Using a lift to install the header saves you a lot of headaches. But one of the major problems I've had with putting my AP1 on a lift is that the car sits too low to push the arms under the sides to get to the lift points. Usually this means that I have to drive up on a block of wood, and jack up the rear of the car using whatever looks solid enough as an anchor point. I picked up a set of Race Ramps which claim to bring the vehicle high enough to place the arms under the lift points. Instead of having a friend step on the wood so that I could drive up without launching them forward, I simply placed the ramps on the garage floor, and prayed they wouldn't slide out. Remarkably, the car rolled up without any slippage whatsoever. No more ghetto wood blocks for me. Even halfway up the ramp, there was already more than enough room to swing the lift arms into place. The ramps themselves weigh next to nothing, yet they're rugged enough to take on 1,500lbs per ramp! Race Ramps also offers a track and trailer version, and a model that will get your car high enough for you to slide underneath. Race Ramps took all the hassle out of getting my car in the air, and even with the tiny trunk space of the S2000; I can still fit all four ramps, along with my camera bag and a case of Royal Purple. Once in the air, we installed the header and added a Berk Technology 63.5mm high flow cat to the exhaust system.
Impression
With the new HKS exhaust, Fujitsubo header, Berk high flow cat, and Password:JDM intake, the car took on a completely different feel. The throttle response was much improved and it wasn't unbearably loud, even while driving with the top down on the freeway. Though the car feels smoother and quicker on the top end, I didn't lose any grunt on the bottom end; a major concern for F20 owners who don't want to give up any precious low-end torque.
 The Berk Technology high flow...  The Berk Technology high flow cat comes complete with a new gasket, and new high-grade hardware for installation. |  The Fujitsubo header courtesy...  The Fujitsubo header courtesy of Tein. Note the clean welds. |  To install the rear hardtop...  To install the rear hardtop latches, remove the rear hook, and unclip the rear side panel. |
The three bolts you see here...
The three bolts you see here are used to bolt down the supplied "L" bracket. Slightly longer hardware is needed, and Chaser supplies it.
If there's one item in common on just about every S2000 owner's wish list, it's got to be the hardtop. Some like the OEM Honda top, others, like me, prefer an aftermarket version. I contacted Chaser Aerodynamics after drooling over their website for about an hour, looking through pages of exterior options. They offer everything you could possibly imagine for your S2000 (as well as a ton of other makes and models), from small items like carbon fiber gauge surrounds and door panel inserts, to big ticket items like fenders and hard tops. If you log onto their site, you'll notice new products popping up almost daily; these guys are dead serious about being a one-stop shop for all of your aero needs, and they have the ability to produce just about any part you can possibly conjure up-in carbon fiber.
The first two bolts that hold...
The first two bolts that hold the hardtop down on the driver side are in place. Adding the third bolt and then repeating the process on the passenger side completes the rear mount install.
My sights were set on the Mugen-style carbon fiber hardtop that, unlike many others, included the installation kit and rear window. When the package arrived, the top was wrapped in armor. You could probably toss it off of a rooftop and the carbon piece would come through unscathed. It was that safe. After cutting through the protective wrap, we took a look at the product. The quality was top notch, and the carbon fiber finish actually continued all the way to the interior portion of the top. Installation was a breeze, and because the top is so incredibly light, I didn't need a second set of hands to help me out. Here's how simple it is...
Impression
The Chaser hardtop blew me away. I've seen a number of hardtops that don't even look like they were made for an S2000, and fortunately Chaser took their time and got the mold right. No unsightly gaps, no wind blowing through the cabin, and no "rigging" needed to safely mount the top. After having the top installed for a few weeks, I wanted to pull it off to enjoy a little sunshine over the weekend. The process took less than 10 minutes. By just removing the rear bolts and releasing the front factory latches, I picked it up off the car and was ready to roll.