Adding HP with bolt ons...

[ExemptX2000]

Wussup,

I have a 95 Civic 4dr auto, car runs fine at about 4g+ RPMs, but untill it reaches that point in first gear its really slow and doggy... What can I do to increase the low range HPs? I was thinking an intake and an exhaust, maybe a chip (if they have one for my car, saw some for standards but not auto does it really matter?) but I dont know if this will really help... Any advise?

Thanks,
Exempt

[KrNxRaCer00]

i/e is going to really jus add some top end. VERY little lowend. honda's are tough to get lowend from...even w/ a swap, the b18c1 doesn't really get up an move until past 5200 (or the stock VTEC settings)

[strodda]

an intake might help a tad, and it doesnt cost much anyways. at least it will add a nice tone to the engine. as for the exhaust, i dont believe that will help your low range. a free'r flowing exhaust will result in a loss of lowend torque and highend hp gains. thats what sucks about a/t's, you're going to be terrible off the line no matter what. unless you get a level10 converter, where you can adjust the stall point higher.

for example, if youre at a dead stop and you floor it, your car wont really kick in and move until about 1-1500rpm. if you change the stall point to 3k(if possible), that will give you alot better start. you'd probably be able to burn your tires doing that. its basically like launching a m/t @3000.

how much do you have to spend total?

you could also get a cam gear and advance the timing.

[ExemptX2000]

I dont have a whole lot to spend... I was thinking buy a part now, and then wait a few months and buy something else... I was thinking a CAI first, then maybe the exhaust... Exhaust more for looks and sound cuz the car sounds weak and looks weak with a puny stock exhaust on it...

[KrNxRaCer00]

not bad then...i'd agree w/ u an start w/ a cai or even sri. the sri will add the same top end, but u'll lose VERY little on the bottom.

as for the exhaust, jus find a nice muffler u like, an then buy some 2 1/4 inch piping an have someone weld it on for u. depending on the price of the muffler, it'll only run u around 2-300. i think u should start considering settling for top end, because thats really all that hondas have. u want low end? buy a ford or chevy

[PWMAN]

Originally posted by KrNxRaCer00
u want low end? buy a ford or chevy

What about MOPAR? It's always chevy this, and ford that, they're both POS's.

[kittedb18bt]

dont put a cam gear on a sohc! its a waste of money



chris

[ExemptX2000]

Ok, well thanks everyone for their input...

Can anyone comment about a performance chip? Do they really make the much of a difference?

[KrNxRaCer00]

Originally posted by ExemptX2000
Ok, well thanks everyone for their input...

Can anyone comment about a performance chip? Do they really make the much of a difference?

no.

pwman...sorry, as soon as i posted it i thought i should add that. my fault, dodge has some new SWEET cars...(ie the neon, viper etc...)

[PWMAN]

Originally posted by KrNxRaCer00

pwman...sorry, as soon as i posted it i thought i should add that. my fault, dodge has some new SWEET cars...(ie the neon, viper etc...)

Thanks

[91civicDXdude]

yes, buy a v8 if you want low rpm power.

actually a cam gear on a SOHC engine can do some good, you can change your powerband, i.e. raise it or lower it in the rpm band, but this takes a dyno to tune it, and most kids with a cam gear have never dynoed their car.

an adjustable cam gear on a SOHC engine is only really useful if you hvae an aftermarket cam, and need to degree it.

[super_man_3179]

basically there is not much you can do at all except increase displacement which means tons of $$$$. headers are mid to high.....it's a 4 cylinder...that's why they have to rev up to 8000 RPMs to make power. Torque on a 4 cylinder with low displacement isn't going to happen.....Even when you turbo low RPMs are same and boost don't kick in until about 3000 rpm's depending on the turbo. So there is nothing that you can do much....Don't forget that there is no replacement for displacement!!

[ExemptX2000]

Its really slow though... I know Hondas arent that great for low end, I just feel like there should be some more there though... When I hit the gas I want it to move... My brother's CRX SI does this fine and hes got the stock engine heavy chrome weels, and hes not a light guy... Oh well its cool, I still love my Civic... Fast or slow... Thanks for helping guys...

[Redline_civic91]

u want low end torque get a h22 lude or a b20 civic. people saying you cant produce low end power on a honda motor i will dissagree. it cost money but you can definetly do it. b20 vtec/h22 in a civic will pull on a v8 camaro and mustang all day. trust me i know.

[asdfbeau]

I would say intake-exhaust is a must first, but like everyone else says, you're gonna have a hard time getting torque from the low end of that engine.

i was thinking about getting into cam tuning with my Ex, but after reading this I'm rethinking that-I don't quiet understand why SOHC makes that much of a difference (why it might be worth it in a DOHC, but not a SOHC...). If i drop an aftermarket cam in, and get it tuned right (as 'right' as I can tune&test it) then i could definetly open up the low-end on my car, right?
chances are I would screw up my engine, but we all gotta learn somehow, and I think its a more viable solution than an engine swap for someone who's new to tuning.

I'd go for an aftermarket cam if i REALLY had to have more low end power from my car. Every engine I've swapped has been a pain in the ass: I've gotten them to run, but there's always some nusiance problem with them afterwards (the tranny doesn't feel right, the wiring gives me shit, etc etc.) But I've never swapped anythign in a Honda so maybe its a different story.

who knows...thats just my opinion; good luck