Have you ever seen a Chevy with the butterfly doors? My guess is you probably have, but I can almost guarantee you've never seen an Integra sedan complete with fenders flared, a rear diffuser and a fully tucked and shaved K swap. That is unless you have had the pleasure of seeing Dennis Lui's car already. While there have been many other DB8s built before, the chances are, unless you're in Dennis' good graces you've never seen anything like it.
That's the way Liu likes to keep the car, under the radar while constantly changing license plates, among other pieces. "It's like a transformer!" he tells me. While in its six-year metamorphosis the car took on more shapes than Michael Jackson's face. Starting with a GS-R platform from the get-go Liu made a start by bolting a GReddy turbo kit to the stock B18C1. Later, a built B16 replaced the GS-R for a short while until it was exchanged for another B18C1, only this time packed with Spoon internals. Clearly the B series engines just weren't cutting the mustard, so Dennis scrapped the older configuration for something much newer. Alas the K series engine donned the bay with power to spare and OEM reliability to boot. But why did it take so many motors before the ultimate decision was made? Because Dennis is a very eccentric guy, one who rather than dreaming up ideas, puts ideas in motion and always keeps them spinning.
Everyone knows what keeps a car in motion while spinning - wheels. Wheel selection can be a tough decision for even your average enthusiast. Liu would initially choose Volk TE37s, a timeless classic for most Japanese makes. TE37s are an excellent choice, no doubt, but they were just a little too boring. Naturally, Dennis' thoughts ran rampant and he decided to play automotive hot potato with his wheel and suspension choices... keep up if you can.
Regamaster Evos were next in line followed by Advan RGs. Sick of the 4 lug, Dennis swapped in JDM ITR 5X114.3 hubs and changed wheels like a madman. USDM ITR wheels and JDM ITR wheels were the starting point. CE28Ns went on next then another set of Regamaster Evos, which lead to Spoon SW388s followed by a storm of other Volk, Advan and Enkei wheels. Giving up on the Type R pattern Liu went back to 4X100 and threw a smorgasbord of Advan, Enkei and Volk at the car. Calculating a possible error in his ways, Dennis decided to give 5 lug one more shot, just to be sure he didn't miss anything. In the process SSR EX-C Mesh found their way onto the Integra along with some MK2Rs. When the fire dwindled in his bolt-pattern-bonanza Dennis acquired 96 Spec ITR 4X114.3 suspension from me in a trade, amidst a wheel swapping frenzy of my own (see page 82.)
Finally, content on a big 4 lug layout Dennis went through a mere two sets of wheels before he installed the HREs on the car today. Pushed out to the max Liu dodged the trend of running rear-wheel-drive staggered wheels on a front-wheel-drive car and put the meat where it can be used, in the front. Some J's Racing fender flares were mounted to make room for the massive 17X9 front wheels. The experience gained in all the years of wheel swapping definitely paid off - the current set fits absolutely perfectly. There's nothing worse than a car with large flares and no wheels to match, the pitiful sunken-in look you hate to see. While Dennis may have 99 problems, wheel fitment ain't one.