New Civic Owner

Alright, I'm new to this forum, and to the Honda Community. Let me give you the run down on me.
I'm 17 and attending college, I have a limited budget, but have a little room splurge every once in a while. I just bought a 1999 Honda Civic EX coupe, with the D16Y8 engine and a 5 speed tranny. I plan to race this car in the future, but for now, what kind of mods will make my car more fun, but still remain in the affordable range? I was thinking of starting with the exhaust and possibly a DC Sports Header, and AEM cold air intake, short throw shifter, oh, almost forgot to say tires and rims. I need suggestions here, people. Where can I find these items the cheapest and are there anymore affordable mods you can think of for now? Thanks for your help!

Sounds like a great start to me... excellent choices. The I/H/E (Intake/Headers/Exhaust) is usually the first thing every honda owner that wants a little more power (power = fun :D) does. The combination of all 3 will allow your car to breathe more air with a lot less effort. That will free up a bit of power for you. The short shifter sounds nice... that's what I need to do pretty soon. The rims and tires are a good way to add some nice clean looks to your ride. Maybe you'd like to accompany that look with a lowered stance? Drop the car on coilovers later. ;) Anywayz... like I said... nice start.

Welcome to AutomotiveForums.com aka AF. :)

P.S. I almost forgot to mention... in case you don't know already. To free up the most power... you'll want to invest in a cat-back exhaust system... a universal muffler won't do the trick. You have 2 basic choices with the headers. 4-2-1 or 4-1. 4-2-1 is the better choice for street use (in my opinion) because you gain power over a broader rpm range. 4-1 headers are better used on the drag strip where the most power gains are noticed at higher rpm's.

Forget the power for now and think suspension. Suspension is always first for me and it should be for everybody. Get a nice set of springs and struts, or full coilovers. I think the 6th gen coupes look good lowered right at about 2". You should at least get a front camber kit and an alignment after this is done. The next thing I would do is purchase a set of 15" or 16" wheels and some decent tires to keep your car on the road.

Trust me, your car will feel a lot better and you will be very happy doing this. Trying to add any power with bolt on's like I/H/E doesn't add much power. If you want to add decent power to a SOHC honda engine, it will require the addition of a turbocharger. I have a 6th gen EX and it is cool to look at, but it was slow as shit. I made up my mind and bought a 5th gen hatch and that is my go fast car now:D

All the info you want on your new car is in The Honda Performance FAQ (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t15933.html). Read that before doing anything, it should give you a lot if insight :)

if i were you.. this would be my order of purchasing

exhaust
intake
header
springs/shocks or coilovers
rims/tires

i say cars look like shit with rims when they arnt lowered. absolute crap! huge gaps in the wheel wells with 17's 18's .. i hate it. lol

Welcome!

I would buy a exhaust as fist, then headers and/or CAI. After uve done this go on with the springs struts rims and this sort of things!

welcome to AF...glad to have you aboard...

For sure the I/H/E would be a good investment...
For rims go w/ that you think would look good and add some coilovers to it so you can adjust your ride height..


you could try www.thepartstrader.com for some stuff or www.ebay.com
and maybe for esome rims for a decent price you could try www.rim1.com

Hope this might help a ltitle....
:frog:

Originally posted by j.fuggi
if i were you.. this would be my order of purchasing

exhaust
intake
header
springs/shocks or coilovers
rims/tires

i say cars look like shit with rims when they arnt lowered. absolute crap! huge gaps in the wheel wells with 17's 18's .. i hate it. lol

Thats the exact order im goin for...except one thing. If you get i/h/e for a DX, and you do a swap (esp my D16Y7), will another engine...say B16A2 or somethin like that work with the same i/h/e?

I agree with going suspension/wheels/tires first. Save up and get some reasonable equipment and do it all at once. Wheel gap with 16 or 17 inch rims looks really silly.

Do not just go out and buy an exhaust (I'm going to get a greddy evo...fits right under the back bumper of our car and sounds/performs well). It won't give you all that more power and it will just make your car loud.

After the suspension/wheels/tires...go with a shortshifter....and then (and only then) start on the i/h/e.