cheap DIY mods

Can anyone suggest any cheap DIY mods? I mean, mods where u just modify existing stuff or fabricate your owns. So far, i just hav making my own front bumper lip. Wondering if anyone has any suggestions in terms of performance, like DIY port/polish job on the intake manifold or sumthing like that. All wacky ideas welcome and taken into consideration!!!

Have you tried indexing your plugs?

1. Take your spark plugs out and look at them:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/309000-309999/309031_25_full.jpg

2. Now at the bottom of the plug, there is that metal piece, and on that one side it's open. On THAT side (in the image it would be the right side) mark the TOP of the plugs.

3. When you rescrew them into place make sure that the mark on top is FACING the intake valves.

Now what this does is actually point the spark directly at the fuel entering the chamber, resulting in more efficient combustion process. To make better sense, imagine if the plug was facing the OTHER way. It would then be actually blocking the spark from the fuel, not enough to be a problem, but when adjusted could add some needed horses, even i they're in the single-digit range.

I'd say this would give you.. roughly 5-8 horses, depending on your engine, and doesn't require anything but a sharpie and the engine itself.

remove uneeded weight, seats, door panels, carpet, gas, etc. I have a link on my home PC for DIY port/polish but I suggest leaving that up to some one who is in that line of work. Reason being all areas need to be the same.

Remove your your heat sheilds from the exhaust mani if you don't use A/C you could also remove the A/C. Modify the intake so that instead of breathing air from in the engine bay you take it from outside the car. I think I've already seen somewhere that you have modified your intake though.

93CivicSiD16HB,

I am sorry to inform you, but it does not matter where you "plan" to start the spark plug. Every nut and every bolt has a beginning thread.

The thread on the engine block and thread on the spark plug determine the final position. I will put big $$ on this statement. There are two ways to change the direction of the opening. One is to tighten the plug until you reach the final destination, of course that would require you to strip threads during the process. Second would be to retap the spark plug. This of course would render the plug useless.

I am open to other ideas or thoughts regarding the spark plug trick.

huh, well all i know is that I just screw them as tight as i can until the pint at which the mark faces the valves is closest to as tight as i can get it without facing another direction. My father's used this in MANY of his GTO's Trans-Am's and even his 89' Supra, and they have been proven to give him a 5-8 horse increase when rated on the track. I even use it myself in my 93 civic and it's nothing incredible but it IS there.

Also this may require a few extra plugs as every thread isnt perfect for every fittiment.

'Another way to solve the stripping problem is to use special copper indexing washers (available from Moroso). These washers come in varying thickness' and allow you to tailor the position and depth of the electrode.'

I dunno what else to say other than it's widely done and called "indexing your plugs."

Here's a link to (shudders:shakehead ) FORDMUSCLE.com where they explain the procedure.
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/07/indexplugs/


YES
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/07/indexplugs/goodangle.JPG

NO!!!
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/07/indexplugs/badangle_tp.JPG

"Also this may require a few extra plugs as every thread isnt perfect for every fittiment."

Ok, That I can see as a true statement. Good work.

well....DIY....i had this performance muffler from a ford escort lying around...its by Tuned Innovations...well today i decided to mount it on, and with success! My DIY axle back exhaust sounds beastly =). It is easy to DIY your own exhaust....