1996 Acura Integra GS-R Coupe Specs 1996 Acura Integra GS-R Sedan Specs
Enthusiasts stick together; our obsession with cars often forms a pseudo-community with its own lingo and style. Witness the countless car clubs and race crews across the country and you'll see that we socialize with mostly other enthusiasts, and together share the dream of building the ultimate ride - whether it's designed to take the checkered flag at a road race or the polished brass trophy on the show scene.
In the case of the crew Team Ground Assault, this camaraderie has been taken to an even higher level, with a symbiosis comprised of two determined minds bent on mutual success. These Integras are the result of two enthusiasts working together as a very uniquely conceived team to create two of the most impressive and well-rounded Integras to be found.
Frankie Johnson and Manuel Agosto met in March of 1997, and soon a rivalry developed - they both wanted to have the best Integra around. The rivalry soon lost its edge, however, and they began working on their cars together. Shortly thereafter, the team decided to make their merger official and christened themselves "Team Ground Assault." Both came from unique backgrounds. Agosto was an enthusiast from the age of 10, working on cars with his father and building several of his own project cars as he came of driving age. Johnson's background was unique as well. She was an import enthusiast on the East Coast at a time when the import scene didn't exist in the region. The pairing of Agosto and Johnson seemed like a perfect match.
The forming of Team Ground Assault was initially fraught with hardship. Between managing a small auto repair shop, experiencing numerous mechanical complications, and going through more than a few on-the-road mishaps, merely getting their cars ready for the show and race circuits was truly an tough endeavor. Not-so-inconsequential setbacks such as wiring harness fires, a couple of fender benders and even an accidental "deer in the road" incident that totaled Agosto's car (they bought it back from the insurance company) made for a few difficulties along the way. Fortunately, their perseverance paid off with the completion of two technology-packed Integra GS-Rs. Particularly impressive about this pair of Integras is that they are both daily drivers, and both Johnson and Agosto performed almost all of he work themselves - a daunting task, despite the fact they both work full-time at Autothority Inc. in Fairfax, Virginia.
Both Johnson's and Agosto's 1996 Integras sport highly reworked B18C VTEC mills. Agosto's white-and-red four-door and Johnson's black-and-white three-door also feature Jackson Racing pulley upgrade kits for higher boost, and sport Jackson Racing's liquid intercooling system to cool the hot intake air created by the extra boost. They also feature Nitrous Express Piranha EFI Direct Port nitrous systems, with Nitrous Express' fuel and nitrous rail upgrades, purge valve kit, pressure gauge, and automatic bottle heater.
The internals of Agosto's engine remain mostly stock, with the exception of a Moroso aluminum drag oil pan and oil sump pickup. Johnson's car features a completely re-worked block, with new ductile iron sleeves, micro-polished and balanced crankshaft, 10.0:1 compression JE pistons and rings, and Crower billet connecting rods to handle the increased power. Her Integra's ported and polished cylinder head is heavily breathed upon as well, with a five-angle valve job, stainless-steel valves, 14,000 rpm valve springs and titanium retainers, as well as ARP head studs and bolts. Her car also features a port-matched supercharger plenum to maximize airflow from the blower to the intake ports. Both cars feature STR's red anodized adjustable cam gears and cam seals as well.
Both cars' additional fuel delivery requirements are handled via Jackson Racing's high-flow fuel pump, STR fast flow fuel rail (red anodized on Agosto's car, and polished on Johnson's car), and Jackson Racing's boost sensitive fuel pressure regulator. Johnson's car also features RC Engineering's saturated 316 cc injectors.
The two cars are also endowed with upgraded ignition systems, with Crane's HI-6DSR ignition and Crane PS-92 external race coil providing a much hotter spark, while Crane 11mm red-sleeved plug wires and Zex Hyperformance plugs get that spark into the combustion chamber.
Both cars utilize AEM's cold-air intake system to help bring cooler intake air to their cars' superchargers, and Kamikaze 4-1 ceramic headers, high-flow catalytic converters and a Borla exhaust system to effortlessly dispense with spent exhaust gases.
Transferring all of this newfound power to the wheels are relatively stock transmissions on both cars. The cars' gearboxes are augmented with a B&M Edge short shifter; Prothane shifter stabilizer bushing kit for greater precision; Clutchmaster Stage 4 four-puck racing clutch; and, most crucially, a Quaife limited-slip differential for greatly increased traction, both on the street and at the drag strip.
Agosto and Johnson opted for serious suspension upgrades on the cars, both to sharpen handling and to effectively harness power. The cars feature identical suspension set-ups, with B&G adjustable coil-overs providing infinite height adjustability and fine-tuning. Suspension Techniques' sway bars and Prothane's polyurethane bushings remove any imprecision in the stock suspension. Both cars' unibodies are reinforced with Tenzo-R front and rear strut tie bars and lower arm bars. Like their fuel rails, Agosto's reinforcing tie bars are anodized red, while Johnson's feature a gleaming polished sheen. For the drag strip, both swap out the rear street set-tip for Ground Control 1,000 lb rear drag springs and Tokico Illumina five-way adjustable shocks.
Stopping is as crucial as going and accordingly, both cars have upgraded brakes. Agosto's car stops quickly with its PowerSlot slotted front and rear discs, Axxis Metalmaster semi-metallic pads, and Goodridge stainless-steel brake lines. Johnson's car has a similar set-up, but utilizes EBC Green Stuff Kevlar brake pads in the front.
For street and show use, the two roll on sharp-looking, seven-spoke 18x7.5-inch Axis Se7ens, wrapped in P215/35ZR18 Toyo Proxes FZ4 performance tires. At the track, the front wheel and tire package is replace with 15x6.5-inch Lenso VPD lightweight alloys shod with P205/50ZR15 drag radials, or 15x7-inch Konig Burners with Mickey Thompson drag slicks.
Because these are award-winning show cars in addition to being formidable performance machines, the cars received numerous eye-catching exterior and interior enhancements. The pair emphasizes clean and uncluttered lines, forgoing the wild scoops, vents and flares that adorn many show cars. Their lean look communicates real performance, with relatively little gimmickry. The cars' clean exterior treatments are accomplished with shaved door handles, side moldings, trunk lock and front license plate mounting holes. Wings West's understated Racing Series body kit adorns both cars, visually lowering them to the ground. Perhaps most significant are the graphics - Johnson designed the striking, yet tasteful matching scheme herself, and the different colors on the two cars (black and white on Johnson's car, white and red on Agosto's) provide distinction from each other, while at the same time identifying the two as an inseparable pair. Their interiors get attention as well. Red digital Cyberdyne gauges replace the factory analog units, and numerous matching auxiliary gauges line the A-pillar and center console. MOMO T-Frame anatomic racing seats and MOMO Tornado steering wheels are color coordinated to their respective cars' exterior color schemes and are without rear seats.
Daytona Dash's carbon-fiber trim graces the dash of Agosto's car, while Johnson's interior contains equally eye-catching metal trim, also from Daytona Dash. For safety reasons, both cars feature RPM Motorsports five-point roll cages. Unfortunately, both cars also have weight issues to contend if they want to transfer all this performance to the track.
While the complete audiophile-quality amplifiers and subwoofers are impressive on the show scene, both Frankie and Manual tell us they are working on trimming down their rides to get equally impressive results on the quarter-mile track.
We're sure that together, these two will find the solution to doing just that.
1996 ACURA INTEGRA GS-R COUPE
CHASSIS
Code: DC2
ENGINE
Type: In-line four, supercharged and intercooled, aluminum block and head
Internal Mods: 81mm 10.0:1 JE pistons, JE piston rings, Crower billet connecting rods, micro-polished and balanced stock crankshaft, 14,000 rom valve springs, titanium valve spring retainers, ARP head struts and bolts, STR adjustable cam gears
External Mods: Jackson Racing supercharger with 3.4 pulley upgrade and liquid intercooler system, Nitrous Express Piranha EFI Direct Port nitrous system, AEM Cold Air Intake, Kamikaze 4-1 ceramic header, high flow catalytic converter, Borla 2.5-inch exhaust system
Engine Management Mods: Crane HI-6DSR ignition system, Crane PS-92 external race coil, Crane 11mm spark plug wires, Zex Hyperformance spark plugs, Jackson Racing boost sensitive fuel pressure regulator, STR Fast Flow fuel rail, Jackson Racing high flow fuel pump, RC Engineering 310cc injectors
DRIVETRAIN
Drivetrain Mods: Clutchmaster Stage 4 racing clutch, Prothane shifter bushings kit, Quaife limited slip differential, B&M Edge short shifter
SUSPENSION
Front: B&G adjustable coil-overs, Suspension Technologies sway bar (26mm), Prothane bushing kit
Rear: B&G adjustable coil-overs(street use), Ground Control drag springs and Tokico five-way adjustable shocks (track use), Suspension Technologies sway bar (20mm), Prothane bushing kit
BRAKES
Front: PowerSlot Platinum Series slotted rotors, EBC Green Stuff kevlar pads, Goodridge steel braided brake lines
Rear: PowerSlot Platinum Series slotted rotors, Axxis Metalmaster pads, Goodridge steel braided brake lines
EXTERNAL
Wheels: Axis Se7en 18x7.5 inch (street), Lenso VPD 15x6.5 inch or Konig Burner 15x7 inch (track)
Tires: P215/35ZR18 Toyo FZ4 (Street), P205/50ZR15 Toyo RA-1 drag radials or 22x8.0-15 Mickey Thompson drag slicks (track)
Body: Wings West Racing Series body kit, Wings West Commando rear wing, shaved door handles, side moldings, antenna, rear trunk lock, front license plate mounting holes
1996 ACURA INTEGRA GS-R Sedan
CHASSIS
Code: DC8
ENGINE
Type: In-line four, supercharged and intercooled, aluminum block and head
Internal Mods: STR adjustable cam gears, Moroso aluminum drag oil pan and oil pump pickup
External Mods: Jackson Racing supercharger with 4.0 pulley upgrade and liquid intercooler system, Nitrous Express Piranha EFI Direct Port nitrous system, AEM Cold Air Intake, Kamikaze 4-1 ceramic header, high flow catalytic converter, Borla 2.5-inch exhaust system
Engine Management Mods: Crane HI-6DSR ignition system, Crane PS-92 external race coil, Crane 11mm spark plug wires, Zex Hyperformance spark plugs, Jackson Racing boost sensitive fuel pressure regulator, STR Fast Flow fuel rail, Jackson Racing high flow fuel pump
DRIVETRAIN
Drivetrain Mods: Clutchmaster Stage 4 racing clutch, Prothane shifter bushings kit, Quaife limited slip differential, B&M Edge short shifter
SUSPENSION
Front: B&G adjustable coil-overs, Suspension Technologies sway bar (26mm), Prothane bushing kit
Rear: B&G adjustable coil-overs (street use), Ground Control drag springs and Tokico five-way adjustable shocks (track use), Suspension Technologies sway bar (20mm), Prothane bushing kit
BRAKES
Front: PowerSlot Platinum Series slotted rotors, Axxis Metalmaster pads, Goodridge steel braided brake lines
Rear: PowerSlot Platinum Series slotted rotors, Axxis Metalmaster pads, Goodridge steel braided brake lines
EXTERNAL
Wheels: Axis Se7en 18x7.5 inch (street), Lenso VPD 15x6.5 inch or Konig Burner 15x7 inch (track)
Tires: P215/35ZR18 Toyo FZ4 (Street), P205/50ZR15 Toyo RA-1 drag radials or 22x8.0-15 Mickey Thompson drag slicks (track)
Body: Wings West Racing Series body kit, Wings West Touring-Style rear wing, shaved door handles, side moldings, antenna, rear trunk lock, front license plate mounting holes
