HT: There seems to be some discrepancy in the power number you're giving. You indicated 310hp on a good day and 263 on a bad one. Why is that?
RK: I actually just re-dynoed the car and pulled 320hp, tuning with the e-Manage. That was the only problem-my e-Manage was really sketchy before, and my welder was going to tune it himself, but then had personal issues come up that he had to handle. When you guys photographed the car, basically the only thing that was tuned on the S was A/F ratios. We richened up the mix a tiny bit and ran it, and the power is mostly just from bolting on the kit. With the 320 I got, I wouldn't say it's fully tuned, but it's getting there. I'm expecting more-I'm switching from the e-Manage to an AEM Engine Management System ECU pretty soon. I'm going to step up injectors, too.
HT: Doesn't that turbo take forever to spool? It seems kinda big...
RK: The compressor is big, but the turbine side is actually pretty small. If I mash [the throttle] I hit full boost after 3,000rpm. Right now the turbo is making 7psi, but when I do the EMS it'll be pushing more. With injectors, an EMS, and more boost, it should be pretty sweet. I'm looking forward to it.
HT: Moving to the exterior, where did you get the car painted?
RK: There's a place [in Placentia, Calif.] called Paint 'N Place. They shoot John Force's funny car bodies and stuff like that. My dad is actually friends with the owners. I take my cars to them all the time.
HT: You mentioned using JDM front fenders. How are they different from U.S. market fenders?
RK: Honestly, they are no different than the U.S. ones. I bought the headlights and taillights from the same guy, and he had the fenders on his car, and it looked like the lights fit just a little better. He told me to trade him my stock fenders and he'd send me the JDM ones he had.
HT: In retrospect, what has been the biggest hurdle so far in assembling this S2000?
RK: It all went pretty smoothly, although I can remember a lot of sleepless nights trying to get the turbo to run correctly. I had a lot of problems with the oil cooler; I remember I had to take it off like 3 or 4 times. It was leaking, the return line from the turbo was a bitch to get to-I think setting up the cooler was the biggest headache. That, and money, having the money to fund everything. It was all out of pocket-to this day, zero sponsors.
HT: So what is next?
RK: For now, tuning. I want to make more power, and I think the car can make more. Then I'm going to start something new; I think I might do a right-handed EG next.