'95 VTEC Prelude seeks HP for long term relationship...

Hi! This is my first post here...I just discovered this site a couple weeks ago, and it seemed like there were some good people here, so I decided to join in!

To tell you a little about me, I drive a '95 VTEC Prelude. I started racing (well, autocrossing with the SCCA) bone-stock last summer in GST (G Stock with street tires). Tires are Kumho Ecsta Supra (good tires!), although I may buy an extra set of wheels and race tires sometime.

My main competition is a Type R Integra and a couple of WRX's, but there are occasionally *serious* cars (M5, Viper, NSX) on street tires. I have enjoyed an advantage over the supercars because of the GS multiplier, allowing me to take a 1st, two 2nds, and a couple of 3rds. That's changing this year, though. The VTEC 'Lude, Type R, WRX, and others have been moved to D Stock. That means a lower multiplier and less of an advantage. :(

So, I need to add some HP. I added Bosch +4 Platinum plugs last year. I can't add CAI and stay in stock, so I put in a K&N filter. I can't add pulleys or coilovers (which I'd love), but I can add adjustable shocks, which I may do later this year. Next thing I plan is to add a cat-back exhaust because it *is* legal and should help out. Question is, which one? I can't afford much (just bought a house), and I care more about HP than sound. I have seen the posts about exhausts, but I can't really tell what power gains there are...everyone seems to care about the sound.

I'd love to hear any thoughts or experiences out there! Also, if anyone has other ideas about adding stock-legal power, let me know. Thanks in advance!

http://www.aros.net/~mdeyer/cartree.jpg

it's illegal to put CAI where you are? :confused: a complete i/h/e setup is what's gonna get you more power. about 15hp gain with all three. but each of these by itself will get you minimal, or no, gain at all. the racing medallion, the apexi n1, and the greddy evo are all quality and good systems. the n1 will prolly give you the most gains at the sacrifice of quietness, it is pretty loud. but these three are i'd say the most popular and most liked systems for preludes. like i said though, an exhaust alone won't give you much of any gain.

as far as stock legal power, i dont' know of the particular laws in your area, but i dont' see why a CAI or pulleys would be illegal. you can go with a supercharger and you'll pass emissions (if required). some turbo kits make passing emissions difficult. but i'd like to hear you elaborate on why you can't put CAI or pulleys or coilovers.

I've heard a lot of good things about Thermal R&D too.

I think he meant illegal for the class he's racing in???

Del-
Sorry...it's the SCCA rules, not the law. In order to drive in the "Stock" categories at SCCA events, the car can't have many modifications beyond the few I am planning. Take a look:
http://www.moutons.org/sccasolo/car_class_stock_rules.html
Not a lot I can do until I'm ready to spend some real $. Now next year, after I have it paid off, I may decide to go crazy and load it up to the point that I could be competitive in the Prepared or Modified class. We'll have to see.

buh buh-
I've seen Thermal in almost every post about exhausts in this entire forum...kinda like a commercial! :rolleyes: How do they price? Are they really that good? And hey, what did you think of our Olympics? Cool to be part of the action, really!

cybercrx-
Yup.

Del-
Damn! I just read your post again and paid more attention to the numbers. I figured I'd already added a few horses with the plugs and 5 or 6 with the filter, and I was hoping for around 10 more from the exhaust. Is there really not that much added? I need to start saving $, then!

Do you think a VTEC Prelude can keep up with a Type R or a WRX (cornering included) with just the mods I am planning? That's what I'm going for, because I think I can out-drive those guys as long as I have a comparable P/W ratio. :p (At least, I hope I can!!!)

from another Prelude AutoX'er, but running SM...

they have a street tyre class for stock cars in your region? double check your local rules, since there is no separate class for tyres in stock classes at the national level.

if your region allows, go with R compound tyres. i know it's acceptable for any stock class car to run R compound. the only requirement is they remain DOT legal. Kumho makes two sets, the Victoracer V700, and the Ecsta V700. both are treadwear 50, DOT legal tyres, for race day only. they have enough grip to shave 3-4 seconds off your times.

urethane suspension bushings are also allowed. this will tighten up your car and make it more consistent thru cornering.

go with a good coilover strut system. Tein makes one that just can't be beat for bang/buck ratio. the Type-HA are 16 way bump and rebound adjustable with coilover adjustability, and rebuildable for custom valving. if you go this route, be sure to cornerweight the car for more neutral handling.

as for anything else, especially power increases, you're pretty much screwed ;)

Drift-
Yeah, this region has Street tire. Basically, they take all cars without race tires, no matter what class, and lump them together. Then they use the "index multiplier" and even everyone out. I was in good shape in GS, but DS will make it more difficult because of that. Take a look at some of what I am up against:
http://www.utahscca.com/results/index.html
I'm in all the E Center events after the first, and I'm in the last Wendover event.

I have plans to buy a new set of wheels and race tires (hopefully this year) so I can go to Topeka. It'd be a blast to go, even if I ended up in last place. I think my driving is pretty good, but there's no better way to tell, eh? Will the R compound really shave off that much time?

I didn't think it was legal to go the coilover route in stock...I don't have a rulebook yet, though, so I've only been going on the site I posted a link to earlier.