Where to start
 

I have been considering adding some engine modifications to my 93 delsol to give a little boost in speed. Where's the best place to start for someone who only has a few hundred dollars to spend? I don't want to comprimise quality at this point by purchasing sub-standar mods... but I just don't have a lot of money at the present time to start with.

Intake / Header / Exhaust !

You may want to first check out a decent cold air induction system to replace the restrictive factory intake system. If you are on a budget you can make your own using a K&N filter and routing it into the fender well or front bumper of the car. Then I would look at getting a bigger exhaust and headers. Go to big on the exhaust and you will lose some low end grunt unless you have some sort of forced induction.

If you really want bang for the buck I'd look into getting NItrous

:cool:

Don't buy NOS. Many people make this mistake, and don't know exactly how much to shoot.

If you have a Vtec equipped Del Sol, I'd recommend buying new camshafts, valves, springs, retainers. Once this is done, get yourself the Intake, header, and exhaust combo. These three things only make a real affect on your performance when the head's been worked on.

Starting points
 

I am guessing that you have SOHC Vtec? i wouldn't wast time with the cam and head work if it is. The question is you after looks or performance? If performance is the answer start with something like the Intake/Header/Exhaust that was mentioned. Aem/JG/Tannabe or somethin like that. I don't reccommend DC headers cause I know too many people that have had the welds crack. Most headers look the same anyways. To be honest I wouldn't skimp on parts if this is the engine that you are going to be keeping in the car. If you are going to do a transplant then don't waste the time putting parts on an engine that is going to get replaced.

what do you want?
 

ultimately, what do you want to do to your ride......are you going to keep it for a longtime? then after that i would decide on what to do....

right now, i am building a b18c1 n/a motor for my girlfriends del sol...we are keeping the car so ultimately, the dohc motor is a better platform to go with,

hope that helps

The performance upgrade that will give you the best improvement in acceleration for the least amount of money would be a light weight flywheel. You can pick one up anywhere between $150.00 and $300.00 depending on which brand and how light you want it. You will notice a larger difference in performance than you would with an exhaust system or intake and it is much less expensive than head work.

just make sure u plan before u purchase. I/H/E is good start. u can also come up with a custom turbo. buy the parts slowly. junkyard turbos are effective as long as u know what you're getting.

check out this book "CIVIC DUTY" by Alan Paradise

this book focuses on civics del sols and crxs and it has a lot of good info for the first time tuner or the experienced gear head

it was published in 2000 so the info is pretty up to date

Personally, I'd save that couple hundred bucks and save for a B16A swap. In the long run, you'll get a much better engine with a lot more potential.

If you want something and you want it now, get an AEM Cold Air Intake. Dollar for dollar, the most performance you can get without spending a ton of money.

Everyone has good points, especially Sirus and crx. The Intake/Header/Exhaust combo is very common when beginning to try and get more power. One thing that many people forget though, is that this will not have as much of an impact unless the heads have been worked on. The main difference between the Integra GSR and Type-R is the head work. Both car basically have the same set-up, but the Type-R carries an extra 25 horsepower. Doing the I/H/E first isn't that big of a deal, but to maximixe your power from these mods, plan on getting some head work done! Hope this helps!!!:eek:

and if a turbo might be in your plans, dont waist your money on headers, you'll have to sell them. baiscaly, i tell everyone the first mod you should do is a intake, its cheap and you get the most bang for you buck, it changes the sound of your car and adds minor hp. its a great start off point and your possibilitys are still limitless, he said that he was on a budget, i dont hink headwork is something he needs to look at now. after intake, start saving for with a cat-back exaust or get a custom mandrel bent 2.5 or 3' exaust piping with your choise of high flow muffler. a flywheel is a nice mod and for the price great gains, but unless you got hookups, the install will be almost 300 bones. something to think about when u buy something, cams=$$ to install flywheel clutch lsd=$$ to install. i gotta get my throwout berring changed, install on it is almost 15x's how much the part costs.

The majority of the power difference between the GSR and the Type-R is in the camshafts and the higher redline, due to stronger internals, but the larger ports and intake manifold design (single runner as opposed to dual) definitely help.

4thgen actually brings up an excellent point. If you plan to go turbo, an intake and header will be a waste of money. I always tell people to think about what they want their engine to be as a finished product, and work from there. Otherwise, you may make investments that will either be a waste (intake and header with turbo) or not as nearly as good as what you could have done (4-2-1 header as opposed to 4-1 with serious all motor). Think about what you want to outrun, what it will take to get there, then go nuts.

WELL I GUESS IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR GOALS. IF YOU WANT TO GO REALLY REALLY FAST THEN YOU WILL NOT SEE THE PERFORMANCE BY JUST GETTING YOUR REGULAR BOLT ONS. dOING HEAD WORK WILL DRAMATICALLY CHANGE YOUR PERFORMANCE BUT THEN YOU GOTTA WORRY ABOUT IT PASSING SMOG AND THE COST OF PORTING AND POLISHING THE HEAD. i HAVE SPENT MONEY ON COLD AIR, HEADERS, AND EXHAUST BUT I NEVER REALLY FELT THE DIFFERENCE. I THEN GOT MY TURBO KIT FOR $1550 AND I NOTICED THE IMPROVEMENTS RIGHT AWAY. so WHAT IM TRYIN TO SAY IS THAT SAVE ALL YOUR MONEY FOR A FORCED INDUCTION OR NOS. IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME WHAT ROUTE YOU WOULD TAKE THEN I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY TURBO. fROM PAST EXPERIENCES I WASTED MY MONEY ON HEADERS, AND COLD INTAKE. TURBO KICKS ASS.

If you want to turbo later on then forget the headers and Cold Air Intake. With a supercharger, you still use the headers and CAI. It all depends on what you want. Most start with I/H/E. Then maybe some pullies, cam gear, gude head package. It just depens on your goals.

this has GOT the be the funniest thread i have ever read.
especially this line: "Everyone has good points, especially Sirus and crx. The Intake/Header/Exhaust combo is very common when beginning to try and get more power. One thing that many people forget though, is that this will not have as much of an impact unless the heads have been worked on. "

LMAO dude, you aghve got to be kidding.

i've been here for all of 4 messages, and i can already see i'm going to hav to sweep some rice out from under the rug here.

2nd gen teg has the best idea. save for a swap. I got my ls for $1200 shipepd to my door. i/h/e will run you 200 for I, 300 for H, 500 for E.

you do the math
5 horse for 1000, or 30 and 30ft lbs for 1200 more?

why waste an almost brand new engine? it also depends on a realistic goal. i say swap if u want to make tons of power later on. turbo your SOHC if you want, a decent pick up and chances to beat the I/H/E GSR's and Si's.............if u don't swap or turbo or build your internals, you will not gain the hp that you're looking for.......

I wouldn't swap it. Just turbo what you got. You'll love it. If your goals are 275hp and up then by all means, do a swap. Then turbo that b16 or b18.

i highly suggest you read my article about swaps that i wrote a few weeks ago...

the hunt for hybrids

Nice article......what do you have in yoru car?

right now, a i/h/e equipied d16z6.

hopefulyl before x-mass, the b18b1 wil be in, all built.
com spring, the hondata 4/b wil be in with my t3/t4 and come summer, i hope to dyno just under 400@ the wheels.

11.99 or bust :)

That's alota ponys:eek:

It'll happen.....paitence....hehehehe