Cheap upgrades for a D15B7?

[srt4evah]

Hi guys, I just bought a 1990 Civic LX sedan and I was wondering what I could do to give it just a wee bit more pep, on a budget.

Does this motor benefit from an air filter or intake upgrade?

What about a new exhaust, the stock one on it is pretty rusty and it's the first thing I thought about. 1.5L, so I'm guessing something like 1 3/4" cat-back would do the trick.

It's a daily driver, helping me get about 70 miles per day round trip to work, on the freeway. Anything helps... and again, it's a budget upgrade path that I'm looking for.

Thanks!

[optimuscivic]

intake, exhaust, and bolt ons wont do shit, with that motor. best thing you can do is the mpfi. btw how much do you want to spend?

[srt4evah]

Not much really, $200 or so hopefully, maybe $250. I just want a little more motivation on the highway, right now the car doesn't know the difference between 10% throttle and WOT, I can't feel anything.

I guess a D16 swap would be the best way to go, but we're talking like $500-700 right? I don't want to divert that much cash away from my other ride, just looking for a healthy increase here.

So how much would the DEFI to MPFI upgrade run me?

[optimuscivic]

[quote=srt4evah] right now the car doesn't know the difference between 10% throttle and WOT, I can't feel anything.[quote]

hahaha, ive been there man.

but the mpfi conversion can be done for about 200-250. definate possibility. its probably the only thing you can do for that price that would really help.

[rosshatch89]

where are you getting your parts if you go to the junkyard you can do it for alot less just do it neat and not all sloppy

[srt4evah]

Thanks for the info guys! I wasn't sure if intake/exhaust would do anything, but I knew about the DEFI to MPFI swap. Now I know which to go for, and I'm sure I can get the MPFI pretty cheap from someone I know.

Thanks again for the help! Maybe now I can pass those minivans on the freeway when I have to get over a lane =].

[90civicracer]

lol welcome to the boards and hope u like it here. Hope u like your 4g4d...there are other guys out here w/ 4 doors but i'm willing to say that the hatch's and crx's outnumber us easily.

Also...do u got an srt-4? Just curious by looking at your username.

[srt4evah]

Originally Posted by 90civicracer

lol welcome to the boards and hope u like it here. Hope u like your 4g4d...there are other guys out here w/ 4 doors but i'm willing to say that the hatch's and crx's outnumber us easily.

Also...do u got an srt-4? Just curious by looking at your username.

Thanks, I think this is probably going to be the best site for me to get info on my 4g4d. I'm a bit of a car freak I guess, I can't stop reading about them, fiddling with them, etc.

I've been driving my SRT into the ground, it's about 10 months old and has 22,000 miles on it. That's why I bought the 4g4d from a friend. It is a real runner, rebuilt tranny, new radiator, new tires, etc., recently. Only thing missing is torque =]. Hopefully I can find the time to toss in the MPFI.

[90civicracer]

Do you happen to be a member over at http://www.srtforums.com???

[srt4evah]

Originally Posted by 90civicracer

Do you happen to be a member over at http://www.srtforums.com???

Yah, I use the same handle over there. I don't post that often, mostly when I have Q:'s about maintenance or want to get into a flame war =].

[90civicracer]

lol yes there happen to be quite a few flame wars over there. I post under the same name also even though I don't have an SRT-4. Yesterday was my first time lookin at one up close and sitting in one up in a dealer. I posted it in the General Discussion but no one read it, prolly cuz i have a damn Civic, lol. Welcome aboard.

[jayballa305]

I have a 90 civic lx sedan,,,,.All im going to say is "fabricating".Thats what ive been doing from day 1 with my car.First off any1 with a d15,,,,dont bother wasting your money on a cold air or short ram intake.For best results in air flow,,,that u actually feel the difference is taking off the stock air box and the metal cover that says PFI.I took that peace of shit off and put a Hks filter right on top of the throttle body.I spent 25 dollars on a hood scoop that delivers the cold air to the intake port so that takes care of the problem of cold air getting to the engine.The second thing i did was ,i bought a Greddy 4in exhaust and i tried to weld it on at a 90 degree angle ,but it wouldnt fit right on my car so its at about a 75-80 degree angle with 2 inch straight piping.I say my "ghetto" intake and exhaust upgrades gave my car a 15-20 hp increase.I really feel a big differnce.And for you D16 out there,i spank d16,my 2nd is nasty and i cherp 3rd.Keep your head up yo and mod your d15 ,dont let anyone tell u your shit sucks and u need to get a swap.I race for emblems and i have never had to give mine up.Thats how we do it in Miami.

Future mods:
Headers
Mpfi manifold
Aem cam gear
port and polish

[90civicracer]

ummmm ok tht post was kinda hard to read but i think i got the idea of it. Do u have any pix of this "ghetto" exhaust or intake your talkin about?

Also, we only need one header, not headers...and does getting a cam gear really help if you dont even have an aftermarket cam?

[brettex]

get 2.25 full exhuast thats wut i have its great or juss get 2in u will notice a diff

[optimuscivic]

Originally Posted by jayballa305

I say my "ghetto" intake and exhaust upgrades gave my car a 15-20 hp increase.I really feel a big differnce.And for you D16 out there,i spank d16,my 2nd is nasty and i cherp 3rd.

wow 15-20 hp increase on a dpfi d15. thats an awesome engine. i dont even see those kinds of gains on my b18 with intake and exhaust. also you must have some bald tires on steelies to chirp in 3rd. btw racing 16-17 second cars for emblems is