Honda Integra Type R (DC2)

[greeneggsnsam]

I've owned this Honda Integra Type R for nearly three years, but this is the first time I've really talked about it online. I don't use it enough so I thought by getting a thread going it might encourage me to spend more time with it.

It's in good condition especially the interior. However the front is covered in stone chips so I'm hoping to get it resprayed soon. I need to get some better pictures of it really, but there's nowhere good locally to get some nice scenic shots.



It's a UK car with a couple of mods, TeamDynamics alloys to allow K-Sport 6-pot front brakes and some exhaust mods (though the back box is standard to meet noise limits on track days). I have a Spoon N1 back box but an inept garage hacked it to pieces trying to get it to fit and it needs some more attention to get it on the car. Eventually I want to be able to swap them over for road and track use.







I've driven a lot of cars and the ITR is in the running for the best ever. You'll see a lot of talk about it being the best FWD car ever but that's damning with faint praise really as it's better to drive than the vast majority of RWD and AWD cars as well.

When you think about all the things that make a great car it's up there. The engine, gearbox, driving position, ride quality, steering feel and throttle response are all spot-on.

I bought it after driving the current Civic Type R when it was launched. That's an awesome car as well but the turbo engine is a bit of a downer, even though it's still a good engine in a modern context.



I've done a few track days, most recently at Brands Hatch this week. The car is so good on track but I tend to put off doing them because I'm not all that close to any tracks and the one thing I really don't like about the car is being on the motorway. With no air-con and sitting at 4,000rpm the whole way it's really tiresome. The throttle response is so sharp that any tiny movement of your foot speeds you up or slows you down, so I get a sore ankle as well.

I'm thinking of adding air-con and maybe even cruise control (from a US-market Acura Integra), but that could be too much of a pain - not sure yet.



Unlike a lot of owners I still have the interior installed! It's actually a really practical car. I recently got a disassembled king-size bed in the back with the seats down, and I can fit my massive mountain bike in with the front wheel off. I don't really feel the need to strip it out and make it even more hardcore - it's already pretty raw and a lot of fun.

[greeneggsnsam]

TommoAE86 said:

What a peach of a car! It's one of those cars I hope to drive before I expire

Likewise with an AE86. I'm a massive fan of Best Motoring so there's a few touge monsters I'd love to try, like a 2ZZ MR-S!

[greeneggsnsam]

I did kind of want a Twin Loop but they are so rare and way too pricey to buy new. The second hand Spoon N1 can always go back on ebay if it's too loud... or maybe I'll use the bung you can get for it.

I'll update the thread when I get the welding done to try it out!

[greeneggsnsam]

Well, I bought some exhaust repair sections off ebay. The listing said the internal diameter of the tube was 57mm, which is the same as the Spoon system.

But it's the external diameter that's 57mm so I'm going to have to send them back. So frustrating as I was so careful to choose a listing that specifically listed the internal diameter.

[greeneggsnsam]

paulmnz said:

I can highly recommend retro-fitting Aircon....

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. It's one of those things - you spend most of the year thinking it's totally fine without it, but then on those hot days it's just unbelievably uncomfortable. Even at 70mph having the windows down doesn't seem to do anything!

[greeneggsnsam]

Great pic and the car looks cool. Carbon bonnet?

Rust bubbles on mine and it needs refreshing so that was something I've considered. Would want it to look OEM though.

[greeneggsnsam]

MOT failed on emissions, which wasn't a surprise - I've had several cars that keep having this issue, it's so frustrating. There's no obvious fix - my garage enters the annoying process of seeing what works and what doesn't.

Last year a new ECU got it through no problem but this year it's back to being over on CO2 and Lambda.

[greeneggsnsam]

SarlechS said:

did you try heating up the cat before the MOT - normally does the trick if its border line

I had a UKDM DC2 around 12 years ago and it was a peach! I had a Fujitsubo Power Getter exhaust (very rare) and Dastek ECU to change the Vtec Crossover point a little bit lower (only when over 50% throttle) and it sounded incredible. Not many cars could get away from you on a twisty b road!

Hope you have as much pleasure in yours as i did in mine

Very friendly punch on ITR-DC2.com if you aren't already a member

Will be tried but last year it didn't work to get it warmed up. I'm on the ITR forum but it's not very active these days!

[greeneggsnsam]

Update on the MOT! Sailed through on emissions with a new manifold and cat. The exhaust has had to be modified a bit for it to fit, but the good news is that the Spoon back box has been attached up now so looking forward to hearing what it sounds like. Got to thank TGM for sorting it for me.

The manifold is now a standard UKDM one. Anyone know of a good aftermarket manifold/header that will fit on a UKDM cat?

[greeneggsnsam]

You're right that it's probably going to have to be a different cat again, most likely not an OEM as I currently have both OEM JDM and OEM UKDM cats!

The JDM one won't fit as it's too short, and the UKDM one won't fit on a non-oem header because the collector is too small.

Probably going to need a UK-length cat that's got a 2.5" collector to fit an aftermarket manifold. Expensive stuff this.

[greeneggsnsam]

Hi Chris, recognise you from the ITR forum! I'd like a 98spec header ideally too but they're rare, I've not seen any on ebay for ages.

[greeneggsnsam]

That's a good idea, I guess you can just chop the rear flange off the JDM cat, weld in a length of pipe and then put the flange back on. Reckon that's the most cost-effective solution.

[greeneggsnsam]

chrismc1977 said:

Plenty of options out there for decent JDM headers. I think the Tegiwa is a Toda copy- however I refuse to have anything Tegiwa near my car as I don’t rate the company or quality of it’s products.

Tegiwa Toda copy is what it was failing the MOT on. Says it all really - was on the car when I bought it.

I must say I do like a nice stainless header just for the looks in the engine bay. I'll keep an eye on ebay for a decent brand.

[greeneggsnsam]

It was running rich so I think it may have been an issue with the O2 sensor thread (sensor was replaced but issue remained), or maybe a leak somewhere. The JDM cat was new last year and passed it.

[greeneggsnsam]

S54B32 said:

I know Chris already said it, but that really doesn't make sense. The MOT testers won't be measuring your AFR anyway will they? How did you know it was running rich?

Smells rich, black spark plugs. I'm just going off what Tom at TGM told me as I've not even seen the car for months!

[greeneggsnsam]

Jaaack said:

Looks a tidy one. Nice to see one in black as well! Can never decide which looks best between UK and JDM!

Used to have a JDM 96 which had been converted to run an Accord Type R H22A7. Didn't enjoy it though as I couldn't drive it properly due to the fact that the engine didn't really fit with the Integra gearbox, meaning the crank pulley hit the chassis leg when turning right. Had no power steering etc. Don't even think I used a whole tank of fuel before I sold it, it ended up getting stripped for parts and scrapped

Would love another, but B18 powered and virtually standard this time like yours! I think they're one of those cars that you could really enjoy as standard, with a few well thought out mods. From that 90s 'peak car' era

Closest thing to a DC2 I have now:



Aerodeck VTiS, B18 powered (albeit 170bhp) LSD and all that jazz. Doesn't quite handle like an Integra though

Nice! Strange choice of engine swap in a DC2, usually people go K20. I don't see the appeal as the B is the more exciting engine but if you want more power it's the way to go.

[greeneggsnsam]

BrotherMouzone said:

I didn’t pay much attention to them when they first came out. Even after it came first at EVO Magazine back in the day for the ‘greatest FWD driver’s car’ feature. I thought it’s a bit of a funny looking oddball. Mind you at the time I was living in London and being poor and not had a car.

Years passed, I had a Corrado at the time and some chap at the Corrado forum had a DC2 and he took me out in it. The manic engine and the cornering speed blew me away. A year later I started getting into track days and the Corrado was a bit fragile, so started looking for a change. Shortlist include DC2, the highly rated Impreza RB5 and another FWD icon Clio Trophy...... the DC2 was the cheapest and the other two out of budget so bought the DC2. That was in 2011 and the car cost me £3750.

Still have it now, coming up to 140k miles, engine silky smooth, ditto gearbox. Bodywork rusty and pink though! It’s like an old family pet.

Sorry OP for derailing your thread...... just thought it’s a good place to share story. DC2 are just great car.

Edited by BrotherMouzone on Saturday 16th January 15:57

Don't apologise mate, thanks for the post! Everyone share their DC2 stories!

[greeneggsnsam]

An actual update on my car!

It's back from TGM, finally. The Spoon N1 back box is on - sounds great in VTEC, crackling on the overrun and everything. Maybe a bit too loud at around 40mph sadly, but it's actually ok on the motorway and I can always swap the OEM back box on.



The reason it was at the garage for so long (November to March!) was because the body shop was all booked up but I wanted to get the bubbles on the rear arch fixed. They checked inside the car behind the trim, which is apparently where it usually starts, and found some corrosion, so I've had it all sorted.

The only thing life bodywork-wise is the bonnet, which has a some bubbles along the front. I need to find a replacement, and I'm considering a carbon fibre one as it won't rust and will be lighter - I'll have it repainted black to look standard. But I'm not ruling out an OEM, it's just that they're like hen's teeth with no rust.



Also had the car undersealed after all the bodywork was done. Just in time for some good weather and lockdown restrictions easing - hope to get out on some track days when possible.

[greeneggsnsam]

That rubber was on there before the repair so I guess they've just put it back how it was before.

[greeneggsnsam]

New Continental radio fitted today. Was the only head unit I could find that doesn't look like it was designed in 2002 by a man in Burberry cap. Really impressed with it, the sound quality is a huge improvement and it has Bluetooth - and no touchscreen.



There's no external aerial on my car - a previous owner removed it. I've bought one that goes inside the car but I've not fitted it yet. Not sure I will bother, as I only ever use Bluetooth audio anyway.