Another n00b

[Uranium387]

Hey AF, just like to say that everyone here ROCKS! You guys have just put so much knowledge out here for me to read, I don't think I can ever get through it all. Now for the inner n00b to come out:

I just got my first car, a '94 Civic DX 2dr w/ over 100,000 still running strong and I know it has so much potential. I'm not rich enough to afford something like a top-of-the-line motor swap just yet, but I know I'd like to do SOMETHING. Anyone else out there in my situation that aren't loaded with $$$ but have made some kind of mod that you are really proud of, or you think I should look into first?

Also, anyone else out there from Central Florida that might know of a shop or two to check out or a garage to visit to get a few ideas?

Thanks for your time everyone, I need to get back to reading all the info I can get my hands on!

[esp]

well non of us here are substantally rich, thats why we have hondas, just kidding guys, well what i am saying is we all have to say money to get our parts, some just get them quicker. Well there are your basic mods, intake, header, and exhaust. they have a wide range in prices, and there are various brands, but if you are considering a motor swap but cant afford it, dont waste the potential $1000 on intake, header, and exhaust. save your money until you can get that motor swap, thats my advice if you have any other questions feel free to contact me, and welcome to the af family

[Ricochet]

boost that mofo
Nothing better than saying your sohc non-vtec can kill a mustang...

[Uranium387]

I was thinking about I/H/E but from what I've read so far on the boards it doesn't sound like I will get much out of it. Are there any other engine internals I could replace? There's such a flood of after-market suppliers trying to sell you stuff that will "Give you more horsepower" that I don't know what to believe. What's up with n2o, could my car handle it or would I have to do some adjusting first? I've seen something ZEX sells called "dry" nitrous, a shot that gets vaporized and sent in thru your intake... anyone out there know if it's any good?

Also... Boosting a D15? Is that even something I should look into? I'd love to keep my non-Vtec SOHC and smoke mustangs
but I know that in reality it prolly not gonna happen.

Thanks for the quick responses guys

[Ricochet]

Nitrous will slowly eat your internals away on that engine, especially with them all being stock. Turbocharge it for like $2500 all said and done, run about 8psi, and you'll take GT's.

[eckoman_pdx]

Originally Posted by Ricochet

Nitrous will slowly eat your internals away on that engine, especially with them all being stock. Turbocharge it for like $2500 all said and done, run about 8psi, and you'll take GT's.

I wouldn't boost the D15 to 8psi. Period. The D15 has some of the weakist internals on a honda. 8psi on a D15 is a little high, it's weaker intenrally than an H22 and F22, and you should only run those at 6-7psi if you want to be safe. The rods are flimsy, etc, on the D15. I had a D15, I wouldn't waste the $$ turbo'ing it. If you want a Turbo motor, save up and get an LS (B18B1). It is the best honda motor to boost. It can handle up to 12 psi on sotck internals, and the longer tranny gears is better suited for turbo apps, to name a few reasons. If you want to go NA, the B16 or B18C1. Still, the LS itself wont cost you an arm and a leg, when compared with the GSR, etc. But if you seriously want a turbo'd honda, save your $$, swap in an LS and turbo that. Every bit you spend on the D15 now is less to spend on whatever it is you really want later. As I said above, internally, the D15B7 is one of the weakest motors honda made, in terms of internals. Plain and simple, it won't hold up well under boost. If boost is your thing, save your $$, the LS will hold up under boost.

[Ricochet]

Originally Posted by Uranium387

I'm not rich enough to afford something like a top-of-the-line motor swap just yet

Originally Posted by eckoman_pdx

If you want a Turbo motor, save up and get an LS (B18B1).

I don't think he'll be doing that. Uranium, build the internals on the D15 and run some boost man, you'll be happy w/it. Not as happy as emptying your wallet on an LS/turbo setup, but relatively that's a lot of money.

[eckoman_pdx]

Let's face it, if he can't afford a swap, he can't afford a $2500 turbo for a D15. For $2500 he could do an LS, so since he claimed he can't afford the swap yet, that would be outta range too. If he can afford it, put in the LS. It will give him a straight up power boost over the Turbo'd D15. If thats it, he still has more hp. If he decides to boost it later, he'll easily hit over 200hp with the boosted LS. A turbo'd D15 will not last long without built internals. As stated eariler, it has the weakest internal's of any honda motor. He'll been needing a new motor quicker boosting the D15. Let's face it. Once the D15 blows, and he needs a new motor, the turbo kit for the D15 won't go on a different motor if he gets one. Look, if he can't afford a swap, he can't afford a $2500 turbo set-up either. If he wants turbo, do it right. Do an LS/Turbo set-up. As for mods to a D15. I don't think I/H/E is worth it on that motor. That $800-1000 is a good chunk of a swap. Most of us couldn't afford a swap at first. I know I couldn't. I didn't spend a dime on that D15B7, I just saved my $$ till I could afford a swap. As for internal work on the motor, that will cost a pretty penny. There is really no "cheap" power trick on a D15. And seeing he said he is short on $$ for a swap, that most likely means short the $2500 for a turbo for the D15. After all, if he had $2500, he'd be close to affording a good swap. Getting a Turbo and building up the internals is $$ to begin with, and lots of it. If he build's the internals properly and puts on the turbo, he's over $5000. Thats a herll of a lot more than a swap. Don't think he'll be doing that either. Look, the best advice I'll give him is this. What do YOU want to do for a motor set-up? LS/Turbo? Build and Turbo the D15? Put in a B16 or GSR? Figure it up and save your money for whatever YOU want to do for a motor. Everyone can sit here argueing all day, but I am guessing since you can't afford the $$ for a swap, you can't afford $2500 for a turbo for the D, let alone build thye internals up. Deceide what you want to do, and start saving for that. In the end, that will be the best mod for you. The more you spend now, the less you have saved to put towards that.

[GScivic7]

there is a guy over at superhonda and he hits 12's on a boosted d15

[Ricochet]

It's hardly worth arguing because he's just another noob who wants some brainiacs to whip up a dream car for him that he'll never even build anyways. I'm starting to see it more and more.

[eckoman_pdx]

Originally Posted by GScivic7

there is a guy over at superhonda and he hits 12's on a boosted d15

I'm not saying it can't be done...I am saying that if he can't currently afford a swap, then he can't afford to properly build and boost the D15. Speed takes money. I am well aware a D15 can be built up. Or any D for that matter. Also, that D15 probably isn't very streetable, I am guessing. He'll want to consider that when choosing his motor set-up, do I want this for racing? Or is it my daily driver too. If it's a daily driver, you'd want to keep it streetable.

[eckoman_pdx]

Originally Posted by Ricochet

It's hardly worth arguing because he's just another noob who wants some brainiacs to whip up a dream car for him that he'll never even build anyways. I'm starting to see it more and more.

Agree'd. Either that, or they want speed and mods for cheap or free. Speed takes money, and you get what you pay for. When I started building my car, and I am guessin you too, since you've been on here a while also, I didn't have anything like this. I had to learn it from magazines, books, and just plain learn it the hard way. There was no AF to go and search for an brainiac answer on.

[Ricochet]

Magazines and speedshops offering "great deals" gave me all my advice. I took their advice and my common sense to build my own car. I ended up blowing two motors, but it was fun Now I'm happy with the R.

[eckoman_pdx]

Originally Posted by Ricochet

Magazines and speedshops offering "great deals" gave me all my advice. I took their advice and my common sense to build my own car. I ended up blowing two motors, but it was fun Now I'm happy with the R.

Isn't that the truth. Getting there and learning it all, trying to figure it all out, that was almost as much fun the end result.

[Uranium387]

Originally Posted by Ricochet

It's hardly worth arguing because he's just another noob who wants some brainiacs to whip up a dream car for him that he'll never even build anyways. I'm starting to see it more and more.

Sorry if I came off that way, that's not really what I was looking for. I understand that "speed costs money" and there is no cheap solution, but I only wanted to know what kind options I was looking at. So far I've seen several options, ranging from I/H/E to a full swap & turbo, and from what I've read, it seems like my engine isn't the best in the world to build up, nor are my pockets deep enough to swap in a more powerful engine. So for right now I'll just save up my $$$ and decide later what I'll do with it when I can actually do -something- worthwhile. At least I didn't decide to rice it out