89 Civic LX 1.5 DPI, its sluggish, what can i do?

[Arb]

Other than buy a new ride, what can I do to make it drive better? I'm a mechanic in Flagstaff, AZ and I have all of the regular maintainace covered. New plugs, filters and the like. I have a badass 4x4 that with a weber carb, exaust, and a few lifts.... So I'm not new to performance products, just hondas.

i'm thinking of rebuilding the head, but will an exaust help more? The car is totaly stock. everything!!! Just let me know what my options are and when gives the biggest bang for the buck.

Thanks all

Arb out

[Bleebdat]

Arb welcome, it depends how much you would like to spend. With your current engine there isnt even all that much feasible gain possible. Your best options would be to swap it out for a newer 1.6l engine from the newer civics. On your engine if you have to keep it, intake headers exhaust, then better plug wires, but IMO it wouldnt be worth it.

[amy@af]

welcome

we really need a better idea what you want. you can convert to MPFI . then add I/H/E (intake/header/exhaust). you will notice a much better response.

do you just want a quick daily driver? you can get a d16z6 (92-95 Si/EX)or d16y8 (96-00 EX). it drops right in. that engine is approx 130 hp sohc vtec

you can also go with a b16 dohc vtec with approx 160 hp. it requires a little more to swap in

are you looking to be in a certain 1/4 mi. second range?

ami

[Tony]

I have a 91 Civic Dx, with 1.5l in it. It was sluggish for a long time, but now it actually has some take off to it. All I did too it was get a new exhaust, new intake, put some Accel spark plug wires, Botch Platinum Plus 4 spark plugs, and then reprogrammed the ECU. So far all that helped it right now, and still lets me do an engine swap later without wasting money on this engine. But if your not in that big of a hurry on getting this running, I would either switch it to MPFI, or just do an engine swap. Most of the swaps are pretty easy I think.

[Arb]

Thank you all for the warm welcome.

Where and how can i go about getting one of these splendid engines ?

I read that link and bookmarked it.

I didn't catch if i needed the tranny or the block for the 1.6L

Is it just a head swap or do i need the block also?

Do I need a new tranny?

Thanks all

Arb out

[Melt]

Originally posted by Theodditie
All I did too it was get a new exhaust, new intake, put some Accel spark plug wires, Botch Platinum Plus 4 spark plugs, and then reprogrammed the ECU.

I got I/E, I should do the wires and plugs also.

[Tony]

For the swap on the MPFI you just need the head, don't need the block. There are a lot of places that tell how to do it. I don't know if www.sportcompactcarweb.com has it on their site, but I know they have done it cause I have their mags that show how to wire it all it up. I'm sure LadyNRedSi would know where to find out how to do that swap.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Melt


I got I/E, I should do the wires and plugs also.

Man those spark plugs are great. I just tried them last week, and so far they are the best spark plugs I've had. They cost about $6 each, but well worth it. Good thing I only have to get 4.

[amy@af]

which 1.6? the sohc vtec or dohc vtec?

you need to swap the whole thing. those head swaps are shady.

sohc vtec all you need is engine, p28 ECU ($150), and a wiring harness ($150). if you have a DX it is ideal to get an 88-91 Si tranny. it is not required but, it has better gearing and you might as well do it while the engine is out.

if you were asking about the b16...check out this link

[Arb]

Just to recap....

I want to put in a 1.6L SOHC head/block/ecu.

I do not need to replace the tranny

It should bolt in.

All I have to do it rewire.

Sound about right?

Where can I get the engine/ECU and how much am I looking at?

Also, if i were to do an exaust system first(i think the cat is plugged) would it bolt to the new engine and will any 88-91 header bolt on to both the 1.5 and 1.6? Also, where's the best place to get a header?

Arb out

my ride: 89 Civic LX 1.5L Dual Point Injection

[Melt]

Originally posted by nitrous93
I was wondering do you all count a person who use Nos as a cheaters way out of racing such as winning race? Cuase I like nos and it gives you more horse power like 250 shot.

You sir, are a moron :finger:

[mightytexn]

Originally posted by nitrous93
Cuase I like nos and it gives you more horse power like 250 shot.

A 250 shot of NOS? Go play with your eclipse buddies

[Melt]

Originally posted by Theodditie


Man those spark plugs are great. I just tried them last week, and so far they are the best spark plugs I've had. They cost about $6 each, but well worth it. Good thing I only have to get 4.

Cool, how much do the wires run?

[amy@af]

engines you should find starting at $500. ecu is around $150. and i sereiously recommend the $150 wiring harness. you can rewire the 50 wires but really, it's more trouble than it's worth.

since you only have the LX, you should get the EX tranny. hatch Dx=4 door LX. hatch Si=4 door EX. you can find one used from $150-250. i wouldn't suggest it if it didn't make the world of difference.

as for the MPFI, you'll get most the parts needed to do the conversion on the new engine. the link i posted earlier has the how-to.

are you on the east or west coast? don't want to suggest an engine source on the wrong coast

[Tony]

Originally posted by Melt


Cool, how much do the wires run?

I think they cost me about 60-70 bucks.