Free HP

okay i have a 98 honda civic and i have a question on how to get some hp out of it. i'm really low on funds and i was wondering what i could do to my car to get a some extra hp without having to spend little to no money. if you could help me i'd be really gratefull.

[pdiggitydogg]

remove the air resonator. its the black piping that makes the air flow in quietly. its attached to the air filter box and makes a U shape with another box near the bottom of the U. Just take it out and you should gain a few ponies. you can always just remove the filter...not exactly recommended though

Ebay sometimes Hi-Flo filters, like K&N, for less, but they dont last anywhere near as long, but if your looking for cheap they are the way to go because they do work just as good...for a bit. But drop that in along with the removed resonator and its almost the same as a ram air intake (short filter-on-a-stick. You could make a cold air adapter for this too but that sounds like work to me.

Thats about all I can think of for free power...oh and for occasional power just turn off all your acc. (ie the radio, AC for sure, lights, you know)

[blind34_1]

If you don't use your AC, just remove it. That's what I'm going to do for mine, but of course mines not working anyway, and requires a conversion.

You can get a k&n typhoon intake for around $142. I'm sure apc makes cheaper crap though.

Get a fuel injection service done. they run about $50 and they clean out your injectors and whatnot of carbon deposits. If 50 is too rich for you go to autozone of something and pick up that STP injector cleaner.

some people seem to think decals add 5 horses each...jfwy

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Free speed = weight reduction. Every little bit helps if you really want to go fast, so start removing things

[thermal]

advance timing. have an expert do it.

[pdiggitydogg]

Originally posted by thermalfi'd16
advance timing. have an expert do it.

how much would that cost to have it done by a pro, because I have no idea what that even involves

[Addict]

Originally posted by 94_AcCoRd_EX
Free speed = weight reduction. Every little bit helps if you really want to go fast, so start removing things

Yep. Spare tire can go. Back seats, front seats, dashboard, rearview mirror.....

[AzCivic]

Originally posted by thermalfi'd16
advance timing. have an expert do it.

Don't you need a chip to advance the timing on the OBDII cars.

[AzCivic]

How much if any does taking off the power steering pump off give.

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by AzCivic
How much if any does taking off the power steering pump off give.

Removing belt driven accessories will give you better throttle response and a little bit of hp/tq across the powerband. The nice thing about removing parts like ps pump / ac is that you remove parasitic drag and the dead weight of the part.

[nonovurbizniz]

ya but if you don't swap out the hydrolic rack for the manual rack out of a dx etc. it'll rot over time (pbbly blow seals)

so unless you can sell the original p/s pump and rack you'll end up paying for a manual rack
(no you don't have to but turning the car will be harder with the p/s rack w/o the p/s pump then it would be with the manual rack w/o p/s pump)

[thermal]

for Si owners, this will surely work. for SOHC owners, it can be done also. read the link:
http://jdmfan.com/technical/performance/advancedtiming/

[ShagginJet]

I'm thinking of pulling my AC unit, it doesn't work. If i cut the belt, will that effect anything else? Other question is, should i actually pull the entire unit and piping, would that help too?

[blind34_1]

Well I'd say just take everything out that you don't use. Don't just leave all the AC components in there, thats extra weight. I do remember hearing something about if you take the ac out you have to put in something so the belt still spins. I don't know, that sounds like crap to me. I'd say just take it all out.
Take out that power steering too. It gives you more control over steering when you dont have it. IMO

[nonovurbizniz]

careful with that timing advance thats the best way to get detonation w/o no2 or turbo/sc

[slowEJ6]

tighten your throttle cable a bit, removing the resonator isnt going to really give you a few hp.....

[AzCivic]

When your driving, open the door and push with your left leg.

[pdiggitydogg]

sure removing the resonator and dropping in a hiflow filter will add on some hp...about 1/3 and maybe a whole single hp if there is no filter at all!

[ShagginJet]

So i'm not going to mess anything up by pulling the AC unit and cutting the belt? RIGHT?

[ChrisCantSkate]

Originally posted by pdiggitydogg
sure removing the resonator and dropping in a hiflow filter will add on some hp...about 1/3 and maybe a whole single hp if there is no filter at all!

actualy, a quality highflow filter without the resinator will retain your low end tq, and still give decent top end gains. on h22 preludes, the spoon high flow filter yeilded like 1 or 2hp less than a aem cai with a k&n high flow cone filter, but it had better low end tq, and about the same mid range.

[blind34_1]

To try to answer shagginjet's question, It shouldn't make a difference. Take the belt off first and start your car (with the ac switch OFF) and see what happens. Let it run for a bit and see if there are any odd noises or anything. If not, your all good. Take out the rest of the ac system and you should be straight. Anyone want to contradict me?

I think in other cars there is one single belt controlling everything, including the ac pump. Thats why you can't just remove it, you put in a pulley to "fool" the belt and allow it to run just the same. In Honda's, or at least yours, I'm pretty sure they have their own dedicated belt for the ac.

:o just go in and pull as much out as possilbe that is not needed for running the car. pull out the ac the power steering, sound deadening, and anything else that's no nessecary than your car will be light and thus faster. or just go buy a better car.

[pdiggitydogg]

ok thats way too many faces

Gah, can't ya just put some under pullys on the damn AC and PS?