2007 Honda S2000 Build: JDM Parts and YouTube Documentation

Owner: Justin Chong
Vehicle: 2007 Honda S2000
Instagram: @jus_tyn

Photographer: Rico Z
Instagram: @ricoz_lens

YouTube Channel: The J Media

Performance Stats: 250 HP

"The S2000 is such a great driver's car even in stock form and I wanted to enhance the driving experience and make it my own." – Justin Chong

From Singapore to Austin Car Culture

Justin Chong grew up on the sunny island of Singapore but moved to Austin, Texas back in 2013. That move changed everything for him.

When he first arrived in Austin he had no friends and knew no one. So he did what any car enthusiast would do—he googled "Austin car meets" and the first result was Cars and Coffee.

He went to his first meet, met some great people, and they invited him to more events. From there he made genuine friends all sharing the same car hobby. Now cars are a huge part of his life. He visits car meets religiously every week and documents them on his YouTube channel, The J Media.

Through his car builds and YouTube presence Justin was able to make even more friends with the same automotive passion. That's the power of the car scene—it creates real community and real connections.

A 4-Year Journey to Find the Perfect 2007 Honda S2000 Build

Justin has always wanted to build an S2000. His first car was an EK Civic and he's always loved Hondas. In his opinion the epitome of Honda engineering was the NSX and S2000. He knew he had to get his hands on one someday.

So he spec'd out his "perfect" 2007 Honda S2000 build from every angle—color, condition, budget, everything. He wanted a car that was stock or close to stock. Not more than 2-3 previous owners so he could start on a clean slate.

Here's where patience comes in: it took him 4 years of researching S2000s.

Once he was finally ready to pull the trigger and buy one he spent another 6 months looking around the country for exactly the right example (https://www.honda.com/s2000).

That's not rushing. That's the opposite of rushing. That's finding the exact car you want instead of settling for what's available.

Sourcing Rare JDM Parts from Around the World

What makes Justin's 2007 Honda S2000 build truly unique is something most builders don't have patience for: sourcing all the authentic, high-quality, discontinued JDM parts from all over the world.

He's not buying new reproduction parts or cheap knock-offs. He's hunting down original OEM JDM components that are genuinely hard to find. Brands like Spoon Sports, Mugen, ARC, ASM, and HKS—these are the real deal.

Some of these parts he began sourcing as early as 2 years before he even bought the car. That's commitment. That's vision. That's understanding that a proper 2007 Honda S2000 build takes time, research, and dedication.

His philosophy? Draw inspiration from how the Japanese build their cars. Clean. Functional. Quality parts. Not over the top. Just right.

With his previous widebody turbo Mitsubishi Lancer build—the one that was featured in Stance Auto Magazine as the cover car for November 2024—Justin learned what works and what doesn't. The Lancer was more extreme. This 2007 Honda S2000 build is refined.

DIY Philosophy: Built at Home and Documented on YouTube

Almost everything on this 2007 Honda S2000 build was done at home in Justin's garage. The exception is paint work, which he entrusted to Long's Automotive in Texas.

Everything else? He did it. The wheel install. The big brakes. The seats. The suspension. All documented on his YouTube channel The J Media for the community to learn from.

That's a level of transparency and education that's rare. Most builders either hide their process or keep it private. Justin documents it so other enthusiasts can see exactly how it's done.

Big shout out to Roy at Long's Automotive for helping to paint the car and fixing the Voltex front bumper after Justin broke it during a track day. That's real—pushing the car hard on track means you're gonna need repairs sometimes.

The Engine & Drivetrain: Clean and Simple

Under the hood the 2007 Honda S2000 build keeps things simple and functional. No crazy engine swaps or excessive modifications. The focus is on quality parts that enhance the driving experience.

Key drivetrain components:

• HKS Hi-Power dual exhaust (proper sound and flow)
• Science of Speed 325 clutch kit (upgraded holding capacity)
• Denso starter (reliable OEM-quality replacement)

The philosophy here matches the rest of the build: quality over quantity. The clutch upgrade allows for harder driving on track without slipping. The exhaust improves both sound and breathing. Nothing's there just to look cool.

Suspension: HKS Hipermax for Street and Track Balance

For a 2007 Honda S2000 build that needs to work both on track and at car shows suspension matters massively.

Justin went with HKS Hipermax coilovers—a proven choice for S2000s that provides adjustability for different situations. Drop it low for shows. Dial in track-focused geometry for grip. Adjust for comfort when cruising to meets.

The tire choice reflects that balance too: Falken Azenis RT615K+ in 255/40/17 sizing. These are legitimate performance tires that handle both street and track use without being full slicks.

Brakes: Spoon Sports Big Brake Upgrade

The braking system is where things get serious on this 2007 Honda S2000 build.

Spoon Sports monobloc big brakes up front provide serious stopping power. Paired with Stoptech slotted rotors and Stoptech brake pads the setup is ready for track duty. Stainless steel brake lines prevent fade and improve modulation.

You don't upgrade brakes for looks. You upgrade them because you're gonna be hard on the car. Justin upgraded brakes because he takes this 2007 Honda S2000 build to track days and pushes it.

Wheels & Exterior: Spoon Sports Everything

The wheels are Spoon Sports 17x9.5 at +60 offset—aggressive fitment that fills the fenders properly. The Spoon wheels are the centerpiece. They're not just functional, they're a statement of what this build is about: authentic JDM quality.

Exterior aero includes:

• Voltex Racing street bumper with carbon fiber lip (front fascia redesign)
• Voltex Racing carbon fiber canards (manages front airflow)
• JDP carbon fiber rear diffuser (functional aero)
• Voltex Type 2 carbon fiber wing (track-focused rear aero)
• Carbon fiber duckbill (subtle rear styling)

The carbon fiber parts aren't just visual. They reduce weight and manage airflow. The Voltex bumper and wing are proven on S2000s at high speed. Everything serves the goal of making this 2007 Honda S2000 build faster and more capable.

Interior: Racing Seats and Driver-Focused Setup

Inside the 2007 Honda S2000 build keeps things driver-focused.

Recaro SR4 Wildcat seats replace the factory buckets. These are proper racing seats with serious bolstering for track use. Works Bell quick release hub paired with an ASM Momo steering wheel makes for a proper racing setup. NRI quick release from Works Bell means quick steering wheel removal for competition.

The interior doesn't look overdone. It's clean. It's purposeful. It's built for driving.

Engine Bay: JDM Parts and Attention to Detail

The engine bay is where you really see Justin's dedication to sourcing quality JDM parts.

ARC intake box, radiator cover, fuse box cover, name plate spark plug cover. These are specific items that most builders skip over because they're not glamorous. But they show the level of commitment to authenticity and detail.

ASM titanium x-brace front strut bar, Mugen oil cap, Mugen radiator cap, Chasing J's titanium fuel rail cover, Chasing J's titanium radiator brackets, Chasing J's titanium battery bracket—these are the kinds of parts that separate a properly built Japanese car from everything else.

The Koyorad aluminum radiator and Mishimoto radiator fans provide cooling capacity for track use. The cooling system can't be an afterthought when you're pushing an S2000 hard.

Complete Build Specifications

2007 Honda S2000 Build - Engine & Drivetrain

• Stock F20C engine base
• HKS Hi-Power dual exhaust
• Science of Speed 325 clutch kit
• Denso starter
• ARC intake box
• Denso AC condenser
• Optima Yellow Top battery
• Koyorad aluminum radiator
• Mishimoto radiator fans

Engine Bay Details

• ASM titanium x-brace front strut bar
• Mugen oil cap
• Mugen radiator cap
• Chasing J's titanium fuel rail cover
• Chasing J's titanium radiator brackets
• Chasing J's titanium battery bracket
• ARC radiator cover
• ARC fuse box cover
• ARC name plate spark plug cover
• ARC shift pattern plate

Suspension & Wheels

• HKS Hipermax coilovers
• Spoon Sports wheels (17x9.5, +60 offset)
• Spoon Sports center caps
• Falken Azenis RT615K+ tires (255/40/17)
• Project Kics R26 lug nuts

Brakes

• Spoon Sports monobloc big brakes
• Stoptech slotted rotors
• Stoptech brake pads
• Stainless steel brake lines

Exterior

• Voltex Racing street bumper (carbon fiber lip)
• Voltex Racing carbon fiber canards
• Voltex Type 2 carbon fiber wing
• JDP carbon fiber rear diffuser
• Carbon fiber duckbill
• OEM black Honda emblem
• Ap3Lab LED sequential tail lights
• Carbon fiber custom license plate

Interior

• Recaro SR4 Wildcat seats
• ASM Momo steering wheel
• Works Bell short hub
• NRI x Works Bell quick release
• Mugen shift knob
• Renegade Motorsports brass shifter bushing
• Chasing J's x Greddy titanium steering wheel bolts
• OEM red S2000 floor mats
• Mugen license plate bolts
• Chortau dashcam and backup camera
• Modifry phone holder

Track Days and Car Shows: Balanced Driving

Justin wanted a 2007 Honda S2000 build that could handle both. A car that works on track but also looks good at shows.

He's accomplished exactly that. He's able to do track days and win awards at car shows with the same car. That's not easy. Most show cars are too fragile to track. Most track cars are too raw to show.

Justin's approach? Build it right the first time so it can do both.

He also takes it to car meets almost every week and loves connecting with other enthusiasts. That's what the scene is really about—the connections, the community, the shared passion.

Future Plans: Keep Driving It

Unlike his previous Mitsubishi Lancer build which was an over-the-top show car he was sometimes afraid to drive, Justin wants to enjoy this 2007 Honda S2000 build exactly as it was intended—as a true driver's car.

He plans to continue bringing it to more car meets, car shows, and track days. More track time. More seat time. More actually driving the car instead of just showing it off.

That's a healthy perspective. The S2000 is one of the greatest driver's cars ever made. Keeping it drivable and actually using it honors what Honda created.

Dream Cars

While the 2007 Honda S2000 build already represents serious automotive passion, Justin's dream cars are legendary:

• NA1 Acura NSX (the original supercar that proved Japanese could play at the highest level)
• Lexus LFA (one of the last naturally aspirated supercars ever made)
• R34 Nissan GT-R (the Fast and Furious legend)

Makes sense. They're all pinnacle Japanese performance machines. They all represent different eras of what's possible when Japanese manufacturers go all-in on performance.

Shoutouts

• @ricoz_lens for the photography
• @longsautotx for painting the car
• @rararoy for fixing and repainting the Voltex bumper after the track day incident

Final Thoughts: Documentation and Community

What makes Justin's approach unique isn't just the 2007 Honda S2000 build itself. It's that he documents everything on YouTube. He shares the process. He shows what's possible when you take time, source quality parts, and do the work yourself.

The S2000 was already a legend. Justin took that legend and made it his own. With rare JDM parts. With YouTube documentation. With actual track time.

That's not just building a car. That's contributing to car culture. That's showing the next generation how it's done. 

Follow the Build:

• Instagram: @jus_tyn
• YouTube: The J Media
• Photography: @ricoz_lens