OldSol of the Month June 2024 – Honda Del Sol Highlight
Ben | Indiana, USA | @el_solotus on Instagram
The OldSol of the Month June 2024 showcases a remarkable Honda Del Sol with exceptional modifications.
What drew you to Hondas and or the Del Sol Specifically:
I didn’t have a Honda as my first car, but ever since I had my first car I realized how great Hondas were compared to other makes. Seeing the reliability, the commonality between years/chassis, and performance and technology built into these old engines. Oh, yeah, VTEC. I love VTEC. Hearing that VTEC engagement is just the best. As for Del Sols specifically, I always thought they looked like they should be mid-engine. I saw one posted yearssss ago and told myself I had to get a Del Sol and make it mid-engine.
What is the Del Sol Scene like in Indiana?
The del sol scene is pretty small. I think I personally have owned more del sols than there are currently running around town (as I type this my fiancee is trying to count how many I have had – we think it’s 9). I know a handful of del sol owners that are older guys or people I work with who love their cars but aren’t looking to join a car community. But I like being the guy who everyone comes to when they need advice or parts. Also, just have to shout out to our Ohio group! We had a meet/cookout/el_solotus unveiling at my house this spring and it was awesome to expand our scene to be more ‘mid-western’ than just Indiana. Hoping to make this more regular and be able to get more folks together, both from Indiana and nearby states.
Back story of your del sol?
About five years ago I bought this car from a close friend. He had owned the car since he was 16 and had spent tons of money on it over the years. He did all the typical 2000s mods – lips, paint job, shaved handles, etc. He pretty much turned it into a show/drag car – building the engine and strapping on a GT35r and removing all the non-necessary comfort features. Eventually the car ended up sitting in his garage untouched for years at a time so he finally decided to sell it. He threw it up on Facebook Marketplace for sale and I jumped on it. I asked him if I could buy it and make it mid-engine and his response was ‘build it Mr. Engineer’. So I did – but once he found out I was actually ‘cutting up his car’ he decided to start trashing me on Facebook. I don’t have room for that kind of thing in my life, so I didn’t engage and eventually just unfriended him so I didn’t have to see it anymore. Sucks to lose a friend over something like this. It’s just a car. I’d like to think he’d actually be impressed with what I’ve done if he were to see it. Sure, it took 4 years to complete the build, but she is on the road again and better than ever.
What makes Del Sols unique from other hondas?
Their weak chassis and their profuse leaking. Not really, but kind of. Those things don’t deter me from enjoying them. I had an SiR Transtop car which was super cool and original. As an engineer, I love the technology that Honda put into these cars in the early 1990s. I also think that the interior on the del sol is really timeless – 30 years later they still don’t feel outdated to me.
This OldSol of the Month June 2024 winner stands out due to its attention to detail and unique customizations.
THE BUILD
Mid engine swap
B16 ERL Superdeck2 – Head spacer and sleeved which makes the engine a 2.0 liter
I honestly don’t know what all parts are in the engine because the engine was built when I got the car. It has forged pistons and rods. I have no idea what crankshaft it has. Also, has built GSR head, but again, I don’t know exactly what is in there.
Added the 1320 performance timing belt tensioner
Garrett GT2860RS – ball bearing ‘disco potato’
Tial blow off valve and wastegate
All custom pipework. Stainless exhaust manifold and up-pipe which allows me to mount the turbo on the front side of the transmission. Nylon braided coolant and oil lines to the turbo. Aluminum charge pipes and rear mounted intercooler with air duct to pull air from underneath the car.
Edelbrock intake manifold with a skunk2 throttle body and running omnipower 2.5 bar map sensor
MSD external coil
Hondata S300V1
Transmission
GSR trans with Quaife LSD
Gator axles
Custom shifter linkage
Body:
Shaved door handles with remote controlled door poppers
Two-tone paint – Classic 2000s paint job
Carbon fiber VIS racing hood
I don’t know what front/rear lip and side skirt – these were on the car when I got it
Cheap ebay headlights
OldSols banner 🙂
Wheels:
RPF1s – 16×7 +43 in the front / 17×8 +45 in the rear
RE71r tires – 205/45/16 in the front / 245/40/17 in the rear
Suspension/Brakes:
EG front clip and suspension in the rear (Civic VX front end with 450k miles on it)
Everything has been blasted and powder coated
Koni yellows with ground controls
Skunk2 uppers
Stock 22mm sway bars (in both front and rear)
Poly bushings all around
5 lug swap – Fronts are CRV. Rears are CTR. But let’s be honest, ITR and CRV parts are the same. I will always buy CRV parts.
Stainless braided lines.
OEM coated/reman calipers
Standard powerstop rotors
Added ABS from VTEC model del sol
Interior:
Hyundai Tiburon Seats
Black/red stitched leather shift boot and steering wheel to match
Relatively stock interior – keeping it simple and clean
Future plans:
Professional dyno tune
Factory spoiler
Dialing in suspension setup
Custom Ben-built targa brace
Autocross and drive the heck out of it!
Earning the title of OldSol of the Month June 2024 is a testament to the owner’s dedication and love for the Honda Del Sol.