Need help with model choice.

[CAptynCrunch]

Ok, I'm not the biggest civic fan myself. It's not because i don't like the car specifically, in fact the 5th gen hatch is my second favourite FWD car after the protege. it's just I'm kinda against FWD in general because I prefer RWD.

However, my friend is not quite as serious about motor sports as myself and is asking for advice on a first car. His parents are willing to spend about 3-4000 canadian. For this price I was thinking a 5th gen. civic hatch. He is going to pay for upgrades however he won't be able to spend quite as much as most people would because he has other interests to feed.

The good thing is that he has seen the light and doesn't want to drag race, instead he wants a street/track car. So what i need help with is deciding on a model of civic. The aim is a light-weight hatch with approx. 200-250HP. Other than that the only concerns are suspension ones which i can deal with as they come.

The best idea i can come up with is getting which ever model of hatch has the best engine stock from the 5th gens because an engine swap is not an option. What engines came in them? d16? what? and then, going junk yard turbo.

Since we only want about 200-250HP i was thinking a stock engine with low milage wouldn't need any rebuilding to run say 6-7psi. I figuire this with full intake, header and exhaust should be enough to reach the aim of 200-250HP. Am i correct?

So basically what I'm asking is which engine from the 5th gens would respond best to a little boost without any rebuilding, and which model did it come in?

I figure with junking and ebay I can probably rig up a turbo, manifold and possibly a turbo timer for about $1500, sound reasonable?

[csaddict]

I think 1500 is kinda low for a 250hp civic. You need to take into consideration what engine you are going to start with.

[CAptynCrunch]

What engine to work with is what I'm asking. Unfortunately a swap is not an option so I'm asking which model has the best engine STOCK for boost. From looking at edmunds.com it seems that only the Si hatch came with a 1.6L which I'm thinking is the d16z6? am i right?

If so is this a good engine to start with if i want to run about 6-7psi. of boost without doing any engine rebuilding?

All installation will be done by me and I won't be using brand name mods. The intake i can fabricate for about $50. The exhaust will just be straight stainless steel piping done by a local garage for cheap.

I can get a t3 for about $300 off ebay. All thats left then is the exhaust manifold, turbo timer and other various maintenance related bits and pieces.