What to do to gain some horses

[0to60]

I have had my 97 HX civic for over 7 yrs and it is still going strong. However, I would like to increase my horse power, but not dive deep into my pocket books. Do you have any suggestions.

Thanks,

0to60

[Kafziel]

Horsepower is always expensive. I recommend taking it slow and replacing things only as they wear out. As the old saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it IS broke, fix it with a good quality performance part. Any major hp upgrade, like a turbo or a nitrous kit, is going to need a lot of additional parts and attention to keep your car running right. It can turn into a black hole, and skimping on the parts or the tuning can make a reliable car go dead in a hurry. Save your money so you can buy quality performance parts when the OEM ones start to go.

[BuiltV-TecKiller]

yep, I agree, but bolt-ons are so much fun!! If you just want a lil bit more pep, Intake, Exhaust, Spark plugs n wires, cam gear and pully, and a header should give you a nudge.

[NerveAgent]

I don't think the hx engine really responds well to bolt-on's but try them anyway. Since you've had your car for 7 years..you'll feel the the difference with the bolt'on. (btw don't expect much)

[0to60]

Hello to the three that responded to my question,

I really appreciate your point of view. I wanted to know what the max horsepower gain would be if I bought bolt ons. Or should I just wait to upgrade my whole car. Furthermore, what is the cost up the up keep on the bolt ons.

Thanks,

0to60

[Kafziel]

Upkeep cost on bolt-ons is virtually nothing. If you buy quality stuff, it's almost the same as using your stock parts. The only thing aftermarket I/H/E really needs is a little more TLC than the stock parts: polishing the tail pipe (heh heh... sorry, that cracks me up - I have a dirty mind), keeping the header clean and grease-free, and washing and oiling the cone filter on the intake once in a while.

You will see a lot of sellers making a bunch of claims about how much hp each piece will add to your car. Let me shoot you straight - it ain't much. It IS noticeable, though. I don't know the exact numbers, because my car has never been near a dyno, but I'll put it this way: you know how when you're driving, and then you turn on the air conditioner, your car slows down a lot? Well, when you have the bolt-ons and you turn on the ac, it doesn't feel like the car slows down much. So maybe something like 10-15 hp for the whole setup. Some say more, some say less. You won't win any races, but it's a good start. To make an HX fast, you'll need to swap out your engine, put in a turbo or supercharger, and change a zillion other parts costing many thousands of dollars. Doesn't sound like you want to do that, so bolt-ons are the way to go. On the other hand, you could get yourself some new shocks, struts, and sway bars, and improve the ride of your car very easily, while keeping the hp the same. But that's a whole other can of worms.