1998 Honda Integra Type R

Honda’s shiny doors

Chris has been busy polishing the paintwork on the doors of the 1998 Honda Integra Type R, while it’s sitting in the workshop having other

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Ongoing Honda prep!

Lydia has been continuing her prep work on the 1998 white Honda Integra Type R. She unclipped one of the rubber seals on the underneath

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Finished – The 1998 Honda Integra Type R is Ready to Go Home

With all of the work completed on the 1998 Honda Integra Type R, it’s time for the wonderful 1990s JDM sports car to head home.

The team at Bridge Classic Cars have revitalised the car for its owner, with several mechanical jobs and some in-depth paintwork done on the car we had to get some final photos with the car.

To take a look at the entire project from the very start, click here.

Front End – New Calipers, Polished Indicators and Sorting Out the ABS on the 1998 Honda Integra Type R

The Bridge Classic Cars are working on the front end of the 1998 Honda Integra Type R.

The team have fitted the newly repainted front brake calipers onto the knuckles of the iconic DC2 Integra. From there, the team began to bleed the brake system. But, there was a small issue.

While looking into the problem, the team also removed the indicators from the front bumper to have them polished. They have come as good as new and been reinstalled back into the bumper.

The issue with bleeding the brakes was traced back to the ABS pump. It is believed the system inhale air and caused an air pocket which wasn’t allowing the system to be completely bled.

So, Jon carefully and gently released the ABS lines from the pump in order to ”burp” the system and release the air pocket. With this now done, the team can top up the system with the specific brake fluid for the Integra and bleed the entire system completely.

Colour Correct – Painting the New Front Callipers on the 1998 Honda Integra Type R

The paint shop at Bridge Classic Cars have got some new parts in the in-house paint booth.

Our paint technician, Mauro, has cleaned down and repainted the front brake callipers on the 1998 Honda Integra Type R. The team have sprayed them in the colour coded hard-wearing red to match the other callipers on the car as a finishing touch.

Good as New – Painting the Wheels of 1998 Honda Integra Type R

The wheels for the 1998 Honda Integra Type R that has been here at Bridge Classic Cars to be restored are done in the paint shop!

Chris has been hard at work getting the correct colour and finish on the classic wheels to exactly match the white they needed to be. The wheels themselves have been refurbished so the colour was the final step of the process.

Through Chris’s hard work and dedication, the wheels have come out absolutely fantastic and will match the finish and standard of the rest of the car.

Stay tuned for more on the Integra here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.

Coming Back Around – Work Continues on the 1998 Honda Integra Type R

Tamas and Paul have been hard at work putting the 1998 Honda Integra Type R back together after its recent bodywork here at Bridge Classic Cars.

The car is being put together in our workshop piece by piece to factory specification as part of its aesthetic overhaul. This wonderful example of 1990s Japanese engineering has been with us for some time and has grown in the hearts of many who have worked on it.

During it’s final assembly, every component and system will be thoroughly checked over to ensure everything on this DC2 Integra works exactly as it should.

To the Same Standard – 1998 Honda Integra Type R Wheels Off for Refurb

With all the hard work put into the 1998 Honda Integra Type R by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration teams, we had to make sure every element of the car was in the best possible condition.

The wheels are no exception. The wheels are finished in matching Championship White but have seen better days. Thankfully, they can be refurbished. With care and attention, the wheels will be back soon and looking as good if not better than when the DC2 rolled out of the showroom back in 1998.

Back Together – Refitting the Engine and Gearbox to the 1998 Honda Integra Type R

Tamas and Paul, our in-house restoration technicians have been busy refitting the wiring harness, accessories, engine and gearbox back into the 1998 Honda Integra Type R that is in at Bridge Classic Cars.

Using reference photos and the catalogued parts from the dismantling of the car, the whole engine bay now looks as good as new.

Next stages for the Integra will be to get the vehicle back together before final check overs. Expect to see more here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.

Coming Back Together – Refitting the Engine Bay of the 1998 Honda Integra Type R

The freshly painted 1998 Honda Integra Type R is out of the paint booth after its sympathetic respray here at Bridge Classic Cars. Now it’s time for our in-house restoration technicians to begin putting everything back together.

As you may have seen previously, the engine bay on the Integra Type R has been cleaned up and resprayed in its factory Championship White. Now the paint has cured it’s time to refit all the systems under the bonnet. Tom and Paul have been working on getting all the pipework and components back to their original locations while also taking extreme care as to not undo any of the hard work done by our in-house painters.

Soon, it will be time drop the engine back in…

Protecting Hard Work – Applying the Guard Liner to the 1998 Honda Integra Type R

After working so hard on the finish of the 1998 Honda Integra Type R, it is important to protect what has been done here at Bridge Classic Cars.

Chris, our in-house paint expert, has been applying arch liner protection to the wheel arches of the Integra DC2. Chris has put many hours into ensuring that the finish on the paintwork we have done to the DC2 Integra is world-class. The front wings, as well as the engine bay, have been worked on for rust repair and paint so a few coats of arch liner will help to protect not just the paint but the metal work underneath.

This was also done by the factory when the car was new so it makes sense to redo the coating to make sure this Integra lasts for many years to come.

Back in the Booth – Painting the Quarter Panels and Roof on a 1998 Honda Integra Type R

Bridge Classic Cars have been working on a bit of a modern classic recently. This 1998 Honda Integra Type R has previously had a list of metal work done to it by our in-house body shop along with a full engine bay clean up and resprayed in its factory Championship White.

Now though, it is time for the back and the top of the car to receive the same treatment. The rear quarter panels needed some attention from the Bodyshop so to make sure it all looked as good if not better than the day it arrived on the showroom floor 23 years ago.

Our in-house paint expert Chris carefully prepared each panel to make sure the best results were achieved for our customer. The results are absolutely sensational.

Fresh & Clean – The Painted Engine Bay of the 1998 Honda Integra Type R

This is probably the nicest 1998 Honda Integra Type R you will see. After having all its metalwork done, it was turned over to our amazing and talented in-house paint team to work their skills on.

This Integra Type R had the engine bay prepped for painting the last time you saw it on an update. Now, thanks to our in-house master painter Chris, it is back out of the booth and looks absolutely stunning finished in its original Championship White under the late summer sun.

Next up for the Integra is to begin putting this undervalued future classic back together! Look out for more updates on the News Page.

All in the Prep – Preparing the 1998 Honda Integra Type R for Paint

Honda Type R’s always look fantastic when finished in Championship White. Clean, crisp and purposeful.

That is what the outcome will be on the 1998 Honda Integra Type R that we are currently working at Bridge Classic Cars will be by the end of the process.

Our talented and experienced painter Chris has been working hard on getting the Integra prepped to have some paintwork retouch. As you saw in the last post, the engine bay had grown tired. It was time for a refresh on this future classic.

Chris, our in-house painter, began by stripping back the affected parts of the engine bay and core support along with a section of the rear quarter panel. This will of course be finished in that bold Championship White to match the rest of the car and to keep it to its original shade of white.

Keep a look out for future updates on the Integra Type R at Bridge Classic Cars by watching the News page.

A New Perspective – 1998 Honda Integra Type R

Those following along with the progress of the 1998 Honda Integra Type R that we are currently working on at Bridge Classic Cars will know of the extensive fabrication work undertaken by our in-house technicians and fabricators.

This time we are cleaning up the engine bay before the car goes into our in-house paint team. This DC2 has had many hours put into its sympathetic restoration of key areas but each has been thorough and needed. Cleaning up the engine bay is an important part of the Type R’s journey with us here at Bridge Classic Cars.

As with many restorations, what begins as one issue soon exposes other areas that do require the attention of our skilled in-house technicians.

The surface rust in the Integra’s engine bay was a prime candidate to be worked on. All of this in preparation for its glorious 4 cylinder VTEC screamer to be carefully lowered back into its home once the bay has been cleaned and refreshed.

Once this is complete, our technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars in Suffolk will carry on through their inspection. After all, the DC2 Integra Type R is what many believe to be the greatest front-wheel-drive coupe ever made.

Honda’s shiny doors

Chris has been busy polishing the paintwork on the doors of the 1998 Honda Integra Type R, while it’s sitting in the workshop having other work done to it.

Honda now in the workshop!

After last being seen in the painting bay, the 1998 Honda Integra Type R is now in the workshop!

Paul is now taking care of it and has taken everything out of the engine bay.

He’s also repaired and welded the chassis section where the captive nuts cover is.

As you can see, the radiator and air conditioning condenser are in desperate need of repair so these will be overhauled prior to being refitted.

Painting continues on the Honda.

The 1998 Honda Integra went into the paint bay at the end of last week. The body shell and bonnet have been primed and the doors and boot panel have been coated in the final coat of new white paint.

Honda starting to look fresh…

The painting has started on the 1998 Honda Integra Type R. Now that all the different panels have been prepped with sanding, filler, priming and more sanding, they’re filtering through into the paint booth. They’re having a fresh new coat of white to revive the car to its former glory.

Top Gear: Six things you never knew about the Honda Integra Type R

Fantastic article from Top Gear on the Integra Type R…

We think of it as a quintessential Nineties legend, like Mr Motivator or Jennifer Aniston’s hair, but the Integra Type R was only on sale in the UK for three short years between 1998 and 2001.

That it had a massive impact was thanks to its impeccable handling, razor-sharp five-speed gearbox and hand-built 189bhp 1.8-litre VTEC engine that redlined at 8,700rpm.

“There’s an overwhelming sense that this car was built to be brutally caned” said Top Gear when we first drove the Japanese pocket rocket, which is widely seen as the finest front-drive car of all time.

Here are some things you probably didn’t know about the DC2 Integra Type R – and if you did, give yourself a little pat on the back.

1. It set the standard for all fast Hondas.

This was the first Integra Type R to reach European shores. And also the last. But its candle burned out long before its legend ever will, because this was the Type R-badged car that set the standard for every fast Honda that has since followed.It’s hard to imagine now, but despite Honda’s many years of experience as an engine supplier in F1, powering Piquet, Senna and Mansell to five titles between them from ’87 to ’91, it wasn’t rated as a performance brand. The Type R changed all that, injecting passion into the engineering heart of the Japanese carmaker.

2. Japanese buyers didn’t like the quad-lights

Japanese drivers really didn’t like those headlights. The standard-spec Integra initially went on sale in Japan in 1993, but the quad lights proved to be so unpopular with buyers that Honda gave the car a hasty facelift for the domestic market in 1995, when the Type R version first went on sale.

It would be another three years before the car found its way to the UK, and fortunately Honda decided to give us the four-eyed version, which looks much more interesting. It also gives us a chance to spot the cheeky JDM imports that found their way to the UK in droves, adding to the country’s limited allocation of 500 cars.

3. Its colour palette was… limited

It came in any colour you liked, as long as that was black, red or white. The latter was the one to go for, and the first batch of UK-bound Integra Type Rs came in the Championship White hue, intended to celebrate the company’s first F1 GP win in Mexico in 1965 with US driver Richie Ginther at the wheel.

4. Honda took its time building them

It was a carefully assembled car – Honda was limited to building 25 a day because of details like the hand-polished intake ports. Bespoke inlet valves, an enlarged throttle body and the helical LSD showed Honda meant business, but with 187bhp at 8,000rpm you already knew that.This car is from the Honda heritage fleet – the paint might be peeling off the 20-year-old engine block, but the VTEC still knows how to kick in.

5. It had proper, functioning aero

Compared with modern hot hatches that feel the need to scream their souped-up status, the Integra Type R is by comparison fairly muted. A bespoke bodykit on the outside, but vast swathes of grey plastic from the standard Integra on the inside, boosted by fancy bucket seats, a short-throw gearlever and red Honda badging.Don’t be fooled, though, Honda put in the detail work where it counted. The rear wing wasn’t just for show – it reduced lift at the back of the car by 30 per cent, and the sculpted aero lip under the front bumper also helped keep the car stable at speed. To improve the driving experience there were additional spot welds on the chassis to boost stiffness, and aluminium strut braces.

6. It was really light

The 1,140kg kerbweight is the stuff of dreams these days – Honda engineers shaved 39.97kg off the already-slim Integra GS-R despite all the extra welding and added internal bracing, helping the car hit 60mph in 6.5secs and on to 143mph.

The windscreen glass was 10 per cent thinner, lighter 15in wheels fitted and the sound deadening removed from inside the cabin to cut down on heft. The sunroof, air conditioning, cruise control and rear wiper were all ditched to save weight.

It’s the detail that counts with the Honda!

Lydia has been continuing her prep work again for the 1998 Honda Integra Type R. This time around she’s been sanding down the primer on the various panel pieces for the wing mirrors and the fuel cap. They were all gone over with 500 grade gold soft pads, followed by grey scotch and then panel wipe to clean the sanding and paint dust off.

Boot panel prep on the Honda.

Lydia has been continuing the prep work on the 1998 Honda Integra Type R. This time she’s been sanding down the original paintwork on the underneath/inside of the panel that goes around the boot of the car. She used 500-grade gold soft pads to get rid of the bulk of the shine, followed by grey scotch pads to get into the tricky places and to go over the whole thing as well. Lydia then cleaned off the sanding and paint dust with panel wipe.

Welding update on the Honda.

James has been doing the last bits of welding repair work on the 1998 Honda Integra Type R. He removed the left hand quarter panel and repaired around the wheel arch. Then he finished the spot welding around the rear wheel arch.

Continuing prep work for the Honda.

Chris and Lydia have been continuing their work on the 1998 Honda Integra Type R in the paint shop.

As before, Chris has been spraying primer onto various panels from the car, including the front and rear bumpers, the sills, the registration plate panel, the spoiler and the wings.

Lydia has then been sanding down this primer, using either a block sander, DA sander or by hand. She covered each panel in black guide coat beforehand to help see how much sanding needed to be done. You can read about last week’s work on them here. https://bridgeclassiccars.co.uk/more-stages-of-the-prep-work-for-the-honda-integra/

Small repair on the Honda Integra.

James has been working on the 1998 Honda Integra Type R.

He’s repaired a section on the lower quarter panel by fabricating and welding. It’s now ready to be re-fitted back onto the car.

More stages of the prep work for the Honda Integra!

Lydia has been helping Chris in the paint shop with the 1998 Honda Integra Type R panels.

Chris has been priming them, and then Lydia has been coating them in black guide coat, which shows the imperfections in the primer surface when sanded down. She sanded each panel down until no guide coat could be seen anymore. This was done with a mixture of blocking, using a DA and sanding by hand. Lydia then went over each panel with a grey scotch pad lightly and cleaned off any sanding dust with pre-clean.

Repair work continues on the Honda!

Pricey has been continuing his repair work on the white 1998 Honda Integra Type R.

The original floor edge was very thin, so he welded a new one in. He also welded in a new section on the nearside rear wheel housing. The quarter panel was corroded so Pricey fabricated a new one and welded it in and made it fit to the wheel housing. The nearside outer wheel arch lip needed work as well so he cut out and welded a new one.

Inner rear arch work continues on the Honda!

Pricey has been continuing his work on the corroded inner rear arches of the 1998 Honda Integra Type R.

The inner arch section was fabricated and welded into position. The metal was ground down and dressed up. The nearside lower inner rear wheel housing was found to be corroded, so Pricey fabricated the nearside lower rear wheel housing section.

Rear wheel arch work on the Honda!

Pricey has been continuing his work on the rear wheel arches of the Honda Integra.

He started by tacking the wheel arch in position, before welding the arch fully. The welds then got ground down. The outer return lip was fabricated and welded. Pricey had to take it down to bare metal on the nearside quarter panel and drill it off, because of poor quality previous repairs. Deep filler was then applied. The middle sill was corroded, so was removed, and the inner sill was cleaned up. He fabricated the front lower inner arch and treated the corrosion on the inner sill.

Bonnet prep for the Honda!

Lydia has been getting the Honda Integra bonnet ready for re-painting.

She started off by sanding down the paint, to the original metal, on the front/face of it, where any dents were showing. Skims of filler were then applied over the tops of where it had been sanded. The filler then also got sanded down once dry, to create a smooth finish for painting.

The underneath of the bonnet was gone over with panel wipe and a red scotch pad to remove the shine of the paint and to clean off any dirt. Corrosion spots were sanded down to bare metal with a DA and painted with treatment to stop any more spreading of the corrosion.

Prep work continues for the Honda Integra!

Lydia has been continuing with the prep work for the 1998 Honda Integra Type R.

She’s been block sanding one of the doors to get rid of as many imperfections in the paint surface as possible. There was a “rippled” effect in it when you looked at different angles, so we’re wanting a much smoother finish! After Lydia had finished sanding, a skim of filler was applied to the surfaces, and then that got sanded down until it was smooth and not a lot of filler was left behind!

Ongoing Honda prep!

Lydia has been continuing her prep work on the 1998 white Honda Integra Type R.

She unclipped one of the rubber seals on the underneath of the door she’d been sanding down and filling, before cleaning off old glue and dirt with panel wipe solution. The paint on the inside of the door then got sanded down lightly with a red scotch pad to get rid of any shine.

Once that was all done, Lydia moved onto the front wings of the car. These went through the same process as the door, of sanding with a small block sander to map out the imperfections in the surfaces, then filling with a skim of filler, and finally sanding over again to level out the filler.