Resurrecting a Wrecked S2000 for Track Use

Rebuild a Wreck

We've all thought about it from time to time, but few of us have actually done it. We're talking about buying a wrecked car at auction and going through the grueling but rewarding process of fixing it up, of course. S2KI forum member sirbikealot7 has been there and done that, however. And he did it with an S2000 that had a bit of, shall we say, a camber issue at the time. 

Good Deal?

The OP wanted an S2000, but couldn't find anything for sale locally at a reasonable price. His buddy had recently purchased one at auction and suggested that he go the same route. That's when he found this 2003 Suzuka Blue car, which had only 70k miles and looked ultra clean online. He happily paid $7,500 including transportation to get it to Seattle.  

>>Join the conversation about this track S2000 right here in S2Ki.com.

Shocking Discovery

Once the car showed up on the trailer, however, it was quickly apparent that the rocker damage was worse than it looked in pictures. And after tearing into things, the OP eventually had to replace the subframe, diff mounts, control arms, caliper, and knuckle. He opted to go with a KW V3 and Megan bump steer kit in lieu of stock parts.  

>>Join the conversation about this track S2000 right here in S2Ki.com.

Let the Mods Begin

With the car fixed up and passing inspection, it was time for the mods to begin. The goal from the outset was to build something that was fun on the street and capable of handling the occasional track day. Wheels and tires were up first, consisting of 17-inch RPS1s and NT05 rubber for all-weather use. 

>>Join the conversation about this track S2000 right here in S2Ki.com.

Getting Serious

After fitting a new exhaust, the OP obtained a new and reliable daily driver. And simultaneously, decided that it was time to make the S2000 more of a serious track toy. So he sold his motorcycle and used the cash to buy a Ballade V2 rollbar, Sparco EVO2s, Crow 6 points, an OMP wheel, and NRG hub and quick release.  

>>Join the conversation about this track S2000 right here in S2Ki.com.

Hook, Line, and Sinker

And it didn't stop there. The OP soon had some new gauges, a Gear lip, and an APR GT250 with 275mm stands from Rockstar. And finally, he made it to the track for the car's maiden voyage. Where he immediately became hooked. "I fell in love with this car on the track," he admits. "The car carries incredible speed through the corners. It's a bit tougher to drive and keep it in the power, but it's very rewarding." 

>>Join the conversation about this track S2000 right here in S2Ki.com.

Getting Faster

After that first taste of track life, the mods just kept rolling in, predictably. New, stickier tires and a front splitter redo were first. And with some more seat time, the OP managed to shave a full two seconds off his personal best lap. And before long, he was building his own 4" intake to fit a Ballade 70mm throttle body. 

>>Join the conversation about this track S2000 right here in S2Ki.com.

Living the Dream

With some tuning, the car made 229 hp and 154 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. But it was quite obvious there was more there for the taking. From there, little mods kept coming. Including a new shifter and some holes for the hood. But in the meantime, he was also driving his beloved ride on the street as much as possible. Quite literally living the dream.  

>>Join the conversation about this track S2000 right here in S2Ki.com.

Turbocharged Urges

But after a while, the itch for power proved to be too strong to resist. Thus, the OP landed a pair of turbos to crank things up a few notches. It took a good bit of fabrication, but the new huffers were soon in place and ready to make some serious power. 

 >>Join the conversation about this track S2000 right here in S2Ki.com.

Evolution

The OP's reborn S2000 continues to evolve and tear up tracks, getting faster as time goes by. So be sure and relive the whole experience, as well as keep up with future updates, by heading over here to the build thread! 

>>Join the conversation about this track S2000 right here in S2Ki.com.