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Chapter 03

The Archive

記録

THE
ARCHIVE.

Four years of work, in chronological order. Before, during, and after.

Phase 01

BEFORE

2021

以前

1995 Acura Integra GS-R in faded Milano Red parked in driveway, rear three-quarter view, with bronze replica TE37 wheels and a black replica Mugen rear wing. — The day I brought it home. Replica TE37s, replica Mugen wing, faded clearcoat. This is the starting point.

Rear three-quarter view of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R in Milano Red parked in driveway, with bronze replica TE37 wheels and black replica Mugen rear spoiler. — 2021. Replica wheels, replica wing, factory paint. I was figuring out what the car would become.

Rear view of stock 1995 Acura Integra GS-R in original Milano Red, showing factory bumper with scuffs, dealer license plate frame, and a black replica Mugen rear spoiler. — Original rear bumper, dealer plate still on. The wing is a replica Mugen — stayed on for a while before priorities sorted themselves out.

Stock B18C engine bay of a 1995 Acura Integra GS-R, with original red Honda VTEC valve cover, factory wiring, basic aftermarket red cone air filter, and unrestored Milano Red engine bay paint. — B18C as I bought it. Stock top end, basic cone filter, factory bay. Compare to where it ended up.

Stock interior of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R showing factory black Acura airbag steering wheel, analog gauge cluster, dashboard, and shift boot with red stitching. — Original Acura wheel and cluster. Both replaced later — JDM wheel reupholstered with red stitching, ID4Motion digital cluster behind it.

Original black leather rear bench seat of a 1995 Acura Integra GS-R, showing wear and a torn seam on the driver's side cushion. — Original GS-R leather rear seats, torn at the seam. Reupholstered later with red stitching to match the fronts.

Open trunk of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R viewed from the rear, showing factory black carpet, OEM parcel shelf, and loose wiring from a previous stereo installation, with rear seats and dashboard visible through the cabin. — Empty trunk, factory carpet, OEM parcel shelf. Exposed wiring from a previous owner's stereo install — pulled out later when the car went glass-out for paint.

Phase 02

DISASSEMBLY

2022

分解

Driver-side door of a 1995 Acura Integra GS-R with the interior door panel removed, showing the metal door frame, OEM water-shield foil, factory wiring harness, lock and window mechanisms, and an aftermarket speaker. — Door cards off. The factory water-shield foil and original wiring exactly as Honda put it together in 1995.

Partially disassembled Honda B18C engine on a stand, showing the bare aluminum block with crankshaft and main bearing caps still installed, surrounded by tools and parts on a garage floor. — B18C coming apart. Crank and rotating assembly still in, everything else stripped.

Bare Honda B18C engine block with all four cylinder bores exposed and crankcase visible, photographed from above on a workbench, with the B18C casting code stamped on the side. — Bare block. Sent to CSS for machine work after this — overbore for the Traum 81.5mm forged pistons.

Front passenger-side wheel well of a 1995 Acura Integra GS-R with the outer fender removed, exposing the inner fender liner, suspension components, and engine bay wiring. — Front fender off. Easier access to the engine bay and a clean look at the inner structure before bodywork.

Original black leather front seats from a 1995 Acura Integra GS-R, removed from the car and placed side by side on a garage floor, showing visible wear, creasing, and a tear on the passenger seat. — GS-R fronts pulled. Worn but the bones were good — sent out to be reupholstered with red stitching.

Original black leather rear bench seat of a 1995 Acura Integra GS-R, removed from the car and placed on a concrete floor, showing wear and a torn cushion seam. — Rear bench out. Same trip to the upholsterer as the fronts.

Close-up of a cracked rubber shifter linkage boot at the floor pan of a 1995 Acura Integra GS-R, with the metal shift rod passing through the deteriorated grommet. — Shifter rod boot, cracked clean through. Replaced — small part, but this is what 30 years looks like.

Phase 03

BODY PREP

2023

下地

Driver-side rear quarter of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R during body prep, with side moldings removed, body filler smoothed across the panel, and masking tape protecting the rear glass. — Side moldings shaved, body filler feathered out. Deleting every factory line that didn't belong before color goes on.

Engine bay of a 1995 Acura Integra GS-R fully prepped for paint, with the front end stripped, masking and aluminum foil protecting openings, and a person reaching in to finalize prep. — Engine bay masked, cowl pulled, every opening foiled. Glass-out, panels off — bay gets the same R-81 as the body.

First Molding carbon kevlar hood for 1995 Acura Integra GS-R on a paint booth stand, sanded to a uniform matte finish with vents masked off in yellow tape. — First Molding carbon kevlar hood, vents masked, ready for primer. The everyday hood gets prepped first.

Underside of OEM hood for 1995 Acura Integra GS-R primed flat black on a paint booth stand, with masking tape across the inner reinforcement. — OEM hood underside, primed and sanded. Honda paid attention to what you don't see — figured I would too.

Front three-quarter view of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R during body prep, with the 98-spec quad headlight conversion test-fitted, OEM hood in primer, and the engine bay still in factory paint. — Mockup. Quad headlight conversion fitted, OEM hood gapped, fenders blocked. Checking lines before paint.

Close-up of driver-side front fender on 1995 Acura Integra GS-R, showing primer and body filler feathered into faded original Milano Red paint, with a temporary registration permit visible through the windshield. — Front quarter blocked and feathered. Fresh body filler next to original Milano Red — you can see how much red has changed in 30 years.

Mechanic working under the front end of a 1995 Acura Integra GS-R during body prep, with the engine bay stripped, hood removed, masking and aluminum foil protecting the windshield and openings. — Two days a week between his shop and my garage for four years. Built it together.

Rear hatch glass being lifted off a 1995 Acura Integra GS-R during glass-out preparation for paint, with two people supporting the glass and the body shell exposed below. — I bought a whole rear hatch from a junkyard just so my glass guy could carefully cut the back window out with the weather strip intact.

Rear three-quarter view of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R with rear hatch glass removed, showing the exposed hatch frame in primer and faded factory paint, with the trunk lid in fresh white primer above. — Glass off, hatch frame exposed. Original weather strip preserved on the donor — that was the whole point.

Type T rear valance and OEM rear bumper for 1995 Acura Integra GS-R in white primer, stacked together inside a paint booth. — Type T rear valance and OEM bumper, primed and ready. Subtle from the side, sharper from behind.

Pair of Type T side skirts for 1995 Acura Integra GS-R hanging on paint stands in white primer, ready for final paint application. — Type T side skirts in primer, drying. Last of the JDM body kit before final paint match.

Phase 04

FITTING

2023

仮合せ

Driver-side front fender of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R in gray primer test-fitted to the body, with the original Milano Red paint visible behind and a blue Honda VTEC valve cover in the engine bay. — Driver fender, JDM side marker hole cut. USDM cars didn't have them — JDM did, so I added them.

Front three-quarter view of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R with 98-spec front bumper conversion test-fitted in satin black, quad headlights installed, and the driver fender in primer alongside. — 98-spec front bumper test-fit. Verifying the conversion lines up with the new fender and hood gaps.

Close-up of 98-spec front bumper conversion on 1995 Acura Integra GS-R in satin black, showing both quad headlights, the embossed Integra script, and the amber turn signal. — Headlight and turn signal alignment checked. Quad conversion has to sit right or the whole face looks off.

Front of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R with bumper removed for fitment, showing the radiator support, intercooler, and original headlight assemblies on either side, with the blue Honda VTEC valve cover visible above. — Old bumper off. Stripping the front end down to test-fit the 98-spec.

Passenger-side front fender of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R in gray primer test-fitted to the body, with the original Milano Red paint behind and a yellow microfiber towel in the engine bay. — Passenger fender, same treatment. Side marker hole cut, fender block-sanded smooth.

OEM rear bumper of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R in silver primer test-fitted to the rear of the car, with marker delete locations circled in yellow paint pen and the trunk opening exposed above. — OEM rear bumper test-fit. Marker holes circled in yellow — verifying panel lines before paint.

Rear view of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R with OEM rear bumper test-fitted in silver primer, showing the license plate bracket, embossed Integra script, and exhaust cutout below the trunk lid in white primer. — Straight-on test fit. Checking the bumper sits flush across the body line and the trunk gap.

Driver-side rear corner of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R with OEM rear bumper test-fitted in silver primer, showing the body line gap, exposed taillight opening above, and a person's foot in frame at left. — Driver-corner test fit. Confirming the bumper meets the quarter cleanly before color.

Phase 05

PAINT & BODY

2023

塗装

Body shell of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R in a paint booth being sprayed Milano Red R-81, with masking plastic still in place over the windows and openings. — Body shell in the booth. R-81 going on, glass-out, every panel exposed.

1995 Acura Integra GS-R outdoors in fresh Milano Red R-81 paint, with bare metal still visible at the side marker location on the front fender. — First time in the sun. Fresh R-81 against bare metal where the side marker still needs to go.

Interior door jamb and B-pillar of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R freshly painted Milano Red R-81, with masking still in place. — Door jambs and B-pillar painted. Inside gets the same color as outside.

Engine bay of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R freshly painted Milano Red R-81 from firewall to inner fenders, with foil and tape protecting masked components. — Engine bay sprayed R-81. Firewall to fenders, all one color.

All painted exterior pieces of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R laid out together in fresh Milano Red R-81, including the front bumper, GS-R side skirts, Type R rear spoiler, mirror caps, headlight bezels, and door handles. — Every painted piece laid out. Front bumper, GS-R side skirts, Type R spoiler, mirror caps, headlight bezels, door handles — all R-81.

Both doors, both fenders, and the hood of 1995 Acura Integra GS-R freshly painted Milano Red R-81, drying inside the paint booth. — Doors, fenders, hood. All painted, all drying.

98-spec front bumper for 1995 Acura Integra GS-R freshly painted Milano Red R-81, drying on a stand. — 98-spec front bumper, fresh R-81. The face of the car.

First Molding carbon kevlar hood for 1995 Acura Integra GS-R freshly painted Milano Red R-81, with the carbon kevlar weave still visible through masked vents. — First Molding carbon kevlar hood. R-81 over the panel, carbon weave masked through the vents.

Underside of OEM hood for 1995 Acura Integra GS-R freshly painted Milano Red R-81. — OEM hood underside, fresh R-81. Honda detailed what you don't see — figured I would too.

OEM hood for 1995 Acura Integra GS-R with wet Milano Red R-81 paint freshly sprayed and flowing across the top surface. — OEM hood, fresh paint flowing. The hood I save for special occasions.

Phase 06

ASSEMBLY

組立

OEM Honda door jamb stickers — VIN, color code R-81, trim and tire placards factory placement — All the OEM Honda stickers throughout the car — VIN, color code, interior trim, tire info — replaced to match factory placement and look. R-81. Same code as the VIN. Details matter.

Underside of OEM hood painted R-81 with SRS and vacuum routing stickers — Underside of the OEM hood. Fresh R-81 underneath, SRS warning and vacuum hose routing stickers replaced to match factory placement. Nobody sees it. I see it.

New door jamb switch and door latch hardware installed — Door jamb switch and door latch both brand new. Details matter.

Windshield installation prep with tape and sealant ready — My glass guy prepping the front windshield. Tape down, seal ready.

Windshield being set with suction cup lifters — Setting the windshield in. Two suction cups, careful hands, no margin for error.

Front windshield installed and taped for curing — Windshield set. Taped to cure.

Front end assembled with windshield, mirrors, and hood aligned — Front end back together. Glass in, mirrors on, hood lined up.

Rear hatch glass being installed — The rear hatch glass going back in. This is the one I bought a whole junkyard hatch for, just so my glass guy could cut it out with the weather strip intact.

Rear windshield installed with Honda stamp and factory weather strip — Rear glass in. Honda stamp, factory weather strip, exactly how it should be.

Driver-side quarter glass installation — Driver-side quarter glass install.

Quarter glass installed with Made in Japan decal visible — Quarter glass set. Made in Japan sticker still on it — not coming off.

Sunroof open showing Honda glass and fresh paint — Sunroof open. Honda glass, fresh paint underneath.

UKDM taillights with clear corner lenses and rear crash bar area — UKDM taillights. The clear corners are the giveaway — USDM lenses are all red. Sourced from the UK because I wanted that rear end to look right.

Trunk floor painted Milano Red R-81 — Trunk floor in R-81. Same paint as the body, top to bottom.

Phase 07

PARTS

部品

CSS-machined engine block with Traum pistons — CSS-machined block. Traum pistons inside, ready for the rebuild when the time comes.

Password JDM carbon fiber radiator cooling plate — Password:JDM carbon fiber radiator cooling plate. Came from Japan in a Fragile box.

Password JDM kevlar spark plug cover — Password:JDM kevlar spark plug cover. The weave catches light differently than standard carbon.

Greddy Supreme SP exhaust system — Greddy Supreme SP exhaust. The car has run a few different exhaust setups over the years.

Raychem DR-25 heat shrink on tucked engine wiring — Raychem DR-25 milspec heat shrink. The same stuff used in aerospace and motorsports wiring.

JDM Momo steering wheel before restoration, worn leather — Before. Faded, dirty, well-used. Forty years of hands.

Worn steering wheel leather close-up — The leather had given up. Time for fresh hide.

Restored steering wheel with perforated leather — After Gabe Custom. Perforated leather, red cross-stitch.

Hand cross-stitch detail on steering wheel — The stitch detail. Done by hand.

Bride Stradia II Low Max seat red gradation kevlar — Bride Stradia II Low Max. Red gradation fabric, kevlar shell.

Back of Bride seat showing kevlar weave — The kevlar weave from the back. Made in Japan.

Bride Super Seat Rail hardware — Bride Super Seat Rail. Made in Japan.

JDM 98-00 one-piece Integra headlight — JDM 98-00 one-piece headlight. The car runs USDM quad headlights — both 94-97 and 98-00 USDM Integras came with quads stock. This is the Japan-spec piece. Stored.

UKDM Integra taillights with clear corners — UKDM taillights. The clear corner sections give it away — USDM came all-red. On the car.

Carbon fiber rear parcel shelf cover — Carbon fiber rear parcel shelf cover. The weave runs the length of the piece.

Rear hatch windshield glass — Rear hatch glass. Sourced from a junkyard donor when the original couldn't be saved.

New Honda genuine headliner in packaging — Brand-new Honda genuine headliner. Made in Japan, still in the bag.

New Honda genuine sunroof shade — Brand-new Honda genuine sunroof shade. Shipped FedEx International from Japan.

New Honda genuine seatbelt buckles in boxes — Honda genuine seatbelt buckles. Part 04816-ST7-A05ZA, made in Japan. New in Honda boxes.

OEM and aftermarket hatch struts compared — Honda genuine hatch struts on the left. Aftermarket on the right — for comparison. Honda still makes the right one.

New AC evaporator core in box — AC evaporator core. New, sealed, ready when the old one finally gives up.

Spoon Twin Block caliper and StopTech rotor — Spoon Twin Block monoblock caliper. Nissin internals. The blue is unmistakable.