NA1 NSX Gets Update Via K20 Engine Swap
Between his popular Instagram handle @that911 which heavily features his Porsche 911 and the record-breaking M3 he’s been driving of late, Amir Bentatou is fairly well known among the race car enthusiasts. His latest project with a Honda NSX that has gained a ton of attention lately, especially with the recent engine swap he just wrapped up. Check it out.
How this NSX came to be
Amir has already enjoyed tremendous success in the world of purpose-built race cars, but as of late he has shifted his focus in a new direction. That new avenue is RS Future, a company Amir created that pulls focus to efficient aerodynamic solutions and data management. However, right in the middle of this change is a project that he’s been working on for two years – a K20 powered NSX. It makes sense in theory but building it has seen many trial and error over recent months in getting the car to where it is today. In fact, the engine was pulled some three times and the transmission twice in the span of 4 weeks in order to work through issues that kept coming up. But alas, things began to fall into place and now Amir is the proud owner of a true one-of-a-kind purpose-built NSX race car.
Photo courtesy of thenaritadogfight
Let’s take a look under the hood
Flip the hood open and what you’ll discover is a beautifully outfitted K20Z1 engine sourced from a DC5. Built by Loi of Sportcar Motion and tuned by Kristian Wong of Battlecraft, this powerful 2-liter motor has been fitted with a Borg Warner EFR7163 turbocharger to help it churn out 424 horsepower and 389 foot-pounds of torque. Take a closer look and you’ll see that in order to make sure that level of power is constant and reliable, the motor was updated with a selection of aftermarket and OE parts. The block itself is fitted with Arias pistons that lower the compression ratio to a (forced) induction safe 9.5:1. Drag Cartel Stage 2 camshafts and a Supertech drivetrain are used for the head work; you can see them mated to the newly sleeved block with ARP head studs. Worth noting: a Protomachine intake, ported Skunk2 intake manifold and larger 70mm throttle body help induce air intake per the demand of the turbine.
Photo courtesy of thenaritadogfight
>>Join the conversation about this K20 swapped NSX right here in the S2ki Forum!
A sweet looking ride from the outside
While Amir wants the car to look great, obviously, he’s also interested in making sure it’s a functional look too. That’s why he’s included an I’s Impact front bumper, Yokota Bodycraft front fenders, Marga Hills rear fenders, and sides skirts, as well as an Advance rear bumper. All of this and we haven’t mentioned the GT Wing which is, in fact, one of the first products to come out of Amir’s RS Future company. Everything is covered by an exterior pain that changes depending on how the light hits it. Referred to as ‘Midnight Purple 2’, the colors change from a deep, rich purple, to a light brown, and again to black when the sun goes down.
Photo courtesy of thenaritadogfight
>>Join the conversation about this K20 swapped NSX right here in the S2ki Forum!
How is everything supported?
Amir’s car has its suspension handled by W Clubsport coilovers paired with 14k Swift Springs in both the front and rear. Also, Dali Racing sway bars, and an upgraded set of camber arms are worth noting as it relates to handling upgrades. A staggered set of Rays TE37 wheels (17x9j +22 up front/18x105j +22 rear) in a classic bronze were added, and Yokohama A052 tires in 255/40/17, and 275/35/18 keep the car nicely planted to the ground beneath it.
Photo courtesy of thenaritadogfight
>>Join the conversation about this K20 swapped NSX right here in the S2ki Forum!
And finally, a look on the inside
Believe it or not, Amir hasn’t really touched up the inside. An AIM MXS Strada dash is mounted in front of the OE cluster, so as to provide Amir with the data he needs to monitor engine vitals. A pretty well-worn Vertex steering replaces the car’s original counterpart. There’s a BRIDE Proface fixed bucket seat and Cusco 5 point harness included here to securely hold Amir in place. The carbon center console is a nice touch – it houses the new Hybrid Racing shifter topped with a 44m Battlecraft Hyper Tear Drop shift knob. And, for all of the most obvious reasons, there is a small fire extinguisher mounted on the firewall.
Photo courtesy of thenaritadogfight
>>Join the conversation about this K20 swapped NSX right here in the S2ki Forum!