Maintaining your integraity.

"The best tuning modifications for the Integra"

The Integra was actually a joint project between Rover and Honda, who wanted to create a new model which would appeal to europe. The Rover 200 and Integra DC2 share many similarities as far as body styling goes. The engines and suspension choices are perfected in the Type R.

The Type R Integra was a perfect example of a track day car you use as reliable daily transport. It features a stunning engine which has been carefully balanced, flowed and set up from the factory. The chassis has also been carefully tweaked to provide driver feedback and stunning levels of grip and handling.

Internally the Type R looks a little sparce. Every effort was made to save weight so many standard gadgets were removed. There was for example, no radio or air conditioning, although many later owners have added these options. Also the sound deadening was removed which does save weight but makes the car a sheer drivers delight. The engine positively sings when the VTEC kicks in.

The early DC2 was hailed as the ultimate front drive car a testimony to the R&D boys at Honda who tweaked and set this car up to be the best drivers car around. They have avoided the modern school of tuning with superchargers and turbos and shown everyone what can be done with a highly tuned, high revving NASP engine. The newer DC5 is a stunning car, and shows up pretty much every other contemporary FWD car around but there are many fans of the original who feel it does not match up to the DC2.

So how do you improve on perfection? It is fair to say that most of the cheaper aftermarket performance parts rarely improve on the standard Honda setup.

It is possible to source perfromance enhancing parts. One of hte most popular modifications on the DC2 and DC5 are high flow exhaust headers. These allow the exhaust gases to flow out of the exhaust efficiently.

Some enthusiastic owners have started fitting superchargers. Although the engines are high compression you can get away with a low boost supercharger and it really changes the character of the engine. We have also seen a fantastic turbo conversion on an early DC2 but this required a full engine rebuild and some clever mapping but the owner was very pleased with his near 400bhp power figure.

Putting all that power down through the front wheels is just asking for trouble. Many owners note that the Integras can struggle in wet conditions. This makes your choice of tyre of paramount importance. A good directional tread pattern on some wider alloys will make quite a difference.

As far as lowering the car goes we would recommend that you try and resist the urge. The standard suspension setup is actually superb. As the shocks get older you may suffer a little extra roll and wallow so this would be a good time to get some good quality coil overs. TorqueCars always recommend you get adjustable shocks as this allows you to keep tweaking your cars setup until you get it right.

Induction kits also help raise power as long as you have a cold air feed. Under bonnet temperatures can rob you of significant power so you would be wasting your time adding an induction kit without the cold air feed. A bonnet vent near the filter will also help keep the intake temperature down.

Join us in our forum to chat and swap tuning ideas with our resident Integra enthusiasts.