Thomas Wu – 2002 Honda S2000
Story by Adam Gordon
Photography by Sammy Zhao (@samxz_photo)
Thomas Wu didn’t buy his S2000 looking for an easy starting point. What he found instead was a bare-bones 2002 Honda S2000 that had already lived a hard life as a 10-second drag car — stripped, focused, and built for one job: going straight as quickly as possible. The shell had potential, but everything else needed direction.
“I always wanted to build a powerful and fun JDM car,” Wu says. That goal never changed — but how the car achieved it did. Rather than continue down the drag-only path, Wu set out to rework the S2000 into something far more versatile: a car capable of street duty and serious track time. Alongside his mechanic and a close group of friends, he tore the car down and rebuilt it piece by piece, correcting its course entirely.
At the heart of the build is a heavily fortified F20C. The block is O-ring sleeved and filled with Wiseco 10.5:1 pistons and Carrillo rods, topped with a 4Piston cylinder head. A big-frame Precision 6466 turbo sits on a tubular manifold, feeding air through a FullBlown intercooler. Fueling is handled by a Radium surge tank, 1650cc injectors, and dual Walbro pumps, while AEM’s Infinity ECU and supporting sensors manage everything with modern precision. The result is 692 whp and 414 lb-ft — enough to remind you of the car’s drag roots, even as it now thrives beyond straight lines.
That power feeds through a carbon fiber driveshaft into a Nissan 300ZX rear differential, a combination chosen specifically to survive repeated abuse. A custom three-inch exhaust exits cleanly, keeping things purposeful rather than flashy.
To make the most of the power, the chassis received equal attention. HSD coilovers form the foundation, supplemented by Cusco strut bars, chassis bracing, and additional billet reinforcement. StopTech ST40 brakes handle front-end stopping duties, while OZ Racing Ultraleggera wheels wrapped in Yokohama AD08Rs keep the car planted through corners.
Visually, the S2000 wears functional aero without excess. A Voltex-style front bumper, Monster fenders and skirts, VIS hood, Asuka trunk, and Type-5–style rear wing establish intent, while a Mugen-style hardtop and chassis-mounted splitter complete the package. Inside, Bride Gias seats, six-point harnesses, and a Cusco four-point cage make the cabin track-focused without tipping into full race car territory. An AEM CD5 digital dash and Greddy Sirius gauges deliver critical data front and center.
Wu’s S2000 isn’t about nostalgia or chasing trends. It’s about evolution — taking a car built for one extreme and reshaping it into something far more capable. From quarter miles to corners, this build proves that sometimes the smartest move forward starts with a course correction.
ESSENTIALS
Vehicle: 2002 Honda S2000
Location: Brampton, ON, Canada
Horsepower: 692 whp
Club: DME, GroupN
SOCIAL
IG: @slowspools2
ENGINE
O-ring sleeved block
Wiseco pistons (10.5:1 compression)
Carrillo connecting rods
4Piston cylinder head
Tubular turbo manifold
Precision 6466 turbocharger
TiAL wastegate
FullBlown intercooler
Custom catch can system
Battery relocation
1650cc fuel injectors
Radium Engineering surge tank
Walbro 255/450 fuel pumps
AEM (Infinity ECU, fuel pressure sensor, oil pressure sensor, smart coils)
Adjustable fuel pressure regulator
Flex fuel kit
EXHAUST
Custom 3-inch exhaust system
DRIVETRAIN
Nissan 300ZX rear differential
Driveshaft Shop carbon fiber driveshaft
WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES
OZ Racing Ultraleggera wheels — 18x8.5 +45
Yokohama Advan Neova AD08R tires — 225/40R18 (f), 255/40R18 (r)
StopTech ST40 front brake kit
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION
HSD coilovers
Cusco (front strut bars, chassis bracing, rear strut tower brace)
Additional billet chassis bracing
EXTERIOR
Voltex-style front bumper
Monster (front fenders, side skirts)
VIS Racing hood
Asuka trunk lid
Voltex Type-5–style rear wing
Mugen-style hardtop
Chassis-mounted front splitter
INTERIOR
Cusco 4-point roll cage
Bride Gias bucket seats
Six-point racing harnesses
Mugen steering wheel
NRG quick release
Works Bell steering hub
Greddy Sirius gauges
AEM CD5 digital dash
