B20-Swapped CRX Plays the Long Game
Trends come and go, but this CRX build is as cool now as it was 20 years ago.
Test of Time
It isn't easy to create a custom vehicle that holds up to the test of time. In fact, many builds from just ten or twenty years ago would be laughed at today, especially those that followed silly trends that fizzled out fast. But the CRX you see before you is actually based on a build that began two decades ago, and as Super Street recently found out, it's every bit as cool now as it was back then.
Photos: Super Street
Sad Ending
The owner of this CRX, Wayne Denman, was part of the Hawaii-based car group Endless Garage back in the early 2000s, and his Mocha-colored CRX was a pretty well-known entity back then. Sadly, just two weeks after finishing that build, the Honda was totaled in a bad accident that left Denman injured.
Photos: Super Street
>>Join the conversation on this CRX right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Walking Away
Undeterred, Denman went out, bought another CRX, and got right to work. Some parts from the old build were salvageable, and he was able to transfer them over. After finishing it, Denman raced the car at his local track until it eventually closed. That prompted him to sell the CRX and pretty much step away from the automotive enthusiast world for many years.
Photos: Super Street
>>Join the conversation on this CRX right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Starting Again
After a 12-year hiatus from the car building world, Denman's friend called him up and told him he was sending him all the parts off his old CRX. And just like that, he was motivated to recreate his original Mocha-colored car. He soon found a suitable car to start the build with and collected all the additional parts he would need. Then, the fabrication started with the construction of a 21-point roll cage.
Photos: Super Street
>>Join the conversation on this CRX right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Exterior Refresh
Amazingly, Denman even painted the car himself, something he was doing for the very first time. You'd never be able to tell given the amazing results of that effort. The body also features a few mods, including Mugen door caps and side skirts, a cut Wings West rear bumper, a FEEL's front bumper, and Work Meister S1 wheels.
Photos: Super Street
>>Join the conversation on this CRX right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Worked Over
The heart of this beast is the same B20 that powered the original car, though it obviously needed a refresh to get it back in proper running order. The worked-over mill features Wiseco pistons, Eagle rods, and an ITR head with JUN valve springs, retainers, stage III cams, and adjustable cam gears. 440cc injectors, a 255lph fuel pump, a Radium FPR, and a Hondata S300 to produce over 220 hp and 153 lb-ft of torque.
Photos: Super Street
>>Join the conversation on this CRX right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Home Again
Denman's amazing story is proof that you can, in fact, come home again. Despite two major setbacks and the fact that he essentially gave up on his beloved hobby because of them, everything worked out in the end, nearly twenty years later.
Photos: Super Street
>>Join the conversation on this CRX right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!