Technical
It's been a few months since any progress was made on the AP1 project and I thought it might be time to do a quick update. In previous installments of the build, the bolt-ons were added, along with coilovers, minor brake upgrades, bucket seats, a hardtop, and a hood/bumper aero upgrade. I'm eagerly awaiting the completion of a new, off-the-shelf header that the manufacturer claims will make positive gains on the dyno. Until then, boredom has set in with regard to my current wheel setup. Combing the classifieds, I was leaning toward a set of black wheels to replace my silver Blitz rollers. Coming up short in my search, I decided to keep the current wheels, but give them a makeover. Also, HT's carbon fiber guru lent a hand to the rear of the AP1 by creating a new piece that would not only look cool, but would also add a little safety for the street car.
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Honda S2000 Project - Wrenchin'
RB Motoring
Initially, when I began searching for something to replace the skinny factory wheels, I made my way over to RB Motoring. The truth is, if you're looking for wheels, especially old school classics, this is the place to go. Walk into their garage/warehouse, and you're instantly greeted by row after row of high quality wheels in various sizes and colors. From BBS to SSR and everything in between, RB Motoring covers a massive spectrum of high-end rollers. They gave me an outstanding deal on the aging Blitz 01s that I had admired for years, and I couldn't pass it up.
Knowing that RB Motoring also offers top-notch refinishing and repair services, I took a trip to their new facility in City of Industry, CA. Instead of just having the wheels powdercoated black, I requested that the faces be refinished in matte black, while the lip would receive a coat of gloss black for a subtle contrast. The crew at RB said it would be no problem, and I could pick them up in a week. Now, I've been tinkering with cars for a pretty healthy length of time, and when I hear "one week," my mind automatically tacks on an additional seven to ten day "buffer." However, in this case, RB was spot on. Exactly one week after I dropped them off, I got the call that they were ready for pick up. When I arrived, the crew held up the wheels for me to inspect and I was blown away. The matte and gloss black combo flowed perfectly together, especially with the silver bolts and center cap. The work was flawless, and I couldn't find a scratch or error on any of the four wheels. Outstanding work, quick turn-around, and exactly what I asked for; it doesn't get any better than that.
JDP Engineering and Chapparone Auto Body
While my wheels were being operated on, John at JDP Engineering was putting the finishing touches on what was to be a new "lip style" rear wing for the S2000. For those who followed along with the Project Fit series from last year, you might remember JDP's handiwork. John created a slick carbon fiber front lip and radiator shroud when no one else seemed to be stepping up to offer parts for the second generation Fit. Knowing the quality of his work, I was excited to see what he could come up with for the S2000. He mentioned that he liked the look of the Backyard Special wing that I had on my car, but we both agreed that Backyard's deletion of the third brake light is not only a safety issue on a street car, but also another reason to get pulled over and hassled. After trying a few different design ideas, John showed me the prototype for the final mold. Carbon fiber, with an aggressive upward kick, and a slot molded in for the factory third brake light; perfection. When the production version arrived, I did a quick test fit to make sure everything was up to strict JDP Engineering standards, and as usual, the fit was spot on.
Earlier in the project series, I paid a visit to Chapparone Auto Body in San Diego to have them paint the APR front bumper and Seibon hood, as well as blend the fenders for a good match. Their work was outstanding, and their timing was impeccable. This time around, I asked that they just paint the top portion of the wing and leave the carbon fiber belly exposed. They had no problem with the request, and after the wing was dropped off on a Wednesday, it was ready just two days later.
Blox Racing
With the wing painted and the newly finished wheels ready to install, I was on the hunt for a new set of lug nuts. Scouring the web, I found that I really liked the look of the new silver Street Series option from Blox Racing. As a company, Blox Racing has taken off ever since it was founded just seven short years ago. Offering all types of performance goods and accessories for numerous Honda/Acura models, the crew at Blox stays plenty busy unveiling new products almost weekly. Essentially, you could build your entire car on Blox Racing's website.
Forged from AL7075 magnesium alloy, the Blox Street Series lug nuts are feather-light, yet hard-anodized for incredible strength. They offer a number of different colors, but I felt the subtlety of the silver would work well with black wheels.
Boredom finally cured, my next plan of attack is going to focus on a new header. I've been eagerly waiting to test a new prototype that will eventually become an off-the-shelf unit from a very well known company. Once it's completed, I'll install and test it against the Fujitsubo that I'm using now. Stay tuned....
