CRX+high rev=disaster

About two months ago I purchased a '90 CRX DX Auto... Ran great, completely stock. I modified the air box and made it "Cold air induction" which surprisingly gave me a few more extra revs. Anyway, I would shift from low gear, drive 2, drive... and hit the rev limiter each time in the lower gears. So a few weeks ago I got home from work, parked. Went outside to move it and had a rough start so I accelerate to get it cranking. Then... BANG, tick tick ping ping tick... and you get the point. This is my first engine I've toasted, I guess I should keep to vehicles with over 80 HP.