Blue Blood: Omar Rivas' 2004 Honda S2000

Vehicle Features Dave Pankew

Written by Dave Pankew | Photos by RCH Designs

Alright, here’s the deal – we see a load of S2000s here at PAS. Almost too many, thanks to the prices of these high-revving roadsters dropping dramatically in recent years. Many of them are predictable with their CE28Ns and J’s Racing aero and a variety of knockoff carbon fiber hoods. Of course, we don’t mean to offend any S2K owners out there, but trends often dictate what people buy and we get bombarded with it here. But this time around we noticed a car with some out-of-the-box thinking and an interesting offer from the owner.

Omar Rivas of Winnetka, CA has been building up this project for the better part of the last decade and when he came to us asking for a feature he got a bit of a shock. We explained to him that we see some pretty insane S2000s and that he would have to step it up. He replied by saying, “alright, I trust the editors of PAS, why don’t you build the rest of it?”

We agreed and finished up the balance of the project with the gear we wanted to see. It was pimp, just like having our own project without the headaches and monster VISA bills.

Rivas has been working on his S2000 since 2005 and started with what every tuner does: carbon fiber bolt-ons, lowering springs, rims, intake – amateur stuff. As he got into the scene, joined the forums, subscribed to tuner magazines and attended car shows, he realized there was so much more to his car. The end result was a 424whp supercharged S2000 which was unveiled at Willow Springs for a track day in late 2009. As it was the first shake-down session for this project, anything could happen – and it did. During a hot lap, his engine seized due to piston ring failure and he was devastated. All those years of tuning and money evaporated within fractions of a second.

After the track day, Rivas fell in to an unsatisfied state with his car hobby. He contemplated selling the car or maybe parting it out. However, his S2K family rallied behind him and within a week he had purchased a new engine and prepared for a build. He sent the block over to the builder of the most powerful N/A Hondo motors, BisiMoto.

The head was ported and polished, then filled with a SuperTech valvetrain. For fueling a Walbro 255lph pump was added along with Injector Dynamics 725cc injectors.

The intake system is an elaborate design by Bisimoto. Made by Kinsler, the custom injection system features individual throttle bodies which look and sound insane.

On the exhaust side is a custom 4-2-1 long head with venture collector connected to a T1R ERM 70mm Exhaust.

After the mechanical was sorted out, the tuning dimension was delegated to BisiMoto was well. An AEM EMS Serial2 box was plugged and the NA motor was tuned to extremes. The driveline had already been beefed up since the last iteration with 425whp. An ACT Street Clutch and lightweight flywheel were installed. The reinforced 2-3-4 gears in the tranny spin up J’Racing 4.57 gears and DriveShaftShop axles.

Then it was time for Rivas to introduce a new look for the car to get it noticed. His wife recommended Carl Canta of AA Autoworks because he did an outstanding job with her Acura RSX-S and her brother’s Honda S2000 and Subaru WRX-STi. Carl Canta and Frank Klepadlo did a remarkable job erasing the track scars and giving it fresh a fresh new look with House of Kolor Electron Blue Paint.

The S2K features J’s Racing front bumper as well as fenders and canards. In the rear are ASM wide fenders and a sppon rear diffusers with a Voltex Type IV wing.

The look was capped off with APR side mirrors, a C-West carbon fiber hood and an OEM Honda hardtop. As an added bonus for the body work, the bodyshop introduced him to James Lin of Team Hybrid. Rivas recognized the team from past show cars and magazine covers, so he felt honored to be invited to join.

Rivas moved his attention to the rollers which would have to make an equally big statement. He selected Prodrive GC-010G wheels in 18x10.5-inch with a +22 offset all around. The Prodrives are wrapped in BFGoodrich T/A KDWs with 265/35R18 on all four corners.

Lurking behind the spokes are Wilwood’s 6-piston big brakes using Endless pads and Motul RBF600 racing fluid. The suspension was amped up with TEIN SRC Racing coilovers using 16kg springs. Several J’s Racing suspension arms were added along with Garner adjustable sway bars and Spoon strut bars. After a careful alignment and corner balance, the S2000 was again ready to tackle any road course.

Inside the cabin is pretty self-explanatory with a blend of business and pleasure. The Bride racing seats are complimented by Takata harnesses and a Nardi wheel. A Sony Double DIN 7-inch LCD unit mounted into the dash since the real estate in an S2000 is scarce.

The lows head to a pair of Sony GTR Series Mono amps concealed in the trunk pushing a pair of 12-inch Xplod 12-inch SVC woofers. The mids and highs are dealt to a Sony ZR-Series 4/3/2 amp and a quartet of Sony Xplod GTR-Series 6.5-inch speakers in both front doors and behind the seats. The install was completed with a custom amp rack and a pair of SONY LCD monitors in a custom fiberglass box.

For now Rivas, says the PASMAG cover is a huge achievement for him. In an age when many builds are becoming more modest or are put on hold altogether, this S2000 is a breath of fresh air. Rivas gives lots of credit to his family and Team Hybrid for going 15 years strong. He says without the support he would have given up and sold the car long ago.

ESSENTIALS
Owner: Omar Rivas
Location: Winnetka, CA
Vehicle: 2004 Honda S2000
Engine: Honda 2.0L F20C Inline-4

ENGINE MODIFICATIONS
Kinsler Fuel Injection
Custom ITBs designed by Bisimoto
AEM Fuel Pressure Regulator
Kinsler Custom Fuel Rail
Injector Dynamics 725cc Injectors
Custom Fuel Surge Tanks
Walbro 255 Fuel Pump
Stainless Conical Race Valves
Port and Polished Head
Supertech Titanium Valve Spring/Retainers
Custom Painted Valve Cover
Unorthodox Racing Pulleys
J’s Radiator Cover
Torco racing oil (10w30)
Mugen Baffled Oil Pan
GReddy Catch tank
NGK Spark Plugs
KOYO Radiator
FAL Fans
Mugen Fan Switch
J’s Racing Race Thermostat
Custom 4-2-1 Long Header
T1R 70mm Stainless Steel Exhaust

ENGINE MANAGEMENT
AEM Serial2 EMS Tuned by Bisimoto

DRIVELINE
ACT Street Clutch
ACT Race Flywheel
ACT Heavy Duty Press Plate
Innovative (60A) Engine, Transmission and Diff. Mounts
Reinforced 2nd 3rd and 4th Transmission Gears (straight cut)
Mugen 1.5 LSD
Cusco Diff. Reinforcement Kit
J’s Racing 4.57 Racing Gears (Straight Cut)
TheDriveSharft Shop reinforced Driveshafts Ends

WHEELS, TIRES, BRAKES
Prodrive GC-010G 18x10.5-inch +22
BFGoodrich T/A KDW tires Fronts 255/35R18
BFGoodrich T/A KDW tires Rears 265/35R18
Wilwood 6-Piston BBK
Endless MX72 Race Pads
Wilwood stainless Brake Lines
Motul 600 brake Fluid

SUSPENSION
Tein SRC Race Coilovers 16k front 16k rear
Garner 3way Front Race Swaybar
J's Racing front Camber joint L1
J's Racing front Adjustable tie-rod ends
J's Racing rear Roll center adjusters
J's Racing rear Adjustable Toe arms
J's Racing driveshaft spacers
Spoon rear Lower Tie Bar
Spoon front Strut Tower Bar
Cusco Rear Tower Bar

EXTERIOR
House of Color Electron Blue Pearl Paint
C-West Carbon Hood
J’s Racing F/R Tow Hooks
J’s Racing Front Bumper type 2.0
J’s Racing Race Fenders
J’s Racing Canards
AJ Racing Side diffusers
ASM Rear Fender Flares
ASM Dry Carbon Duckbill
Spoon Rear Diffuser
APR Carbon Fiber Side Mirrors
Voltex Wing Type IV
Voltex Wing Extensions
Voltex Gurney Flap
Honda OEM Hardtop
Izzy’s Hardtop Mounts
5k custom HiD’s
Car’s weight is 2646 LBS with Driver

INTERIOR
Mugen Shift Knob
Moddiction/International Short Shifter
Recaro Pole Position Seats (Driver and Passenger)
Bride Seat Rails
Custom Race Door Panels by Gunshow
Ap2 Interior Upgrade
NGR Quick Release
AEM Serial Gauges
AEM A/F fuel gauge
Momo 320mm Steering Wheel
Autopower Driver 6 point Harness
Schroth Passenger harness
Hard Dog Roll Cage (chromed)
AIM Sport GPS Data Logger

AUDIO / MULTIMEDIA
Sony Double DIN 7” Center
Sony Xpl?d GTX Series Speakers fronts x2 and rears 6.5” x2
Sony Xpl?d 12” SVC Subwoofer x2
Sony GTR Series 2/1 Channel Amplifier x2
Sony ZR Series 4/3/2 Channel Amplifier Model x1
Sony Rear View Camera x1
iPod® Interface for Sony
Sony Flush Mount LCD Monitors x2
Custom Fiberglass Box
Custom Amplifier rack

SHOUTOUTS
God, My family, Dr. Rivas Dental, El Presidente/Founder of Team Hybrid & Hybrid Hunnyz - James Lin, Team Hybrid Family, Frank and Carl from AA Autoworks, Bisi, Hedi and staff from Bisimoto Engineering, Scott and Greg from Kinsler Fuel Injection, Sony, BFGoodrich Tires, Meguiar’s, Upgrade Motoring, Fred aka Gunshow and Tak of S2kI/VIS/S3 Designs, Moddiction/International Short Shifters; the love of my life Gretchen Rivas, Jirro Fernandez, Jeremy Pyka, Jason Rivas, the boys from SFV GripWerks, Topdown, FilthIEst and all who helped made this project happen. R.I.P. Paul Flores aka smirfs2k05, you will live in our hearts forever. May 15+ years of Team Hybrid’s Tradition-Philosophy-Innovation-Management-Quality continue making import history…

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