YouTuber Mad4Motors’ kindness yields this abandoned 2001 Honda Integra Type R a crucial overhaul and its lost JDM glory.
The Honda DC5 Integra Type R was released decades ago, and those who sought it once fell out of love with it or abandoned it. However, one such piece piqued the interest of YouTuber Mad4Motors, who towed it into his garage to bless a life. And boy! What a rebuild it was! Mad4Motors is popular for his meticulous rebuilds, and he worked wonders on this 2001 Honda Integra Type R to make it close to new. This rebuilt JDM looks factory new at the end of the restoration, sings well, and treats with care. Watch the video below and read how he exhibited his experience in this build.
In the world of JDMs, the Honda Integra Type R (known as the Acura RSX in America) is evergreen. The Honda Integra Type R DC5 was launched in 2001 and was the final iteration of the moniker before it became a China-specific offering. The DC5 was special for its legendary K-Series engine and performance-focused gear like Recaro sport bucket seats, a light gearbox with LSD, stiffer suspensions, a MOMO steering wheel, and various other gears.
The 2001 Honda Integra Type R Is A Legendary Nameplate
The DC5 was the most advanced and the first Integra to feature the K20A 2.0-liter inline-four engine. This engine produced 220 horsepower at a screaming 8,000 rate and 152 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm, with which it took just 6.5 seconds to reach 0-60 mph and a quarter-mile in 14.3 seconds. The K-Series engines are highly famous among enthusiasts because of their potential and reliability. While it offers 220 horses in stock form, forced inductions, crankshaft tunings, and other meticulous approaches can yield shocking muscle. During its launch, this car arrived with sports-tuned suspensions, Brembo high-performance brakes, a MOMO steering wheel, Recaro sports seats, an LSD, and various other performance-focused features.
Speaking of pricing, a DC5 Integra Type R has a price range of $11,700–14,700 depending on the condition and the owner, as quoted by jdmbuysell.com.
This 2001 Honda Integra Type R Was In A Dismal Condition
Finding an abandoned Honda Integra Type R is a blessing in disguise. The 2001 Honda Integra Type R that the YouTuber found was in a hideous shape. The fascia of the car was wrecked, with one headlight, grille, and bumper missing. The car had scars on its body, most of which were on the doors, fenders, hood, and pillars.
Things are worse inside, with most cabin parts being damaged or dirt-filled. The deflated driver airbag further reveals that the car has been in an accident in the past. Torn seats, a damaged dashboard, and popped-out interior parts show the car had been deserted for too long. The YouTuber also reveals that many performance components like an air filter, wiring harnesses, and batteries were either missing or sold by the owner.
Interestingly, the YouTuber finds the Integra in a fixable condition and thinks “this car is definitely worth restoring.”
Mad4Motors Kindness Gets This 2001 Honda Integra Type R A New Life
The restoration process starts from scratch. After the removal of the spark plugs, the car undergoes a compression test. Later, the broken fenders and doors are detached after some light hammering. Interior components like front and rear seats, headliners, floor mats, and steering wheel are also taken out for repair.
Since the accident caused a minor chassis deformation, the engine bay and sub-frame were measured and fixed with some lever-chain hoist adjustments. The spoiler, moldings, and fixed parts were filled with polyester putty and enameled with white paint. The stock brakes were repainted and upgraded with new calipers, and a set of ventilated rotors replaced the stock solid discs.
Following this, the primary carpet is deep-washed and resprayed in blue. But the seats looked shabby and needed an upgrade. After dismantling the seats, the seats receive new sponges, bolsters, and headrests. After some careful fitments, the blue Recaro bucket seats were ready for use. Moving on, the rear gets a new tie bar, and the suspensions are upgraded with a set of blue springs and some minor tweaks.
Now comes the most interesting part—recoloring the car. The glass parts, doors, and bottom of the car are first masked. It then gets pampered with its original Arctic Blue Pearl paint, followed by a ceramic coating for luster. Once the stock alloy wheels are cleaned thoroughly, they receive a white enamel and later a gunmetal shade to complement the exterior.
With all chores completed, the doors are attached, the headlights and taillights are polished, and other exterior parts are bolted. The headliner, seats, plastic components, and other parts are outfitted to wrap up the restoration process.
Restored Integra Type R Breathes Again With Aftermarket Upgrades
With all the necessary chores done, the body restored, and the interior fixed, this JDM is ready to enjoy the other half of its life. The emotional design layout, combined with the iconic Arctic Blue color and upgraded gunmetal alloy wheels with red Brembo brakes, looks fantastic. The aftermarket headlights, front bumper, rockers, and fenders mix well and offer the car a look it long deserved.
The meticulous engine tuning, new spark plugs, and cleaned engine heads translate to better noise. Above this, the upgraded ventilated brakes and suspensions and the upgraded steering wheel should deliver superior handling and a pristine driving experience.
Sources: Mad4Motors YouTube channel, Acura, Piston Heads, JDM Buy Sell.
