Originally Posted by Deetz

I am pretty sure the only difference in the 02-04 models, is the type S has an upper front strut bar, slightly larger front brakes and front swap bar...shell itself, is the same.

The 05-06 models from what i recall, have a slightly more ridged chassis.

Originally Posted by Importtuner

Argh, everyone stop. Chota needs to educate again...

Here's the thing with the Type-R chassis...it's the same. Stop with this "It's got more seam/stitch welds" bs. This was the case with the EK9 and DC2 since the Type-R came out after the initial chassis release. The standard DC and EK chassis were not rigid enough for Honda's standards and they had to increase the rigidity more to get it to their level. Hence why the EK9 and DC2 both have more stitch welds, thicker rear sub frames, thicker rear shock tower gussets, and lots of other beefed up rear chassis points.

With the DC5, it came out with the Type-R model being released in conjunction with the base model. Meaning the chassis is the same. Honda even states this by saying the "white body is the same." 'White body' meaning the bare chassis.

Now what Sunkist thinks is extra stitch welding is something else...

Here is the 02-04 DC5 Chassis, Type-R model is shown with it's extra bolt on reinforcements.



You can see here that it's the same chassis with just different reinforcements and lighter parts installed when compared to the base model.

In Sunkist's horrible pictures (no offense), you can see a different image of the DC5 chassis. If you notice closely, his literature is on the 05-06 Integra Type-R (kouki).

The picture of the chassis shows the 05-06 Type-R chassis and the changes Honda has made in comparison to the 02-04.



Here is the picture Sunkist is trying to show you in all it's glory. Now the part that he thinks is extra welding is actually something else.

I had all of the text translated quite some time ago by my JDM friend, Junpei, the only difference between this 05-06 Type-R diagram and the 02-04 Type-R diagram is as follows:

-The 05-06 Type-R has a beefed up front strut tower bar (also the same one you find on the USDM 05-06 Type-S).

-The 05-06 Type-R has a beefed up front subframe brace (also the same one you find on the USDM 05-06 Type-S).

-The rear shock tower bar has end brackets that now are not only fastened to the floor but also to the sides of the chassis. Anyone with an 05-06 Type-S, if you lift up your hatch carpet and look at those brackets bolted to your rear upper shock mounts, you'll see the brackets have small 10mm bolts that fasten it to the side of the chassis. You guys lack the bar that connects these brackets but the brackets are still there none the less. You can actually get the connecting piece to join the brackets from ICB.

Now the moment you've all been waiting for....

The chassis on the 05-06 has thicker portions on it, in two particular areas.

1) The front strut towers have more body material.
2) The rear shock towers have more body material.

That's it, and guess what, Honda did this for all 05-06 Type-R/Type-S chassis. So there you have, quit crying about extra stitch welds and other BS. If you have an 05-06 Type-S, you can see these extra things done to the chassis.

02-04 DC5 chassis is all the same, 05-06 DC5 chassis is all the same.

For the 02-04 guys who want to get that extra increase in rigidity.

Front:

1) Keep the 02-04 factory strut tower bar and run the Mugen bar in conjunction with it. This will stiffen up the front more then just the larger 05-06 bar.
2) Run the larger 05-06 front subframe brace.

Rear:

1) Run the 02-04 rear Type-R connecting bar, you can get it from ICB
2) Run the Mugen rear mid bar
3) Get custom made suspension with the rear shock tower hats in two pieces to bolt in from the top and bottom of the chassis to thicken it up. This is a bit overkill and probably not worth it for 99.99% of the members.

Also there is a mistake on the 02-04 Type-R chassis diagram, it doesn't show the front subframe brace, the 02-04 Type-R did have one, just it's not displayed on the diagram. You can see it though on the 05-06 Type-R diagram.

Now you can all sleep better at night.