The come-up on the wheels bears a striking resemblance to how Mikey originally acquired the Integra. His DC2 was originally a hand-me-down given to him by his cousin back in 2001. It was involved in a rear-end collision, but after a quick repair Mikey was on the road. The Milano Red exterior remains relatively unchanged throughout the years, apart from the addition of a JDM Si VTEC Integra front lip. Mikey decided to stay true to his Integra's USDM roots and opted not to convert to the popular JDM facelift. Even the original Acura badges remain. Sitting on the rear hatch is another piece that Mikey's become famous for: his custom rear-window visor. But few exterior modifications exist simply because this Integra's stance is eye candy in and of itself. To put it into layman's terms: Mikey's DC2 is hammered. The frame has a tighter relationship with the pavement than a newly turned 21 year-old has with his toilet. The Integra's amazing stance is provided by a set of Endless Zeal B6 coilovers and additional reinforcement and suspension bling comes courtesy of Blox lower control arms, an ASR subframe brace, and a Beaks lower tie-bar. The now infamous Enkei 92 wheels are sized at 15x7 with a +20 offset and are caressed by 195/45-15 Kuhmo Ecsta rubber. Inside the cockpit resides a pair of Buddy Club seats. The non-adjustable buckets are complemented by a Buddy Club shift knob as well as a set of Buddy Club pedals. A little old-school flare is added with a wood grain, classic MOMO steering wheel.
For the better part of six years, Mikey spent the majority of his time focusing on the DC2's exterior, tinkering with different wheel and suspension setups. He already had his peers' respect but also knew that he had to do the car justice by giving it some balls. A quick glimpse at the front bumper reveals a JVT Racing front-mount intercooler and, just behind it, a peek at the gold that lies beneath. Opening the hood of this DC2 is like discovering Eldorado, the City of Gold. WS Industries is responsible for stripping, shaving, and then draping the entire engine bay in gold. Some ask: Why gold? But the answer is simple: "When life gives you a lemon, you paint that ish gold," Mikey says. With two-tone bays gaining popularity, Mikey decided to take it to a whole new level, as he's often known to do. The gold does little more than accent the bay though. A JVT Racing T3/T4 turbocharger serves as the centerpiece and is mounted to a Straight Line Specialties turbo manifold and JVT Racing 38mm wastegate. The valve cover and custom intercooler piping fabricated by WS Industries were taken to Astro Powdercoating in Sun Valley, Calif., for a full polish to match the Edelbrock Victor X intake manifold. HKS cam gears allow for cam timing adjustability and cooling is upgraded courtesy of a JVT Racing radiator. Fuel is supplied by a Walbro 255lph fuel pump and delivered to the combustion chamber by way of 750cc/min RC injectors. Competition Clutch's Stage 3 clutch kit ensures that every last bit of torque is delivered to the low-offset Enkeis. Of course, the engine bay is also tucked and the wiring's hidden. Now, would you expect anything less from the Internet celebrity?
Take a step back, embrace Mikey's build, and prepare to be surprised because the exterior is relatively stock. It wasn't built to win races or blast down the 1320 or turn the heads of non-Honda fans. It's a streetcar with attitude and loads of it. Mikey simply did what many hope to do when building a Honda: dare to be different and create a style all their own. Oh, and it has a heart of gold to go with it.