indecisive mind...

[phishmann]

hey guys i just got a 95 prelude si about a month ago and am just starting to scrape up some extra cash to start putting mods on it.
The only thing is though im not sure what i should get first:
a cold air intake or a catback system

the intake would definitely be cheaper but would it be a better idea for me to just save my money for a while and get the catback system first, im not sure at this point.

[Phunyguy]

welp... the Cold Air Intake would be cheaper... just make sure you get a bypass valve so you don't end up scrapin up $1500 for a new engine like me...

[ShoofIsLudin]

I'd go with the CAI w/ bypass valve, your lude should be beating civics and integras stock, or at least be close. The Cold Air Intake will add a small amount of HP, but it will sound pretty good, when u hear the intake suck in...thats my opinion, but i don't like the basketball size exhausts that kids put on cars....i had just an AEM intake on my H23 (non vtec), and i thought it sounded pretty good and i was keeping up with a stock GSR(vtec).

[rmckim]

Originally Posted by Phunyguy

welp... the Cold Air Intake would be cheaper... just make sure you get a bypass valve so you don't end up scrapin up $1500 for a new engine like me...

How did the lack of a bypass valve affect your engine? Water get into it... or something else?

I have oem air intakes in my lude and teg with an FX and K&N filter in each, respectively. Of the two, the FX is cheaper and much better. I wish the teg had a catback like the lude, but i can't justify it for a '90 machine.

[Phunyguy]

Originally Posted by rmckim

How did the lack of a bypass valve affect your engine? Water get into it... or something else?

air filter got totally immersed in a puddle at high RPM's therefore filling the cylinders with water. Water doesnt compress like air and fuel does - its already compressed as far as it will go... so naturally my engine is a twisted mess inside including half of a connecting rod being shot through the block. The bypass valve just senses the vacuum pressure of water coming up the intake and a valve opens letting air in the engine from right before the throttle body instead of from where the water is being sucked up so the water just falls back out.

[plum]

yea some guy posted pics of his engine after it was "hydrolocked" or when water got sucked in and he has a hole straight through his engine housing like 2-4 inch diameter if not more.....crazy stuff

[510prelude]

i think the bypass valve really depends on where u live, if ur like me and u live in Southern Cali its kinda a waste of money since there isnt much rain, and the only puddles u get are from sprinklers.