1992 Acura Integra GS-R – Project DB2

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After finishing in the engine on the Project Si sedan, and with more wait time around the Project AP1, I thought I’d pick up a brand new build to start on for 2014. I needed my mind set on a second-generation Integra of the GS-R variety, and I was dead set on holding out until I found a teal or red version complete with its original B17 powerplant. Several months of searching and I located a 1992 Aztec Green Pearl model online, and just a few weeks later, it stole certainly one of my garage spots.

The Excellent

Clean title, 220,000 miles on the clock, original B17 still intact. Because of its age, it really runs pretty well.

The Not So Good

The body is at poor condition. , and a peeling clearcoat have plagued the 21-year-old body.Dents and dings The hood has a massive dent that requires replacement, along with the hatch is showing some paint bubbling that’s spreading. The brakes are almost non-existent and there are two different sets of tires, with all four in poor condition.

The Plan

The original B17 will remain as being the powerplant, nevertheless the engine will probably be torn down and rebuilt for turbo duty using aftermarket goods throughout. My vision is modern technology applied to the older B-series, and while I won’t be swapping the full engine out for something newer, the supporting cast will certainly be light years ahead of what was available during the early ’90s. Any thoughts of just bolting on an off-the-shelf turbo kit were left out pretty quickly when Jason Whitfield of Whitfield Racing offered to play a major role in the build. Whitfield has become involved with building cars, both import and domestic, for a few decades now and rather than slowing down, he seems to simply be speeding up. His shop is fully stocked with go-fast goods, a dyno, and that he offers their own line of products including headers, exhaust manifolds, cam gears and more, as well as top-notch custom fabrication. He asked that I bring the auto to his shop to begin the mock-up process around the turbo kit that he’d be designing. As a way to properly put the turbo involving the head and top area of the core support, though he offers a top mount B-series exhaust manifold for the later model Integra, space constraints on the DA/DB2 would require some changes to the design.A number of changes is going to be made to be able to clearance the turbo properly. Once complete, the ’90-’93 Integra manifold will probably be available to the general public via Whitfield’s website.

The Stockpile Begins

Before arriving to Whitfield’s shop, I ordered several parts that may have an effect on the available space under the hood of the DB2. Engine mounts for example, will place the motor in a slightly different position as the old, worn out factory mounts allowed it to sag. As usual, I contacted Hasport and so they supplied a set of their industry-standard billet aluminum mounts. These mounts will properly position the engine, fight engine movement, along within every project I take on; Hasport engine mounts

Also on the list of direct bolt-ons is the K-Tuned traction bar that we test fit and used as a guide for taking measurements for the custom radiator that might be on order once the mock up process is complete. The main bar is produced in chromoly steel, with the end plates created from steel. Everything is Tig and Mig welded together and powdercoated for longevity. The lightweight aluminum radius arms are fully adjustable and the entire unit bolted up perfectly-just like a factory piece. Also from K-Tuned is an adjustable short throw shifter. It comes with a height adjustable pivot ball and the upper portion of the shifter is actually offset, allowing you to set it up however you please. While it may seem far too early for this modification, its depth under the car can cause complications with exhaust piping clearance since we’ll probably be running larger, 3-inch piping.