Some mod questions

[jafowler49]

Own a 2000 Civic EX all stock and I may do a few mods and I have questions:
1) Will just a aem intake (probably v2) give me a significant hp gain? How much?
2) Will it slow my car if I throw 17's on a stock EX, or maybe with just an intake?
3) Is it bad to throw on lowering springs, if everything else is stock? If so what should I do?
4) What is the best exhaust for value, or that gives good hp and sound, but not too expensive.
Thanks.

[eckoman_pdx]

You'll get a 1% gain in HP for every 11.1 degree's you lower the intake temp. This is because cold air is more dense. With a CAI, this is normally a 4-5% gain (which eqauls about 4-5hp on a typical Honda).

As for 17's. The heavier the wheel, the more rotational mass. More rotational mass will slow you down. I personally don't mind 17's on a civic. Other people swear up and down against them and go for the lightest smallest wheel them can find. If you want my Opinon, a EX with an intake, even Intake/Header/Exhaust isn't going to be a drag burner, and chances are it won't be an auto-cross car, so don't worry too much about 17's. If you are really concerned look for something lightweight, but I wouldn't be too worried about 17's. That's my 2 cents on that.

As for Suspension, if you lower the car you'll want to get new shocks also, as the stock shocks will blow out if you lower the car and just leave it on those. Koni yellows are the only shocks that can really handle a drop over 1.75." If you are only looking at a 1.5-1.75" drop max, then KYB AGX's or Tokico's should be able to handle it. Also, depending on how much you lower your car, you will need a camber kit front and rear also. If you go 1.75" or more, you will likely need a camber kit for sure.

As for Exhaust, I never really cared for the sound of many of the exhausts out there. That's my personal taste however, so you certainly don't have to follow suite. I had my own custom 2 1/4" mandrel bent cat-back exhaust system built, and I had them tune the exhaust note to my liking. A good performance exhaust guy can build a nice custom exhaust sytem if he knows what he's doing.