Question: Cheapest horsepower?

[Cammajamma77]

ok i recently bought a 94 handa civic hatchback vtec. it is completely stock and i am planning on buying headers, exhaust, and intake at some time but money doesnt grow on trees and im not rich. which of these will provide the most horsepower and performance gains for the least money? would cold air or short ram intake be a better choice?

[GScivic7]

well out of i/h/e i would say header will do you the most good. as for cold air or short ram, definetely go with a cold air. If you're looking for cheap horsepower, N20 is the best bang for the buck, just don't be stupid with it and use a 100 shot jet on a stock motor

[Redrunner]

Originally Posted by GScivic7

well out of i/h/e i would say header will do you the most good. as for cold air or short ram, definetely go with a cold air. If you're looking for cheap horsepower, N20 is the best bang for the buck, just don't be stupid with it and use a 100 shot jet on a stock motor

I LOVE N2O. And people can tell you all day dont get crazy blah blah. but when you get it and hit it for first time you forget all that. I just got mine working and I used my n2o on a old lady lol. I could not help best thing to do it get it a lock bottle up and give key to a friend

[BullShifter]

Cold-air intake will do more than a header. I agree with the Nitrous suggestion - best bang for your $$$. Zex kits(dry 55HP shot) are very simple & easy to use/install. The next best thing IMO is head work.

Speed cost money - the faster you wanna go, the more it costs.

[Ricochet]

Originally Posted by jackasssi

Speed cost money - the faster you wanna go, the more it costs.

Exponentially... It all starts with a $100 intake, then a few $100 parts here and there for cam sprockets etc., then you'll spend $400 for a header, $450 for an exhaust, $500 for n2o, $1200 for rims/tires, $1600 for a turbo, $2000 in turbo goodies, etc etc etc... and it will never be fast enough for you. Speed is addicting and you'll find any way possible to buy that new part. Don't even bother with nitrous, there's no worse feeling pulling up next to a mustang at a red light with an empty bottle. Filling the bottle is more addicting than crack.

Your car will never be fast if you don't turbocharge it or swap in a new engine. It will just be loud and slow.

[Jay eS Iye]

Originally Posted by Ricochet

Exponentially... It all starts with a $100 intake, then a few $100 parts here and there for cam sprockets etc., then you'll spend $400 for a header, $450 for an exhaust, $500 for n2o, $1200 for rims/tires, $1600 for a turbo, $2000 in turbo goodies, etc etc etc... and it will never be fast enough for you. Speed is addicting and you'll find any way possible to buy that new part. Don't even bother with nitrous, there's no worse feeling pulling up next to a mustang at a red light with an empty bottle. Filling the bottle is more addicting than crack.

Your car will never be fast if you don't turbocharge it or swap in a new engine. It will just be loud and slow.

you don't need a 100 dollar intake, you can get a cheaper one or make your own, just make sure you have a quality filter. and headers you can find cheaper too, tho the best will be more expensive... you just gotta know where to look for everything

[eckoman_pdx]

Originally Posted by Jay eS Iye

you don't need a 100 dollar intake, you can get a cheaper one or make your own, just make sure you have a quality filter. and headers you can find cheaper too, tho the best will be more expensive... you just gotta know where to look for everything

His $100 intake comment was an example using average price. Also, yes, we all know you can make a custom intake. But for REAL speed and a performance motor, you can't cut cost like that. You gotta put in the stronger rods and pistions, the new cams, the cam gears, do the degreeing, blueprint the motor, re-sleeve, close the deck, put toghter a turbo kit, prot and polish, do a vavle job, new springs, retainers, etc...you better spend the money on the quality parts and if you don't possess the knowlegde to do it, pay to have it done right. YOu get what you pay for here, both with parts and work. It's not cheap. Thats what he means. You start with a cheep intake, a bottle of N2O. Then you want more, you swap the motor, pay to have it built, etc. If you don't build it right, it won't last. Period. YOu gotta have a quilty performance build to start with speed. And as they said, speed isnt cheap. If you want a real performance motor and real big HP gains, you have to have a properly built motor and a turbo. That can produce insane HP levels on these 4-bangers. But is not cheap. If you want cheap speed and HP. Like true power. There is no cheap route. A CAI will do more than a header, ture...and for less. And N2O will be cheape than the motor build/turbo. But the built motor and turbo is true power, not out of a bottle. It's always there....it doens't run out when a bottle is low...no need to re-fill....and more important, when built right, you don't risk blowing the motor like a 100 shot would on that stock motor. I know a guy in cali who's had a 500HP Boosted LS/Vtec for several years. Did all the work himself, and LS/Vtec, the engine build up, the turbo manifold design and construction, the turbo install etc. That's a true performance motor, and that car will fly. But is wasn't cheap, ever with him doing all the work. But the result was an i nsane amount of power. Like we said. There really is no true cheap HP increase. HP increase exponetually, then more $$ you put in, the more HP potential you will have.