The magnificent Integra Type-R sedan you see in the gallery is a bit of a second coming, a story of literal salvation. There was a time when this made-up DB8, the chassis designation for Honda's third-gen., VTEC-enabled, four-door 'Tegs, wasn't so polished and pretty. The stripped shell from Japan was just a forgotten throwaway, like so many well-intentioned pooches that wind up at the pound, in dire need of rescue.
Enter Jeremy and Nisa Duarte of RedZone Performance, a Honda tuner in Fremont, Calif. They saw opportunity in the rusted and dented parts bucket when they picked it up in January of 2005. Looking beyond the missing glass and body panels, they sought not just to restore a rare Integra; they wanted to build on the natural J-spec theme that an imported right-hand drive has going for it. Additionally, they hoped to assemble a project that could illustrate RedZone's ability to create performance-oriented, reliable, great-looking cars.
By the end of 2006 the car was at the body shop, where it was sprayed Honda S2000 Laguna blue pearl inside and out by MBO Auto Body and Paint in nearby Campbell. Because of rust, body damage and a handful of missing parts, the paint shop really had its work cut out, but the end result is nothing short of stunning. After paint, the car was taken back to RedZone to be reassembled.
At the heart of the DB8 is a 1.8-liter B-series power plant that has been pushed to 2.0 liters and built to withstand the engine loads from added boost pressure that come with forced induction. RS Machines sleeves were punched to 84mm (from their original 81) and are now filled with Wiseco 9.5:1-compression slugs and IB Spec rods, part of a blueprinted and balanced rotating assembly.
A modicum of bottom end protection is afforded through an Integra Type R oil pump, Moroso pan and ATI Super Damper harmonic damper.
Boost is made with a GT35R ball bearing turbocharger mounted to the Spoolin Performance top-mount turbo manifold and rigged with a Tial 44mm wastegate. The pump sends its charge down custom aluminum 2.5-inch intercooler piping to a 18x24-inch heat exchanger, and then down another length of custom piping, only this time it's 3 inches in diameter and outfitted with a Tial blow-off valve. A Koyo radiator with Gaza overflow can and Spearco hoses also help with the cooling mission under the hood.
Intake air ends its trip passing through a BLOX Racing 70mm throttle body before entering the Edelbrock Victor X intake manifold, while burnt gasses dump through a custom 3-inch down pipe and 4-inch exhaust by RedZone. As charge goes from plenum to combustion chamber, it's mixed with fuel from 1000cc injectors resisted by a FJO Racing Products injector driver and monitored with a Trick Flow regulator. Within the head, the mechanical parts running the explosions include SuperTech valve springs, retainers and black nitride coated valves resting on a three-angle valve job. BLOX Racing Type B camshafts and adjustable cam gears give the valves the necessary input.
Power is transmitted to a swapped '99 Civic Si transaxle through a RedZone stage-3 clutch, and the gearbox in turn sends that energy into a Kaaz limited-slip diff. Gator axles then compel the front two Dunlop-edition CP-R 16x8-inch wheels secured to each hub via Neo-Cron lug nuts. The unique Sprint Hart rollers come shod in Azenis RT-615 stickiness to put down a reported 525 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque - that's with 1 bar of boost pressure and on 91-octane fuel.
RedZone employed several measures to rein in those ponies on the DB8. In the braking department, Power Slot rotors and custom lines are on standby at each corner. To keep the forces of roll, pitch and yaw in check, the shop went with a Function and Form Type-II coilover suspension kit, Spoolin' Performance front traction bar and Benen Industries B-pillar bar.
Capable of going five large, admittedly the R sedan is a bit of an overachiever when it comes to performance. But that doesn't mean the Duarte's completely wrote off fashion; the Top Fuel front spoiler, Honda window visors and Benen rear tow hook are evidence of that. Open the door and one can see the cabin charmed up with a Mugen gauge cluster and F1 Spec seats, too.
It seems a fitting outcome that a rare, great car can return to glory after being cast aside. The RedZone RHD is one of three the shop uses to highlight its capabilities, sort of flexing its knowledge in JDM and high horsepower to potential customers. Those themes will be on everyone's minds as the Integra project gets set to enter its next phase: K20 turbo swap. The DB8 will join the 21st century by receiving one of Honda's venerated current-gen. 2-liter VTEC mills, and knowing what its owners are capable of, you can bet they'll be reaching for the stars.
Redemption never looked this cool - or made this much power.
Shout Outs:
Nisa Duarte, Brandon Budack, and Wayne Sousa at RedZone Performance - 510/62-HONDA, www.redzoneperformance.com
Spoolin' Performance - www.spoolinperformance.com
MBO Auto Body - 408/559-8633
Wheel Techniques, 408/496-6363 - www.wheeltechniques.com
SuperTech Performance - www.supertechperformance.com
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