Honda Prelude K24A Swap Build
This Prelude is far more than a simple build—it is a deeply personal project driven by curiosity, nostalgia, and a lifelong love for learning through hands-on engineering.
As my first car, the Prelude has always held a profound significance that goes beyond just a chassis. There is a surprisingly powerful emotional connection between a first car and its owner. Throughout my ownership, it wasn’t just a machine; it was an enabler of countless life experiences. It was there for that first date, the first exhilarating drive, the nervous thrill of the first race, and the bittersweet heartbreak of letting it go.
I left the car scene early to pursue my business, stepping away from the garage to build a future. Now, in my 40s, rebuilding this Prelude is a way of giving back to my 20-year-old self. Which means turning this thing into an absolute money pit, because sometimes being too sensible isn’t fun. It is also a chance to reclaim a passion I sacrificed to pursue the long game. Rebuilding it in this form is a way to reconnect with that initial spark, creating the exact version of the car I envisioned when I first fell in love with it. I feel deeply privileged to be able to do this, and I sincerely hope it can serve as a source of inspiration for others who have delayed gratification to build a foundation for their lives.
This build also became something more than a mechanical endeavor—it became a bridge connecting the past and present through shared experiences. Working on the car brought back the same enthusiasm, conversations, and late-night problem-solving that made Hondas so meaningful to me in the first place.
A lot of the direction behind the car came from the people and builds that left a lasting impression on me. StudioVRM.racing had a major influence on the chassis and suspension setup, shaping the way I wanted this car to ride, respond, and feel. The exterior styling was inspired by The Big Mike’s SEMA-winning Prelude, capturing exactly the timeless, aggressive, and refined look I wanted for this build.
But the true heart of this project comes from friendship and shared passion. The engine was put together by one of my closest long-time friends, a true Honda enthusiast who first introduced me to the purity and appeal of the chassis during the early 2000s. He has been the builder, the technical mind, and one of the main reasons this project exists today.
Build Philosophy
The intention behind this car has always been clear: a streetable car with a strong bias toward track capability. It is not a weekend racer that simply tolerates the road, nor is it a modified street car that only visits the track occasionally. The goal is a machine that is genuinely capable at the circuit while remaining composed, reliable, and entirely usable every day. Because of this, we chose to retain creature comforts like power steering and air conditioning—even though they required full repair when I acquired the chassis.
That careful balance shapes every decision in the build. Power without handling is useless on a circuit, and handling without the power to exploit it leaves performance on the table. The emphasis throughout has been on developing both ends of the car simultaneously. The chassis, suspension, drivetrain, and brakes have been treated as a single integrated system rather than a collection of independent upgrades.
On the power side, the K24 platform was chosen for its broad torque curve, its capacity for high-revving naturally aspirated output, and its proven reliability on E85. On the chassis side, the spring rates, motion ratios, alignment geometry, rear anti-roll bar, and upgraded brake package were all selected in harmony. The result is a Prelude built around the philosophy that genuine track capability comes from the entire package working together, rather than relying on any single component pushed beyond its limits.
Vehicle Specifications
Build at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Chassis | 1995 Honda Prelude BA8, fourth generation AUDM |
| Engine | K24A3-based naturally aspirated build, tuned on E85 |
| Transmission | DC5R six-speed manual |
| Differential | MFactory 1.5-way limited slip differential |
| Suspension | BC Racing custom coilovers, upgraded arms, rear sway bar, chassis bracing |
| Brakes | BB6 VTi-R five-stud conversion, Spoon Monocoque calipers, DBA 476S rotors |
| Wheels and tyres | 17 x 8 wheels with Yokohama Advan Apex V601 225/45R17 tyres |
| Power goal | Strong naturally aspirated street and track package |
| Current result | 177 kilowatts at the wheels on E85 |
View Detailed Specifications
Engine and driveline
- K24A3 block
- RBB3 cylinder head
- Drag Cartel 2.2 camshafts
- Supertech valve springs
- Supertech titanium retainers
- Honda K20A 50 degree variable timing cam gear
- PRB oil pump
- High compression pistons
- SCAT rods
- ARP head studs
- Balance shafts deleted
- Honda RRC intake manifold, ported
- Tegiwa 70 millimetre throttle body
- Skunk2 Alpha headers
- Custom stainless steel 3 inch exhaust
- Redback 100-cell high-flow catalytic converter
- DeatschWerks 550 cubic centimetres per minute injectors
- Quantum HFP-341 255 litre per hour fuel pump
- Hondata K-Pro Version 2
- Tuned for E85
- DC5R transmission
- MFactory 1.5-way limited slip differential
- Lightened flywheel
- Exedy sports organic clutch
Chassis and suspension
- BC Racing custom coilovers
- Innovative Mounts traction bar kit
- Ultra Racing 23 millimetre solid rear sway bar
- Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings
- Front and rear strut bracing
- Front and rear lower bracing
- Fender braces
- Hardrace front upper camber kit
- Hardrace rear upper camber kit
- Hardrace rear lower toe arms
- Hasport BBK1 K-series mount kit with U70A race bushings
- Spoon rigid collars front and rear subframes
Brakes, wheels, and body
- BB6 VTi-R five-stud hub conversion
- Spoon Monocoque calipers
- DBA 476S rotors
- 5 millimetre rear spacers
- Yokohama Advan Apex V601 225/45R17 tyres
Interior and electrical
- Recaro SR7 seats
- ACUITY Hall Effect throttle position sensor
- K20A2 engine loom from DC5R
- 12 volt 12 amp-hour lithium battery