Finally got my car...

After 2 years of stress and trying to convince my dad to pay for some % of the car, as of April 4th/2002 I was the owner of a 1997 Honda Prelude (Auto). Pics will be uploaded when time permits (finals creeping up).

Now, I am a complete newbie when it comes to cars. I was wondering if you guys could give me any resources on the web or guide me to books and such so I could start learning about cars (how they work, etc..). I really want to start modding the heck out of it but my newbieness will probably get me jipped somewhere :( So I gotta start learning somewhere!

As for modding, which parts would you guys mod first performance-wise? Intake, Exhaust, etc? Also how much boost in HP would you approx get from modding certain parts of your car?

I again apologize for my newbieness but please try to answer

well first of all welcome we're always glad to get newbies! especially prelude ones as for mods, most people go for intake, exhaust and headers. as for hp gain, it all depends. i honestly don't know too much about specific gains, so i'm not even gonna comment. but when i got my intake in my old civic i did notice quite a bit of a difference. most people do the intake first... and it's usually AEM cold air. so i'd recommend that as your first mod. anyone else??

[ChrisCantSkate]

welcome aboard the board, im chris, the mod, as far as mods and what to do first, i'd go with an intake and then a cat back exaust followed by headers, with those mods you should have about a 15-20hp gain. you should feel a good difference.

try this site http:\\www.howstuffworks.com

it has tons of great stuff on autos

[KwikR6]

Hey another welcome from another mod here...I don't have a prelude..but listen to 4thgen..thore figures are about right...and it's a damn good start...after that maybe get into some cams, true time came gears. that'll boost it...but maybe put a drop on your ride and some rims. Just some suggestions.

Thanks for the response guys!

I heard that the AEM cold air intake is hailed as one of the best. Would that be a good starting mod?

Also, I tested out my Prelude today.

0-60 - 9.2 sec (rolling start)
0-60 - 10sec
quarter mile - 17.72 sec

Not that these tests were performed by me for the first time...but I feel that my car is freakin' slow compared to other times I have seen..

I think a MTX prelude does 0-60sec in about 7.75 sec or less...

What do you guys think?? I feel this is a bit slow...don't you think?

Considering my friend with a 1998 Chevy Z24 (MTX) was FASTER (the only mod he had was a K&N cold air intake)...

His times:

0-60 - 8.8 sec
quarter mile - 17.00 sec...

Beat by a Cavalier? Is something wrong with my car??

As a last note - any good online sites where I can order the AEM cold air intake?

[ebpda9]

yep try www.coximports.com the aem intake is about 180 with free shipping

and 17 sec for the 1/4 of a mile ? that's slower than my busted accord

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

ynd69 - how did you measure those times??? Those are way to slow.

Originally posted by 94_AcCoRd_EX
ynd69 - how did you measure those times??? Those are way to slow.

Ok this is how I did them.

Went to a deserted road with my buddy. He drove 400m in the opposite direction. He flashed his lights (signalling that I can go, at that time he also started the stopwatch) and I stepped on the gas. When I passed him he stopped the stopwatch.

My time was 17.72 sec which is crappy. Also a lot of human error in this setup is possible. I was hoping to keep it near 15 sec. I am quite frustrated that my buddy got a time of 17.00 sec with a 98 Z24 (only mod is K&N air intake)...beaten by a 150hp vehicle...

What could be wrong with my Prelude? Granted that it's automatic transmission...but still...

Also when I floor it I expect my tires to spin, and even that does not happen. Only when I hit 5000 RPM then I feel the VTEC kicking in...al in all the acceleration of this vehicle is pretty slow :(

Any ideas guys? Should I take it to Honda to let them have a look?

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

There's nothing wrong with your car, its your timing method. That is so inaccurate its crazy... remember when running at a track, your time doesn't start until you cross the line, not when it turns green. You're adding in your reaction time to your quarter mile time this way. Try to borrow a G-Tech (even though then tend to read a little quick).

[KwikR6]

Yeah man that's way to slow for a lude...my friend has a 99 lude and raced my other friends caviler gt and another dudes gsr and ****ing killed them both...no contest...

Hm...even if my tests are flawed (highly likely), my friend's Z24 is still keeping up with me despite having less HP...which greatly bothers me...

I am gonna go race with him today, and report back.

[Kyle]

Your car's standard right?...maybe you just need a little more practice driving...that always helps...

Originally posted by Mobbo
Your car's standard right?...maybe you just need a little more practice driving...that always helps...

It's a SS (looked thoroughly for a manual, found an AUTO in VERY good condition, and couldn't wait either).

I did race him, and sure enough he had a lead over me at the start, but I caught up and beat him hehe...

[ChrisCantSkate]

well, i havnt driven a SS prelude, or a 5th gen for that matter, but form the sound of it you just need some time learning how to get the prelude off the line. cause you saw once you get rolling your definitaly faster than him, try holding the brake and reving the engine to the point of the tires ALMOST spinning. my friend with a fairladyZ 300zx (its a non-turbo) does that and he can take me off the line despite the fact he's auto. i take him in the long run however. you want to get the tires to bairly loose traction you will just need to go out with a gtec and mess around. its the only way to get better unless you can feel it.