What should I do to a 1996 Accord LX Auto?

[EmpireKing01]

I was thinking of adding a rear spoiler (~$100 off ebay) a hood scoop (~$30 off ebay) and the blue xenon headlights (~$20). I was also going to buy the $7 resistor for your ECU, but after searching the forums I have determined it is crap. I wanna buy the APEXi style universal muffler (~$50 on ebay) as well, but would I need to buy anything else with that as well? Any suggestions or comments for cheaply improving horsepower or anything else? Thanks for helping a noob.

[Silverbolt]

wuw.. slow down cowboy! Ok, lets start with the basics. I/H/E... intake, header, and exhuast. Lower your car and rims. Your question should be what kind of I/H/E should I buy, or how low should I lower my car.

My quesion to you is, how crazy do you want to get with your car, how much money are you willing to spend, do you just want a really fast car that looks good, or a decently fast car that looks really good? Are you show, or go... or both... or more one than the other. Do you want a loud intimidationg car, or a sleeper... where its quite and people underestimate you so you can smoke them.

[EmpireKing01]

Well, I want a little of both. I dont want to turbo charge it and add NOS or anything, but I would like that deep sporty tone. I probably wont get a custom paint job either. I dont want to max anything out, since I lack the funds. Ok so lets start with the I/H/E, what are good brands/models and how much would they cost? And how would I go about lowering my car? Thanks.

[Ricochet]

Holy moly a noob who knows how to search! I bow to you, please let this be the beginning of a new trend. i/h/e will cost about a grand, make your car sound cool, but only add like 10-15hp at most. In an auto, all that stuff isn't even really that fun becaust you can't really "control" the sound as much. I don't know man, but imo an auto Accord isn't a very good platform to start building on unless you go swap or turbo crazy. Just get an exhaust for starters and see how you like it.

[T!mmy]

not doubting you Ricochet because you usually know your shit but how much are headers? Because if you say a grand. the exhaust is 5-600, intake is like 150? and I THOUGHT header was 500 never looked at em though. Once again I'm not bitching you just wondering how much everything is.
thanks

[99civic03]

Originally Posted by T!mmy

Because if you say a grand. the exhaust is 5-600, intake is like 150? and I THOUGHT header was 500 never looked at em though.

Exhaust will run you anywhere from 350-600, intake 85-250, and header 250-500.

[Ricochet]

I was just saying "about" a grand because all brands are different prices. The text in between the lines was saying it's expensive for such a small amount of power.

[EmpireKing01]

Yikes, $1k is bit much for an unemployed 16 year old. I might just get an exhaust and see how that goes. Can I install this myself or will I have to get a professional to do it? (I dont have much experience with a car, but I do have common sense and learn quickly, I built the computer im sitting at). Do you recommend those cheap ebay exhausts for about $50 - $100? And how about the cold air intakes on ebay which I saw for this car for about $30? And I heard that the blue xenon HID bulbs on ebay which are $20 are crap, is this true? Because I would really like to have that look without spending so much money for an HID kit. Also, what do you think about the flip trunk mod? Last thing, what do you think about the aluminum univeral spoilers on ebay? So many questions, appreciate all the help.

[Silverbolt]

Intake: I would recomend getting a CAI intake (cold air induction intake). AEM is known for they're amazing quality CAI. But the because they are so well known, they have become quite expensive. I would recommend looking at CP CAI... (CP = Check Point). I think the website is www.checkpointautoaccessories.com If you live in Southern California near 909 or 626, I can help you out with this one. They are basically an exact replica of AEMs design at half the price... and it comes with a metal intake filter, simalar to the Blitz filter. Do a search and study the CAI. To sum it up though.. the arm bends all the way down into the bumper/wheel well to suck in cold fresh air instead of inside the engine bay. Colder air = more oxygen... more oxegen = beter combustion... better combustion = more hp.

Headers: go with a 4:2:1 versus a 4:1 headers. the 421 headers give you better low end, but lacks high end power... and considering you have an auto, you'll probably want more torque to make up for that. DC is well known for they amazing quality headers. Do some research on this too.

Exhaust: ok... theres just too much of a selection and so many styles out there for me to point in any direction. But I'll try my best to break it down... you got your canister style exauast muffler which is basically a cylinder, can looking muffler. And theres the mufflers that actually look like the OEM style muffler with a tip that has a "neck". I preffer the second one.. the one that looks more like the oem style (oem = original equipment manufacter ie stock) Greddy is pretty well known for they're exhausts systems. Also, dont get those universal mufflers... get the full exhaust systems that are made specifically for your car.

"A chain is only as strong as its weekest link"
The I/H/E is the breathing system of the car. You can have the top intake, top headers, top muffler but not exhaust system... you'll have little... almost no gains. The stop piping in your OEM exhaust system is the weekest link... and you'll only get the maximum increase in hp that your stock pipes will allow.

[EmpireKing01]

Thanks alot Silverbolt, I'll research into everything you said.

[Silverbolt]

Originally Posted by EmpireKing01

Yikes, $1k is bit much for an unemployed 16 year old. I might just get an exhaust and see how that goes. Can I install this myself or will I have to get a professional to do it? (I dont have much experience with a car, but I do have common sense and learn quickly, I built the computer im sitting at). Do you recommend those cheap ebay exhausts for about $50 - $100? And how about the cold air intakes on ebay which I saw for this car for about $30? And I heard that the blue xenon HID bulbs on ebay which are $20 are crap, is this true? Because I would really like to have that look without spending so much money for an HID kit. Also, what do you think about the flip trunk mod? Last thing, what do you think about the aluminum univeral spoilers on ebay? So many questions, appreciate all the help.

I'm glad you brought up bulbs and spoilers... so that way I can keep this post here lol! Yeah, cuz the i/h/e talk doesnt really belong here.. but I'll let it stay cuz I havent talked about this stuff in a long time lol.

Bulbs... Dont order them online cuz you never know what you're going to get... I guess its like a box of chocolates If you live in So Cal, you can get good quality bulbs for $15 - $20 in any store anywyas.. so theres no point in ordering online. PIAA is expensive, but its worth researching. Rabrig is known for bulbs... ShowOffs... Nokya ...Vision (I cant find these anymore, but for me, they were the best!) 100watts are pretty damn bright, but you run a slight risk of melting your housing or harness (i've never had this problem or seen any in person.. only "hear-say") I usually try to stay as close to 100 cuz its better. Blue glass bulbs look white because the blue glas nutrualizes the natural yellow tint of the light. The downside is the blue glass dims the light in order to filter out the yellow, causing the light to be not as bright, and that is why its better to have a higher wattage/brightness bulb to compensate for this side effect. A pair of bulbs will probably last you around 2-5 months. My Visions lasted me 14 months.

Spoiler... lets wait on that. Do reasearch on body kits first... thats assuming that you want a body kit. Once you find the body kit of your liking, then look for a spoiler that compliments it. Dont buy a tie and look for a suit and shirt to match it... buy a suit and shirt and find a tie that matches it. Make sence. Spoilers are only slightly functional on a front wheel drive car. It keeps traction on your rear wheels. Alot of people like to b*tch and say they are pointless on a front wheel drive car.... If someone is weaving in and out of obsticles and/or cars at extreme speeds 100mph, would you want traction to your rear wheels, or would you rather fish tail out of control and spin out when you try to manuver?

and as for the i/h/e... I'd say just do the intake yourself. Its the easiest one. If you can handle that with ease... maybe you can go with the headers. Take baby steps.. one at a time.

[Ricochet]

For an unemployed 16 year old, I'd recommend a cold air intake first. Makes your engine sound cool and adds the most power of the three from my experiences... I mean it's bringing in more combustable air. This is all really just splitting hairs though, as none of them will really push you back in the seat when you hit the gas. If you get some more aggressive cams and internal work done, you'll see larger gains even with stock piping. New cams/sprockets and some dynotuning could probably even get you up to about 150-160hp if you get some quality parts. By dynotuning, a shop can get everything in working order for maximum gains.

[T!mmy]

I once again bow down to ricochet lol

[Ricochet]

whoa hey not in public

[Silverbolt]

In my eyes... you're still making up for the whole 5th gen and 6th gen civic tail lights advice you gave. lol