97 Prelude Mods

[Lude394]

I have a 97 prelude with exhaust, intake and vafc. Any suggestions for future mods. Im trying to stay away from forced induction and I don't have to much money to spend.

[94preludeSI]

If you dont already have them a new header and highflow cat will do you well...

[partyhardryan16]

i have been told a high flow cat is worthless, but i have never had one, is it worth putting on my car, how much am i looking at for a HP increase?

[partyhardryan16]

get some spark plugs and plug wires, also i heard that AEM tru power pully kits are a good little increase, cams and cam gears... HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO SPEND?

[GrpHicDeZiner]

Best upgrade for the money I have found on my prelude,.... first get new header. You willnotice a slight difference, but they are only $250-300 for good ones. Also, Something I just changed 2 weeks ago and was an AWESOME upgrade! Get new Spark Plug wires and high current plugs, the wires I got are OBX 10.3mm (stock are 7 or 8mm I believe) and they are on eBay for only $60... then high current hot plugs are about $7 each. This really did make a noticeable difference though! Claimed to gain 2-5% HP and for only $90 mod it was worth it, they are just sort of a bitch to install though.

[partyhardryan16]

low long does it take to install the wires and plugs?

[GrpHicDeZiner]

Takes about 15 mins.There are also type R 10.2mm wires on eBay for about $50 with shipping, and the OBX are $60 shipped. They have yellow, red, + blue. I forgot the exact name of the plugs I got, but they were special plugs... they were called something "----- hot plugs" or soemthing like that.... it ios easy to find some high current or ones that will produce a bigger or more spark. You don't have to change them out, but it is for maximum power increase if you do so that the wires and all are working to their full potential.

I'm planning on someday getting the JRSC for my 97' lude in about a year or so... Although, kinda pricey for all the extra upgrades you should get with it if you want to do it right I hear. Lata!

[Prelewd]

Originally Posted by partyhardryan16

low long does it take to install the wires and plugs?

Like 5-10 minutes.. Maybe I misunderstood you Grphic, but why would you take your valve cover off to change your plug wires and plugs?

Personally, I wouldn't even bother getting the so-called "high performance" plug wires and plugs since I change them every 11,000 miles or so anyway. Kind of a waste of money for that low of a performace gain.

It's also been said a thousand times before in this forum (and aces is a nazi about this).. The OE exhaust manifold on the 5th gen flows very well. You wont see many gains unless you buy a more exspensive header.

[GrpHicDeZiner]

Maybe you don't have to take it off... when I looked at it all I figured it would be easier to get to the plugs... but also I took it off to paint it red... I got engine coat paint stuff at autozone for a few bucks and wanted to paint my valve cover, anyways... wires are worth the money at least, for $60, worth it.

[partyhardryan16]

i got OBX off ebay for 60 shipped, also i think theres a tool u can buy to pull the plugs right out, and do the plug wires just pop right out too? it seems like they would, i mean its just rubber ends and when i got my wires changed on my old accord one of the wires never wanted to stay in the block, and it seemed like i could remove all the wires in like a minute, can someone just reassure me that with a tool to remove the plugs themselves it would be an easy job?

[crzyCollegeKid]

yup, for the 1,000,001 time, the OEM exhaust manifold is very good. i was myself surprised how freaking similar it looked to my headers when i took the valve cover off. also, the OEM ignition is very good as well unless you have a heavily modified engine, which it doesn't sound like you do. and a lot of socket wrench sets bring a socket labeled "spark plug", no special tool required.

[partyhardryan16]

ok, but that really didn't answer my question, i didn't ask about the header, i already have one

[Lude394]

I am looking to spend around another grand total. I've been looking at the pacesetter headers has anyone heard good things about them?

[GrpHicDeZiner]

My friend had pacesetter headers on his integra and they cracked... I havn't really heard too much about them, but what I have heard about them wasn't anything good so far, you get what you pay for and since those are around $140-150 you really get less quality for the money...

Partyhardryan:
Check in socket tool as Crazycollege said above, my socket set has one labeled "spark plug socket" and the wires just pull off, twist and pull if they are stuck a lil, it will free them easier.

[GrpHicDeZiner]

Get an Apex-I VAFC with that $1k you are gonna spend, they are about $300, when properly tuned, they make a big difference