This has been a very long time coming-11 years to be exact. In this time, Ferd Natividad has gone using a full range of emotions together with his ’94 Acura Integra-he’s loved it, hated it, overlooked it and at one point, nearly trashed the DC2 altogether. Ferd was just crazy enough to think about destroying the shell because he couldn’t fathom the notion of someone finishing what he started across a decade ago, two years ago. Hence, the Acura Integra’s nickname ATS*Kranky is an appropriate one. Ferd is a founding member of NorCal’s famed Honda car crew, ATS Garage, and the temperamental nature of the Integra can make it Kranky (cranky). You wouldn’t think that this Integra was such a pain in his ass because at first glance it is apparently as close to perfect understandably. It is certainly not without its faults and headaches, however.from the Making
The car started life as a black LS slammed on Mugen RnR wheels back in 2003, Ferd explains. I had the DC2 resprayed a goldish/bronze tone each year later yet still kept it very mild because builds just weren’t that intricate at the time. More events started happening in NorCal and another event specifically, JDM Theory, really took off. Everyone started doing more with their things and cars got more competitive. What my friend Fred Chapman and that i really desired to do was tear the complete car down so we could build it through the ground-up, even though i bought a Rev Hard turbo kit to make the Integra a bit quicker. Fred sold us a ’91 Civic so I could have a daily driver while we rebuilt my Integra, and he bought my LS motor from me to set into their own car. Also, he bought my brakes and I sold my turbo kit to my other friend so the Integra was essentially a rolling shell. My game plan was simple; I recently wanted to put another motor in, execute a five-lug conversion and install an entire JDM Type R clip. As possible tell at this point, it didn’t exactly work out the way I planned.
During the mid-2000s, the premier tuning shop in Northern California was RedZone Performance. It was actually such a big name from the Honda community that you would be hard-pressed to identify a Honda from that area that didn’t pass through RedZone. They made it happen all so Ferd trusted them with the task of converting his Acura Integra to right-hand drive. Being as busy because they were, he didn’t rush them and so they worked on the automobile sparingly. Ferd occupied the downtime by tinkering together with his EF hatchback. What was supposed to be a side project ended-up as being a full-blown build. It was put on the backburner while he continued his EF, although eventually he got his now-RHD Integra back from RedZone.but because his funds were going to the Civic, he needed some financial aid. He began seeking out a paint sponsor and found one with a body shop called Garage Inc. You don’t dictate when the car gets finished. That’s the thing with having sponsors, typically. Jobs that generate income for the business come first and so the Integra just sat. They would do a little bit of body work here and there but then there would be extended periods of inactivity, as Ferd explains. They just kept lagging and continued to create empty promises. There was a point after i would have rather taken and paid the auto somewhere else. The automobile was half done so I just wanted them to finish it. I even sold my EF so I could fund the other build. Months turned into years and I eventually bought another car and started another project.
The latest project, an EG2 del Sol, was featured, built and later on sold before he finished this DC2. A couple years went by before I eventually got my Integra shell back. Ferd told us Seriously. It took so long that we was actually surprised when I got the car home. You’d assume that it was a good thing to get it back but I really started to doubt this project. It just looked like there was only bad luck with this car and because of the down time, I just got sick of waiting. I was at a crossroads; I could sell it because I had a great deal of inquiries, but I just couldn’t picture someone finishing this project. It literally made me sick to my stomach. I needed to crush the car because I didn’t want to handle it anymore and didn’t want to concern yourself with seeing someone elsethat includes a quick-disconnect plate on the firewall.
The turning point came when he acquired his K20A2 engine from Dan at R-Crew Racing. Seeing the heart of Kranky really gave him a brand new sense of motivation. Getting the parts to get the swap running became an issue since there was a certain way he wanted the engine bay to look. Once again but his friend Fred Chapman became the voice of reason the negative opinions came creeping into his head. He was with Ferd during the entire ordeal and wished to see the build come to fruition as much as anyone. On a random night, Fred showed up at his doorstep and so they installed the K-series that same evening.
Once the heart was transplanted, the duo was able to execute the cosmetic side from the engine bay in true ATS Garage fashion. As being a Honda aficionado, you should already be familiar with their work, so it really needs no introduction. Through the parts selection, color execution, to the smallest of details like the wrinkle black finish of his brake booster, you can tell this is a signature ATS Garage masterpiece. Everything was beginning to fall into place until it came time to get the engine running. All things considered, it wouldn’t be Kranky without some form of dilemma. 10 years of build-up in the fuel tank and lines turned-out to end up being the issue. The metal lines were so corroded how the lines inevitably turned soggy and prevented fuel delivery to the engine. To make the Integra a little less Kranky the fuel tank was hot-cleaned, new and tankedvery happy to say that the vehicle fired right up afterward. We even got the auto tuned by RedZone Performance and it made good power. This car has been with me for so long that I’m glad to see it finally completed. This DC2 Acura Integra will always be special, he added, although there were times when I lost my patience, nearly gave up and built other cars to occupy my time.
Despite us airing out Kranky’s rough past, Ferd’s build is honestly among the best we have ever seen. It instantly captured our attention when it first debuted and we knew it was the perfect choice to grace the cover of this year’s Honda Issue. ATS Garage builds are top tier and their builds continue to evolve with the times, almost to the stage where these are ones that set the precedent while still holding true to the old methods Hondas are designed by a small grouping of friends in tiny one-car garages.
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