hood to let the top of the power plant peek out. That's not the only thing extending out of the hood though. The exhaust pipe also runs right out from the back of the motor and out of the hood on the passenger side.
>>Join the conversation about this K24 swapped Prelude right here in the S2Ki forum.
Stripped-Out Interior
Other than a couple of mutations in the hood, a beautiful stance, and the custom wheels, the exterior is pretty much stock. The interior, however, is a totally different story. In true competition car fashion, nearly everything has been stripped out. The driver seat has been replaced with a carbon-fiber bucket seat. A fuel cell now resides in the passenger seat area, with dual pumps and a battery. The dashboard is the only thing that remains, albeit in modified form.
>>Join the conversation about this K24 swapped Prelude right here in the S2Ki forum.
Ready For Show And Go
The roll cage aids with safety and added chassis stiffness. The door panels and the instrument panel have been covered in Alcantara. Instrumentation is provided by the AIM digital display, and a Mugen steering wheel lives in front of it. With success in drag racing, Satit Suwantong's Prelude underwent a cosmetic refresh as well. It went from red with random black panels, to the gorgeous all-black exterior color you see above. A treat for the eyes, and a force to be reckoned with on the drag strip.
>>Join the conversation about this K24 swapped Prelude right here in the S2Ki forum.