Needing some opinions

[Jaeden09]

Looking at buying a 2003 S2K and modding the hell out of it. Just looking for what you guys think about it, and what else should be done. I mostly plan on doing mechanical stuff, and maybe a little body work later.

1: Racing Clutch
2: Lightweight flywheel
3: Turbo + Intercooler (Looking at an InlinePro most-likely, and one have any opinions about them?)
4: AEM EMS
5: InlinePRO stroker kit, 90 bore with a 95 stroke to make it a 2.41 L, It's still low compression. most likely going to be 9:1, so I'll still be able to run the turbo, and be able to run the turbo at about 25-30 PSI.
6: Methanol Injection

Might change the camshaft and such sometime in between. Also plan on adding a full exhaust when I throw the turbo on.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Any feedback is welcomed.

[Java Junky]

Buy the meal. Taste it without seasonin' before you "mod the hell out'a it".
If, after considerable time in which you learn how the car performs with you at the helm, you feel that certain areas need improvement, go for it.
To start changin' items (that've, incidentally, been pretty well thought out by folks that do that kind'a thing for a livin') without any base-line for comparison turns another sweet-handlin' ride into an iffy (at best) ride that might not handle n' go as well as the original set-up.
Buy the car Jae. Spend some real time gettin' up-close-n'-personal with it. Hold onto the rest that you were gonna spend on the unobtainium until you sort it n' you out. You'll find stuff to spend it on. Trust me.
Be well.
Java

[S2000dude]

Java speaks words of wisdom!

[Jaeden09]

haha, It's going to be all military pay, and I plan on replacing the clutch and flywheel within the first months, and the turbo will most likely be my project for the winter next year. I'm planning on buying the car in March, so it will be about a year in between the turbo and stroker, if I still decide to do the stroker. The turbo will just be for shits and giggles.

[Java Junky]

On military pay?
Unless there's been a major change in what the Eagle deposits, you're gonna have plenty of time to learn the car before you make your changes.
Be well.
Java

[s2kx2]

Well here is another thought....S2000's go bye bye early 2008 with the optional CR variant the models last Hoorah. You could mod the hell out of an "S" and lower its reliability at the same time, sorry but it is a fact that the more you strain this already highly strung gem from Honda the more you will need to spend to keep "Stewie" running at all. Why mess with something that is already more car than 95% of the people who own them know what to do with? I suggest spending the mod money on a high performance driving school with your "S" as your final test car, learn just how sweet and how vicious this little "S"ob can be! That in my opinion is worth a whole lot more than torque, lower 1/4 mile times, more horsepower and ... lower reliability etc...etc... Just a thought.

[Vezna31]

Originally Posted by s2kx2

Well here is another thought....S2000's go bye bye early 2008 with the optional CR variant the models last Hoorah. You could mod the hell out of an "S" and lower its reliability at the same time, sorry but it is a fact that the more you strain this already highly strung gem from Honda the more you will need to spend to keep "Stewie" running at all. Why mess with something that is already more car than 95% of the people who own them know what to do with? I suggest spending the mod money on a high performance driving school with your "S" as your final test car, learn just how sweet and how vicious this little "S"ob can be! That in my opinion is worth a whole lot more than torque, lower 1/4 mile times, more horsepower and ... lower reliability etc...etc... Just a thought.

Amen, brother!

[s2000isu]

Build the car my friend. Youre obviously into performance the people here obviously arent. Do what makes you happy. Your mods are pretty much power mods and people keep harping on handling I got news some people like the feeling of their neck getting snapped back just as much as the feeling of their kidneys getting smashed in the seat on a turn.

[Java Junky]

Necks snapped back? Smashed kidneys?
C'mon isu, when have I ever given the impression that I don't like a ride whut's got acceleration? There's probably nobody on the site that's bitched n' moaned more about Stewie's lack'a low end.
My concern is @*#&in' with *@&# whut don't need @*#&in' with.
You need a assessed baseline to form your plan of "improvements". Goin' in without that is jus' so much changin' stuff n' lettin' the results fall where they may. Not necessarily always for the better.
Wetsons at midnight for pinks isu.
Be well.
Java

[batguano]

Sell it and buy a Vette.
I love my S just like it is but if I wanted to go for "whiplash" at launch, I would have bought something else.

[kgf3076]

If it is neck snapping and whiplash you want, just drive the car down a nice twisty road at exaggerated rates of speed through the curves. You don't need anything more than skill to make the S2k sing. Mods are for when the thrill of entering and exiting a corner smoothly at a high rate of speed wears off (or 25 years whichever comes first)

[s2000isu]

Without driving a Hyundai Elantra I can tell you it would be to slow for my taste. This guys is obviously into big power so hes not gonna need to test drive a 240 horse 50 lb of tq 2800 pound car to tell it doesnt have the balls that hes looking for.

I disagree with the vette statement too. I personally would rather have a modded s2000 then a vette z06 aside. Vette owners for the most part are total stuck up tool bags. Most vette people get the car not because they love driving not because they love performance but because they wanna say they own a vette. Most of the repeat customers with vettes wanted to trade in their 2001 with 3000 miles made me mad. Cars are meant to be driven not looked at.

Kg youre missing my point. You love twisties I love twisties thats awesome but I like raw power just as much so if hes got the cash to build up the s so itll snap your neck back then go for it.

A car can be good at more than one thing.

[kgf3076]

Originally Posted by s2000isu

Kg youre missing my point. You love twisties I love twisties thats awesome but I like raw power just as much so if hes got the cash to build up the s so itll snap your neck back then go for it.

A car can be good at more than one thing.

No doubt about that, but on what is substantially a stock S2k, I dyno'd at 223 RWHP and 160lb/ft of torque. Now, granted that isn't the same as my 67 'vette that put 650 at the wheels but I can go almost as fast in my S2k as I did in the 'vette in a straight line (not as quickly, granted) and a heck of a lot faster through the curves (I still hate Cobra's...I could take them on the straights, they got me in the curves). I agree that we all approach this in different ways, and if you have the cash to burn, 400 hp is nice (not practical but nice), but there is so much unused potential in the S2k it's a shame not to take advantage of that potential before you start thinking about small block Chevy engine swaps and nitrous...

[s2kx2]

Hmmm point missed entirely. Morta Bona...!

[s2000isu]

Believe me I like power so a small block chevy motor will never be used in any of my projects unless im on a very strict budget. I will stick to ford for v8's

[Java Junky]

There's that mortal boner ag'in.
This topic never fails to bring out the good stuff. 650 HP Vettes Ken? Zo6 Vettes? Cobras? We tread hallowed groun' fellow Stewians.
Speak such names with awe n' reverence.
N' once again, it all comes under the headin' of different strokes.
Me? I learned a long time ago that everythin' that excells at one aspect, doesn't necessarily excell at others. The ol' term "universal" usually fits, r' does, everything universally boringly.
Sure, Stewie can be turned into more than what it is, but taken too far it's gonna lose its current identity n' become somethin' else that don't do Stewie-type stuff as well as a relatively stock Stewie.
Jus' check out that Supra powered, Getrag-transed unit that was for sale on the site recently. A truly beautiful job to be sure, but do you honestly think that you couldn't blow by 'im in a heartbeat when the road gets twisty with a stone-stock unit?
But, that's different strokes for ya.
But, I say again: to wanna change that with which you are not even mildly familiar with . . well, I'll be polite n' say it's patently unwise.
Aaay! Maybe I get kx2's point: messin' with somethin' as together as Stewie would be a mortal boner!
Be well.
Java

[Java Junky]

Okay, okay. So maybe I got a little caught up in Stewie-enthusiasm talkin' 'bout a stock Stewie dustin' the Supra-powered unit in the twisties. Given two drivers equally proficient in the use of their particular unit, while the styles of goin' through would be considerably different, I think it'd be too close ta call playin' if.
'But like a 5.0 Mustang/Stewie chicane "whuddiff" that was goin' back n' forth some time back, it'd be a whole lodda fun findin' out, don'cha think?
Be well.
Java

[mzk784]

Originally Posted by batguano

Sell it and buy a Vette.
I love my S just like it is but if I wanted to go for "whiplash" at launch, I would have bought something else.

best to be said about this car.
If you are into modification you are better off buying a Mustang or maybe a Corvette.
it's frustrating to mod an S2000, because Honda squeezed every drop of performance out of it.
if I want to modify onething, I would put racing brakes and slicks, and go to the track. suspension is stiff enough to handle any track out there.
I would pay the couple grands I have into Skip barber racing school or somthing like that but I don't have any money now (sigh)

[Java Junky]

kx2, 'afraid I missed that bit where you suggested the drivin' school. Out of all the stuff flyin' back n' forth on this thread, that has to be the best (n' least appreciated) suggestion yet.
Mzk's suggestion of Skip Barber's school gets even more specific, n' it's a great school to hone your abilities. Yeah, yeah. I know. We're all Mario Andrettis. You have no idea how fast you can really be until you let someone who actually is really fast show you the ropes. (There's also the added benefit of learnin' how to deal with it when things get jus' a wee bit too tweaked)
Yeah, of all of it, the money spent on honin' your skills as a driver is the best suggestion in this thread Jae.
Be well.
Java

[desmo4]

Originally Posted by Jaeden09

haha, It's going to be all military pay, and I plan on replacing the clutch and flywheel within the first months, and the turbo will most likely be my project for the winter next year. I'm planning on buying the car in March, so it will be about a year in between the turbo and stroker, if I still decide to do the stroker. The turbo will just be for shits and giggles.

Putting forced induction on an 11:1 compression engine is not a great idea. But if you persist then be prepared to spend at least $15k. Because unless you de-stroke the engine you will blow it up. If you don't destroy the engine first then the clutch, transmission, differential, half shafts and propeller shaft will fail. You need to change or strengthen all those parts and you still won't have the original reliability of the stock S.

Jonathan

[s2000isu]

or you could run low boost. Or you could put on a thicker hg.