April 2009 Featured Ride 1.0 – Archull

Owner Information

Name/age/location: Brandon Roberie / 28 / Lafayette, LA
NOSR username: Archull
Occupation: Architect

Vehicle Information

Year: 2006
Make: Acura
Model: RSX Type-S
Mileage: 56k
Color: Nighthawk Black Pearl
Engine: K20Z1

Engine Modifications:

-Peakboost Turbo kit
-T3/44 Side mount stainless steel Turbo Manifold (Coated by HPC)
-44mm Dumptube (Coated by HPC)
-3′ Stainless 2 pc downpipe w v-band (Coated by HPC)
-Garrett GT3076 turbo (.82 AR, .60trim, S-cover)(Exhaust housing Coated by HPC)
-Tial 44mm Wastegate
-Tial 50mm Blow off valve
-PWR 6′ x 23.5′ x 3′ vertical flow intercooler core(total height is 12′) (anodized black)
-2.5′ Aluminum charge pipe kit with PWR Silicon Couplers & t-bolt clamps (Piping powder coated black)
-Steel braided oil/feed return lines
-All installation hardware, gaskets, & heat wrap
-K&N Intake filter
-Hondata Kpro EMS
-GM 3bar map sensor
-GM boost control solenoid
-Peakboost Vac Block
-Billet battery tray
-Odyssey battery (model # PC680MJ)
-Innovative Motor Mounts
-CC stage 4 clutch
-Oil sandwich plate adapter
-Hondata intake manifold gasket
-NKG BKR9EIX plugs
-Walbro intank pump
-AEM fuel rail
-Aeromotive FPR
-RC 750cc injectors
-8an stainless fuel feed lines & -6an return lines all with Earls & Russel fittings
-Aeromotive 10 micron inline fuel filter
-RBC intake manifold
-P2R RBC adapter
-Custom Wrinkle Black Valvecover
- Mugen Oil Filler Cap
-Mugen Radiator Cap
-Type-r Dipstick
- EP3 Sparkplug cover
-EP3 AC line relocation
-Quaife LSD
-Custom geared transmission

Exhaust Modifications:

-Modified -Thermal 3′ exhaust

Brake Modifications:

-Hawk Pads all around

Wheels & Tires:

-Volk CE28N (18×8.5” +40mm offset) wrapped in Nitto Invo 255/35ZR18 rubber

Suspension:

-Tein Flex Coilovers with EDFC
-Ingals rear camber kit

Exterior modifications:

-Xenon Depot 6500k HID’s and modified front bumper to fit intercooler (removed all lower grills) but otherwise stock

Interior Modifications:

-DC5 JDM Type-R Recaro seats (black w/ red stiching front and rear)
-Type-r Shift boot
-FG2 shift knob
-20% window tint
-Autometer Ultralite Full Sweep Electronic gauges (Oil Pressure & boost)
-Autometer RSX twin gauge pod color matched to interior

Audio/Video Modifications:

-Stock

Featured Car Questions

Q. (NOSR) When & where did you purchase this car?
A. (Brandon) Dec. 24th 2005 at Gilman Acura of Houston

Q. Why did you choose this car as the basis of your project?
A. Yes & no. I bought it with the intention of modding and I went over board. Real reason for purchase was to be a daily driver which the car still is

Q. Was there anything unique about the car before you started modifying it?
A. Nope, bone stock car right off the assembly line

Q. What was the objective of this project?
A. To have a fun daily driver

Q. Any specific technical details you can share?
A. Lol, too many, just feel free to ask any questions about the build. My friend Duy and I did the entire build (or should I say builds) so I know everything there is to know about this car.

Q. What was the most difficult part of the project?
A. Turbo build, I helped design the turbo kit from scratch and worked along with a company out of Arizona to get it into production, also the relocation of everything to squeeze it all into the engine bay was a nightmare.

Q. If you had to do it all over again, is there anything you would change?
A. Yes and no. I enjoy my car but I would never build another high HP front wheel drive street car again.

Q. Have you generated any formal test results with this car (dyno, ¼ mile, etc)?
A. Yes, car with a partial tune with fuel issues made a detuned 400whp & 280ft/lbs of torque. Car also ran a 12.3@113 with 3 missing exhaust studs making a fraction of the boost it should. I really need to make it out to the track and shoot for 11’s

Q. Are you finished? What’s next?
A. Not finished, I have a spare motor that I will be building on the side, going to get a PPG straight cut gear set so I can actually get on the car without blowing transmissions anymore, building a carputer setup, a Mugen lipkit, new exhaust, and a mild audio setup.

Q. What is your favorite thing about this car?
A. There is no favorite thing about it; it’s a culmination of the entire build.

Q. As modified, what makes your car unique?
A. Well, everything about the car is a bit different than most modified RSX’s that I see. I tried to keep it simple and clean. That is why I dumped a ton of money into the drive train but I didn’t do much in the looks department. I enjoy the fact that my car looks stock still.

Q. Are there any individuals or companies involved in the build that you would like to give special thanks to?
A. First off to my friend Duy, who without his help I could have never finished this build. Then I also want to thank Ken at Peakboost for the opportunity to help design the turbo setup and actually get this into production. I wish that I would be getting royalties on the kit though, lol. I guess having the first production kit made will have to do though. I also want to thank Rick at Import DPS for him hooking me up with parts on the cheap, it really helped out.

Q. Anything else you’d like to share?
A. I am glad I did this but I will never do it again, lol