1992 Acura Integra Turbo B18 300WHP Autocross Build

Merle Woods

1992 Acura Integra Turbo B18 300WHP Autocross Build

Instagram: @som_merlewoods

Photographer: Marvin Recinos

Instagram: @mr2mivin

Performance Stats: 300 WHP / 290 lb-ft torque | Turbo B18 (LS) | Built for autocross

"What makes the car unique is it's a time capsule. It honestly brings me back to the early 2000s." – Merle Woods III

The Mechanic, The Father, The Builder

Hello, my name is Merle Woods III, born and raised in sunny San Diego, California. I'm a husband to my wife Sarah and father to three amazing kids—Merle IV, Mariah, and Devin. I've been an auto mechanic for close to 20 years, and at 41 years old, I also run a Christian clothing company called Son of Man. Cars have always been a part of my life, and I'm excited to be back in the chassis that started the tuner bug for me.

Dad's Lowriders and That 1967 Plymouth Fury

As far back as I can remember, my dad was into cars—lowriders and muscle cars were his thing. When I was in high school, he gave me a 1967 Plymouth Fury. Man, I loved that car. I was the only kid in school with a lowrider. I tinkered with it here and there, not really knowing what I was doing, but it was mine, and I cherished it.

The car that really sparked my love for Hondas was a 1991 Jasper Green Integra that my uncle had. It was sitting in his driveway with a burnt clutch and an overheating issue. I kept bugging him until he finally let me have it, and that's where my Honda obsession began.

Around the same time, I started working at an auto parts store, which led me to work on cars on the side. From there, I moved on to a tire shop, and eventually, I became a mechanic at a performance shop called AJ USA, specializing in German cars. But no matter where I worked, my love for Hondas stayed with me.

The Third Time's the Charm: 20 Years Later

The 1990-1993 Integra was the car that got me into the tuner scene. Prior to this one, I owned two of them. The first one was totaled, and the second one was broken into and stripped. That was over 20 years ago.

Throughout the years, I would casually search here and there for another one. There were a few potential candidates, but they were just priced too high for what I was getting. "In the early 2000s, you were able to buy a '92 Integra in good condition anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 USD. People now were selling stock Integras for $6,000 to $9,000 USD."

Last year, I was just casually looking on Facebook Marketplace and stumbled on an ad that was just posted for a Captiva Blue 1992 Acura Integra. This wasn't just some stock Integra—it was a well-built Integra, or at least I thought it was.

"I went to go look at the car and fell in love. It was what I wanted my cars to look like 20 years prior; I just never had the money to get it there. It was a time capsule."

The Original Builder: JDeck's 18-Year Build

Merle went home and did research on the car. He found out that the original builder of the car, JDeck, bought it back in 2003 and kept it until 2021—18 years of ownership and development.

The engine is a built turbo B18 (LS), wire-tucked engine harness, upgraded brakes and suspension, carbon fiber hood, wing, mirrors, and rear hatch visor, Recaro SR2 seats, and an AutoPower roll cage. This car was built for autocross.

First Boosted Car: Learning to Love It

"What makes the car unique is it's a time capsule. It is my first boosted car, and man, it is fun. It honestly brings me back to the early 2000s."

But it wasn't all smooth sailing. "I'm not going to lie, there were times where I felt like getting rid of it. There were issues with wiring and also the motor, but once I was able to dial everything in and completely go over the whole car, I now LOVE it."

1992 Acura Integra Complete Build Specifications

Engine - Turbo B18 (LS)

• B18A1 block bored once over (81.5mm)
• Micro-polished crank
• Forged Eagle connecting rods
• Forged CP pistons (9.0:1 compression)
• Rebuilt stock head
• ARP main bearings and head studs
• 450cc DSM injectors with resistor box
• GT2871R turbo (.48 housing, ceramic coated)
• Go-Autoworks stainless log manifold/downpipe with recirc
• Tial 38mm wastegate
• 2.5" downpipe, 3" turbo-back exhaust
• 255 fuel pump
• HKS Super Power Flow air filter
• Innovative mounts (Grey 85A)
• Polished distributor, polished fuel rail, chromed nuts/Downstar beauty washers
• 300 WHP / 290 lb-ft torque

Tuning

• Hondata S300 with USB cable connection in car
• Tuned by Xenocron

Transmission

• YS1 cable transmission with MFactory LSD
• Innovative shift linkage
• Poly shift bushings

Suspension

• Front: Koni Yellow 16-way adjustable with Ground Control extended top hats, Ground Control adjustable height springs (10K)
• Rear: Koni Yellow 16-way adjustable, Ground Control adjustable height springs (8K)
• Rear 19mm Suspensions Techniques sway bar
• Front and rear lower control arms: OEM with poly bushings
• Cusco front strut bar
• Front and rear upper control arms: Hard Race with hardened bushings
• Replaced wheel bearings, compensator arms, trailing arms bushings, all OEM bolts

Brakes

• Front: Acura Legend 2-pot calipers with 11" rotors and Axxis/PBR Ultimate pads
• Rear: Stock calipers with Brembo blanks and Metal Masters pads
• StopTech front and rear stainless brake lines
• 1" ABS master cylinder
• ABS delete

Wheels and Tires

• Sprint Hart CP-R powder-coated Root Beer Bronze

• Front: 15x7 ET40

• Rear: 15x6.5 ET40

• Falken RT660 tires

Chassis

• AutoPower race roll bar (painted gunmetal with clear + padded)
• Depowered rack, ES bushings
• No AC

Interior

• Sparco steering wheel
• Recaro SR2 Confetti seat
• Boost gauge
• Oil pressure gauge
• Koso digital oil temp
• Koso digital water temp
• "Recaro" Confetti shift boot
• "Recaro" Confetti floor mats
• JDM cluster with carbon overlay
• Full LED (360 LED cool white) dash

Exterior

• JDP carbon fiber front lip
• JDP carbon fiber hatch visor
• JDP carbon fiber Hiro rep spoiler
• Carbon fiber "Spoon" side mirrors
• VIS "Mugen" side skirts
• JDM one-piece headlights
• JDM side markers
• JDM front bumper plugs
• Seibon carbon fiber hood
• Front and rear bash bars

Who Did the Work?

"Majority of the work was done by JDeck (the original owner). Since I've owned it, I have installed the carbon fiber hood, Recaro seat, JDM window visors, JDP hatch visor, replaced the injectors, turbo, re-plumbed the breathing hoses, and upgraded the catch can. Rewired all the aftermarket wiring under the dash and engine bay. Installed new gauges for the turbo and Turbosmart oil pressure regulator."

Future Plans

"My future plans are to upgrade the coilovers to something more modern, possibly Silvers with Swift springs. I would like to get the paint and body touched up."

The Journey Back

For Merle, this Integra represents more than just another build. It's a return to the chassis that started everything—the 1991 Jasper Green Integra from his uncle's driveway, the two that came after (one totaled, one stripped), and 20 years of searching for the right one.

"It was what I wanted my cars to look like 20 years prior; I just never had the money to get it there. It was a time capsule."

Now, at 41, with 20 years of mechanic experience under his belt, a wife who lets him get another Honda, three kids, and a Christian clothing company called Son of Man, Merle has the skills and resources to dial in what JDeck built and make it his own.

"There were times where I felt like getting rid of it. There were issues with wiring and also the motor, but once I was able to dial everything in and completely go over the whole car, I now LOVE it."

Shout Outs

Shoutout to my wife for letting me get another Honda. Also to Marvin (@mr2mivin) for the eye and capturing these photos. Also my cousin James, who drives the Integra to meets and shows for me. Lastly to Team SIK.

Dream Cars

1965 Chevrolet Impala
Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R

Final Thoughts

From the 1967 Plymouth Fury his dad gave him in high school to the 1991 Jasper Green Integra from his uncle's driveway, to owning and losing two more Integras, to finally finding this Captiva Blue 1992 with JDeck's 18-year build already done—Merle Woods III's journey back to the chassis that started it all took 20 years.

"It honestly brings me back to the early 2000s." With 300 WHP from a turbo B18, Koni Yellow adjustable suspension, Recaro SR2 Confetti seats, and Sprint Hart CP-R wheels in Root Beer Bronze, this time capsule autocross build is everything he wanted 20 years ago, finally in his hands with the skills to appreciate and maintain it.

Built for autocross by JDeck, refined and sorted by a 20-year veteran mechanic, and driven to shows by his cousin James—this Integra represents family, persistence, and the long way back to where it all began.

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