2006 Honda S2000 build log

[The Pook]

  On 21/06/2023 at 13:53, Alex said:

Expand  

double double post

 

 

[Alex]

  On 21/06/2023 at 14:04, The Pook said:

double double post

 

 

Expand  

Oh I didn't even notice the similarity at first, but that's hilarious

Edited June 21, 2023 by Alex

[Alex]

edited

Edited August 8, 2024 by Alex

[Andrew]

  On 01/08/2024 at 01:41, Alex said:

Over a year since my last post, and a lot has been done... I just haven't updated this page


So because I am rather particular about making things exactly how I want them I have a lot of small things I've done in the past year to improve my S2000. There's still so much more to do, partly because its a 20 year old car but also partly because what I want to do with this car is slowly changing over time. Right now I am focusing on trying to solve any potential future issues, and over-building it to last my lifetime. So getting ahead of big ticket items before they become even bigger right down to replacing literal bolts because I don't like the look of the slight corrosion on it.

I also am rather particular about keeping a record of these things, so here's what's been done to my S2000 in the past 12 months:

 

Just before putting my car away, I got a stubby antenna - at first I was a bit apprehensive about changing something away from OEM but after putting it on I realised how much better it looks. Ideally I'd have no antenna there... but I am not going to go through with that effort, so this is better than nothing.

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

 

I tried out a titanium counter-sunk knob, it's alright but I just find it's too low and too heavy. I feel like I am one of the few that prefer a lighter shift knob because I feel that it can translate the 'feeling' of the gearbox much better. The S2000 gearbox, like many Honda gearboxes, is excellent, precise and feels like it's made out of glass. It will let you know when it's not up to temp, or when you aren't shifting correctly all by becoming more difficult to engage gears. With a weighted knob, I find that feeling is harder to gauge.

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

I applied some PPF to the headlights to slow down them cracking, but I'm going to find a more permanent replacement for them. They're not OEM, and bother me a bit.

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

Over the winter I purchased some more parts,  several different Spoon braces (gotta find some places to put more Spoon parts on the car!), a new Koyorad, and tons of small, miscellaneous replacement OEM parts. I also planned on putting another bucket seat into the car - so I cleared out the passenger seat in preparation of housing these parts and to make the install easier.

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

 

 

107385km before it goes into hibernation...

  Reveal hidden contents

Radiator arrived! And added it to the growing list of replacement parts gather in the car...

  Reveal hidden contents

New Recaro Pole Position seat fitted;

  Reveal hidden contents

 

I’m aware the passenger is too upright and forward, I fixed this recently after sitting in it while my friend drove

 

Next was something I've wanted to replace for awhile, but being rather picky there was only one exhaust I had in mind: Fujitsubo Legalis R. Basically OEM+ with no drone, it should be perfect.

  Reveal hidden contents

Time to fit stuff up! Exhaust, radiator and bracing:

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

After bleeding the radiator I let it sit overnight to see if I'd have any slow leaks (it was winter after all - and I couldn't really drive it). Turns out I did...
 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

I found the culprit; a combination of an aging hose and clamp. Secured it with a worm clamp from Home Depot and we seem to be good to go!
 

  Reveal hidden contents

Spring rolling around, time for the first real test drive. Was a bit nervous as I had changed so much all at once, usually not a great idea. Off we go then!

Oh...

  Reveal hidden contents

Well, damn, my rear brakes cooked themselves after around 30km or so. They got so hot they popped the centre cap off... I spent a good 15-20 minutes searching but wasn't able to retrieve it

  Reveal hidden contents

Sadly, it also seemed like my hodge-bodge solution didn't hold and I got drips of hot coolant all inside the engine bay and splash guard:

  Reveal hidden contents

First thing's first, I had to replace the rear calipers as they were seized. Got this done by my mechanic as I didn't have the parts and wanted to make sure it's done right. Parked near another banana car:

  Reveal hidden contents

New calipers on, and painted black to blend in a bit. One day I'll get a BBK to replace them with floating rotors... but that day is not today.

  Reveal hidden contents

In the m

ean-time, some of the more dress-up-like parts I ordered arrived. An LHT battery bracket, brake brace (actually does good for firmer braking), and titanium dress-up bolts. OCD, but I love their finish.

  Reveal hidden contents

 

During this time I also got all the mounts and bushings replaced. So engine, trans, diff mounts. LCA, UCA, etc. It wasn't cheap, but it totally transformed the way the car feels, and it feels so much more rigid now. I went with OEM+ stiffened rubber for all of it.

Don't have pics of them all, but here's the diff mounts:

  Reveal hidden contents

Some parking lot pictures as I hadn't taken any nice-ish pictures of the car in this year so far...

  Reveal hidden contents

Also went to the odd S2000 meet here or there around May-June:

  Reveal hidden contents

One of the numerous time's I washed my car, cleaned the engine bay as well to try get rid of any of the residue coolant splatters in there:

  Reveal hidden contents

I used a fabric ceramic coating on the roof as well:

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Next, I did a rather nice QoL mod. I installed the SOS hood dampers, I was a bit hesitant at first but after doing it - I really enjoy not having to prop up the hood when working on the car. Makes things just a little easier.

  Reveal hidden contents

 

And now on to the present, end of July 2024. I found something really, super annoying... the previous owner had clearly poorly repaired chipped paint on the boot lid. He had put some wrap over exposed metal to cover chips... and it's started to rust. Just came back from a respray shop I trust in the area and it's going in on the 12th August to get the boot lid and spoiler resprayed, and potentially blended. Hopefully the rust isn't worse than it appears.

  Reveal hidden contents

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/400197724076769290/1268382932196655104/IMG_4149.mov?ex=66ac3928&is=66aae7a8&hm=fde6c4f8da4f06858c81d839322a470033abb1aca3b16615e44d94b353638cc0&
 

 

Expand  

All of the images are broken.

[Alex]

  Couldn't edit them, so just reposting it here with better hosted images:

 

==##==

 

Over a year since my last post, and a lot has been done... I just haven't updated this page



So because I am rather particular about making things exactly how I want them I have a lot of small things I've done in the past year to improve my S2000. There's still so much more to do, partly because its a 20 year old car but also partly because what I want to do with this car is slowly changing over time. Right now I am focusing on trying to solve any potential future issues, and over-building it to last my lifetime. So getting ahead of big ticket items before they become even bigger right down to replacing literal bolts because I don't like the look of the slight corrosion on it.

I also am rather particular about keeping a record of these things, so here's what's been done to my S2000 in the past 12 months:

 

Just before putting my car away, I got a stubby antenna - at first I was a bit apprehensive about changing something away from OEM but after putting it on I realised how much better it looks. Ideally I'd have no antenna there... but I am not going to go through with that effort, so this is better than nothing.

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

I tried out a titanium counter-sunk knob, it's alright but I just find it's too low and too heavy. I feel like I am one of the few that prefer a lighter shift knob because I feel that it can translate the 'feeling' of the gearbox much better. The S2000 gearbox, like many Honda gearboxes, is excellent, precise and feels like it's made out of glass. It will let you know when it's not up to temp, or when you aren't shifting correctly all by becoming more difficult to engage gears. With a weighted knob, I find that feeling is harder to gauge.

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

I applied some PPF to the headlights to slow down them cracking, but I'm going to find a more permanent replacement for them. They're not OEM, and bother me a bit.

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

Over the winter I purchased some more parts,  several different Spoon braces (gotta find some places to put more Spoon parts on the car!), a new Koyorad, and tons of small, miscellaneous replacement OEM parts. I also planned on putting another bucket seat into the car - so I cleared out the passenger seat in preparation of housing these parts and to make the install easier.

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

 

 

107385km before it goes into hibernation...

  Reveal hidden contents

Radiator arrived! And added it to the growing list of replacement parts gather in the car...

  Reveal hidden contents

 

New Recaro Pole Position seat fitted;

  Reveal hidden contents

 

I’m aware the passenger is too upright and forward, I fixed this recently after sitting in it while my friend drove

 

Next was something I've wanted to replace for awhile, but being rather picky there was only one exhaust I had in mind: Fujitsubo Legalis R. Basically OEM+ with no drone, it should be perfect.

  Reveal hidden contents

Time to fit stuff up! Exhaust, radiator and bracing:

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

After bleeding the radiator I let it sit overnight to see if I'd have any slow leaks (it was winter after all - and I couldn't really drive it). Turns out I did...
 

  Reveal hidden contents

I found the culprit; a combination of an aging hose, and clamp. Secured it with a worm clamp from Home Depot and we seem to be good to go!
 

  Reveal hidden contents

Spring rolling around, time for the first real test drive. Was a bit nervous as I had changed so much all at once, usually not a great idea. Off we go then!

Oh...

  Reveal hidden contents

Well, damn, my rear brakes cooked themselves after around 30km or so. They got so hot they popped the centre cap off... I spent a good 15-20 minutes searching but wasn't able to retrieve it

  Reveal hidden contents

Sadly, it also seemed like my hodge-bodge solution didn't hold and I got drips of hot coolant all inside the engine bay and splash guard. Later turned out I didn't tighten it enough and the hose wasn't on properly, fixing both of those resolved this from happening again.

  Reveal hidden contents

First thing's first, I had to replace the rear calipers as they were seized. Got this done by my mechanic as I didn't have the parts and wanted to make sure it's done right. Parked near another banana car:

  Reveal hidden contents

New calipers on, and painted black to blend in a bit. One day I'll get a BBK to replace them with floating rotors... but that day is not today.

  Reveal hidden contents

In the mean-time, some of the more dress-up-like parts I ordered arrived. An LHT battery bracket, brake brace (actually does good for firmer braking), and titanium dress-up bolts. OCD, but I love their finish.

  Reveal hidden contents

 

During this time I also got all the mounts and bushings replaced. So engine, trans, diff mounts. LCA, UCA, etc. It wasn't cheap, but it totally transformed the way the car feels, and it feels so much more rigid now. I went with OEM+ stiffened rubber for all of it.

Don't have pics of them all, but here's the diff mounts:

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

Also went to the odd S2000 meet here or there around May-June:

  Reveal hidden contents

One of the numerous time's I washed my car, cleaned the engine bay as well to try get rid of any of the residue coolant splatters in there:

  Reveal hidden contents

I used a fabric ceramic coating on the roof as well:

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Next, I did a rather nice QoL mod. I installed the SOS hood dampers, I was a bit hesitant at first but after doing it - I really enjoy not having to prop up the hood when working on the car. Makes things just a little easier.

  Reveal hidden contents

And now on to the present, end of July 2024. I found something rather annoying... the previous owner had clearly poorly repaired chipped paint on the boot lid. They had put a wrap over exposed metal to cover chips... and it's started to rust. Just came back from a respray shop I trust in the area and it's going in on the 12th August to get the boot lid and spoiler resprayed, and potentially blended. Hopefully the rust isn't worse than it appears.

  Reveal hidden contents