This K20A-Swapped Del Sol is the Ultimate Streetcar
VTEC is pitching fits all the way up to 9,500 rpm in this late '90s Honda Del Sol dream build!
Built From the Ground Up
DeeJay Beck has built one of the most impressive street stalkers we've seen this side of a Need For Speed game. Few people take the lowly Del Sol and build it into the kind of fire-breathing monster Mr. Beck has. And at the heart of the dragon is a naturally-aspirated Integra Type R K20A engine. All in all, DeeJay has sunk over $30k into his ‘97 Del Sol and proudly declares to Zygrene there's not a thing on it that hasn't been touched. This is the stuff of childhood dreams
Photo - Zygrene
Mods, Mods, Mods
DeeJay has thrown a whole host of mods into the build covering every aspect of the Del Sol. Notable performance upgrades include a Hondata K-Pro ECU, a DC5R transmission with Hybrid Racing transmission cables and K-swap shifter, OEM DC2 brake kit, ASR subframe brace, and Skunk2 Pro C coilovers. Exterior mods include a Type R style lip and custom front and rear aero. There's simply too much to type it all out here, but the complete list of upgrades can be found in the video description.
Photo - Zygrene
>>Join the conversation about this K swapped Del Sol right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
VTEC Just Kicked In Yo
The JDM DC5 Integra Type R K20A pushes 220 hp to the front wheels along with 156 lb-ft of torque. It squeals to a mind-numbing 9500 rpm, but that's not even the best part. DeeJay saw to it that the car was tuned in such a way that VTEC kicks in at just 4,000 rpm. That setup delivers an insanely punchy mid-range. Additionally, the transverse engine layout is reversed in this build meaning the exhaust header runs along the back of the Del Sol's engine bay. So with all that high-revving, DeeJay jokes that there's no need for a heater. The engine sports a Karcepts 4-2-1 race header and intake. It also has a MagnaFlow muffler with custom piping and a Koyo DC2 full-core radiator to keep things running smoothly.
Photo - Zygrene
>>Join the conversation about this K swapped Del Sol right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Short Shifts Make Fast Trips
The vehicle is controlled somewhat perilously through an '89 Civic DX steering rack. Despite all the upgrades, DeeJay's mostly OEM setup still leaves for large amounts of sketchy torque steer. But it seems he rather enjoys that aspect... for now. Additional driver input is implemented via a Hybrid Racing shifter box/short shifter. To keep track of all the insanity reaching the asphalt, DeeJay uses a B16 gauge cluster.
Photo - Zygrene
>>Join the conversation about this K swapped Del Sol right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Send It
To keep DeeJay from sending it right into the trees, the Del Sol sports a set of 16x8 +32 Volk Racing TE37 wheels with some 205/45-16 Hankook RS3 rubber. These shoes are super grippy, but even that's not enough to fully overcome the torque steer effects from the stock Type R LSD. To boot, the Del Sol weighs little more than a Miata, so driver skill is a necessity, but ultimately it's an insanely fun ride.
Photo - Zygrene
>>Join the conversation about this K swapped Del Sol right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
What the Future Holds
In the future, DeeJay hopes to convert the Del Sol into a track-only ride. He plans to make the driver experience a little more intuitive and a little less haphazard so he can increase the amount of S2K butt he's kicking on track days. He projects that figure to be around 65-70% currently. Eventually, he hopes to purchase an NSX and fulfill a boyhood dream. For his sake, we hope he accomplishes all that's on his to-do list.
Photo - Zygrene
>>Join the conversation about this K swapped Del Sol right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!