A Modified 2002 Acura RSX Type S: A K24-Powered Dream
Explore Rob Blickenstaff’s 2002 Acura RSX Type S with a K24 swap. Learn about the build, performance, and future plans of this N/A powerhouse making 310 whp.
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Rob Blickenstaff
2002 Acura RSX Type S with a K24 swap
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Photographer: Pablo Colon
Instagram: @fireblazinmedia
From NFS Dreams to Reality: The Story Behind Rob’s RSX
My name is Rob Blickenstaff, and my car is a 2002 Acura RSX Type S with a K24 swap. I’m currently 34 years old, living in Lackawanna, NY, with my girlfriend and our two pit bulls. By day, I’m a tire technician at Mavis Discount Tire, but my passion lies in the garage with my RSX—a car that’s been a dream of mine since I was 15 years old.
The Influence of Family and Video Games and Car Magazines
Growing up, my grandfather owned a 1955 Lincoln Continental Mark V and a 1952 Rolls-Royce, both fully restored. Eventually, he traded these classics for a 2001 Lamborghini Diablo and later a 2008 LP640 in orange. Witnessing his love for cars and playing Need for Speed: Underground 2 heavily influenced my tastes. I fell in love with the Acura RSX while playing that game, and over the years, my obsession with this chassis only grew. I spent countless hours watching YouTube videos of different RSX builds, always dreaming of one day having my own.
The Build: A Naturally Aspirated Beast
Power Without Compromise
My RSX makes 310 wheel horsepower, naturally aspirated, tuned on 93 octane. It’s my summer daily driver, and I built it all motor—no boost, no nitrous—to ensure long-term reliability. This car isn’t just for show; it’s practical enough for grocery runs, road trips, and, of course, hitting the race track. My best times so far are a 7.83-second 1/8 mile at 91 mph and a 12.43-second 1/4 mile at 111 mph.
Build List: What’s Under the Hood?
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Engine: JDM K24A with a 4Piston TSX Pro CNC-ported cylinder head, 4Piston-ported oil pump, Drag Cartel 3.2 cams, Drag Cartel intake manifold, K-Tuned 80mm throttle body, DTR big tube K24 header, Ferrea valvetrain, Wiseco 12.5:1 forged pistons, Manley H-Beam forged rods, ACL race bearings.
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Interior: I stripped out all sound deadening material, removed the blower motor and heater core hoses, and ditched the back seats. The interior now features a Kirkey racing seat, quick-release steering wheel, and a K-Tuned V3 billet RSX race-spec shifter. I do keep a reclinable passenger seat handy for when my girlfriend rides with me.
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Exterior: Carbon fiber hood, fenders, trunk, sunroof delete, side mirrors, and intake manifold. The rear windshield and side windows are made of Y&S Lexan material. The car is wrapped in a custom Candy Red by Austin at Buffalo Skins.
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Suspension and Wheels: K-Tuned K1 coilovers, 16-inch Rota Slipstreams wrapped in 215/45 Falken Azeni 660s.
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Brakes and Drag Setup: Stoptech drilled and slotted rotors in the smaller base model RSX spec to accommodate my drag pack, which consists of 24.5-8.0 MT ET Drags on 15x8.0 VMS Modulo wheels.
Who Made It Happen?
The engine and transmission were built by Shane Vaugh. His expertise and craftsmanship have been instrumental in bringing this build to life. It’s not just about assembling parts—it’s about making sure everything works in harmony, and Shane’s attention to detail made that possible.
Future Plans: Always Evolving
Even though I’m incredibly proud of where the RSX is now, I’m not done yet. In the future, I’d like to upgrade the camshafts again, switch to a center-feed throttle-style intake manifold, and retune the car on E85. These upgrades would push the performance even further while maintaining the reliability I’ve built into this car from the start.
Shout Outs: Acknowledging the Support
A build like this isn’t done alone, and I’ve had the support of some incredible brands and people along the way. Shout out to:
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@kseriesparts
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@dragcartel
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@4pistoncylinderheads
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@yslexan
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@dtrheader
Their parts, advice, and support have played a huge role in making this RSX what it is today.
Dream Car: The Ultimate Goal
For many enthusiasts, the dream car is always just out of reach, but for me, this RSX Type S is it. Sure, a black-on-black R35 GT-R would be a dream come true, but what I’ve built with this RSX is everything I’ve ever wanted in a car. It’s fast, it’s reliable, and it’s a testament to years of hard work, passion, and dedication.
Please leave your comments on my story in the comments section at the bottom of the page, it helps the story get more views and reach the Printed Car Magazine, Thank you.
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UKTM no: UK00003572459
