"I designed this car to be reliable, comfortable, quick around the corners, and with the holeshot, but still maintain the ability to turn heads at car shows."
Big Mike decided that the next step was to overhaul the entire suspension. There was no point in putting a fully built engine in if the suspension wasn't up to par. Stance and ride height were made adjustable via TEIN Flex coilovers, and each 16-year-old crusty bushing was upgraded with Energy Suspension HYPER-FLEX pieces. An Explicit Speed Performance traction bar system ensures that the BB maintains absolute grip up front while the rear sees added rigidity with a Neuspeed rear antiroll bar. The brakes see significant multi-platform upgrades starting with a complete JDM Prelude five-lug knuckle and hub conversion. The hubs house larger Acura Legend GS Brembo replacement front rotors and Prelude rears. NSX front and rear brake calipers provide stopping power at all four corners. As if the NSX calipers weren't baller enough, Big Mike had them triple dipped in chrome by IM Finishing and completely rebuilt using OEM hardware. The chrome calipers look like they're inching to burst out from behind the 17x7 Tanabe Precedeo wheels, which of course, were also sourced by Mike.
With the body and interior up to Big Mike's arguably impossibly high standards, he directed all of his attention toward the Prelude's heart and soul. He sent his ride down to Loi Song at Sportcar Motion to have the original engine swapped in favor of a DOHC F20B engine from a Japanese-spec Accord SiR-T. "I had read up on the F20B and I liked what I learned about it," Mike says. "They are inexpensive, higher-revving than the H22A, and the non-FRM sleeves attracted me."
"I knew that I was going to build the bottom end. I wanted to see what I could do with an engine that was hardly ever done up," Big Mike says. Before the engine made its way to Sportcar Motion, however, NastIE GaRaGe was called on to rebuild the F20B's bottom end with CP pistons and rings, Eagle connecting rods, and a micro-polished crank. Once the engine was reassembled, Mike sent it to Loi where he and his crew dropped it in place. Sportcar Motion then freed up the F20B by installing a set of TWM 52mm individual throttle bodies with carbon-fiber air horns. The ITBs allow this F-series to operate more efficiently, achieve optimal throttle response, and ultimately make more horsepower. A Walbro 255lph fuel pump provides proper fuel distribution to the 440cc saturated injectors and, if that wasn't enough, Mike also has a custom 75-shot nitrous oxide setup installed for additional kicks. RMF's beautifully crafted H22 header drives spent exhaust gases down to an incredibly rare JDM Sheep Dog exhaust system before it's pushed out into the atmosphere. ACT's heavy-duty, six-puck clutch kit provides proper power distribution from the engine to the M2A4 Quaife LSD-equipped transmission. After his car left Sportcar Motion it was really JDM Concepts, in Oceanside, Calif., that saved the day. An AEM EMS tuned by JDM Concepts ensures that the ITBs and high-revving F20B work in unison. Aries Dionisio and Gabe Galvan at JDM Concepts worked tirelessly night and day to figure out each electrical issue and are also responsible for ghosting the entire engine bay by removing the EGR, evaporative emissions system, charcoal canister, PCV, power steering, A/C, and cruise control. Even the alternator was relocated and hidden thanks to an Innovative Engine Mounts bracket. Wiring appears non-existent thanks to a custom harness created by Chase McMaster, aka Chasebays. A shaved and black powdercoated valve cover by Aries acts as the finishing touch on this crme de la crme Honda engine bay.
"This Prelude was meant to be a daily driver, a track car, and a show car," Mike says. "I designed this car to be reliable, comfortable, quick around the corners, and with the holeshot, but still maintain the ability to turn heads at car shows." This Prelude is not so much the beginning, as the name implies, but a brilliantly executed conclusion-a dedication to five generations of Honda's past if you will. This 'Lude just might be the perfect tribute to one of Honda's original sports coupes that has since left us but should never be forgotten.