Printable View
Hey everybody, I just bought an 88 Civic DX 3 days ago as my first car. Its a 5 speed ("and there was much rejoycing"). Anyways, i've been poking around looking at body kits and decals and stuff, and i was looking for imput on good kits, and pretty much any good beginner performance mods. I'd really appriciate any help.
Thanx
Sarcasm
------------------
-Oh, that was yours? you must have dropped it, i picked it up back there-
Well first off welcome to the board. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/smile.gif
For a body kit there is only one. It is the Wings West RS series bodykit.
Beginner performance mods:
I/H/E Intake, Header, and Exhaust.
You will find that with the dx motor it does not respond very well to performance mods. Just a word of warning because I used to have that motor.
Intake: You can get either a short ram intake or a cold air intake. A cold air intake is better and provides more power gains but it is more expensive. AEM and Iceman are two good brands.
Header: A 4-2-1 header would be a nice modifiication to your car. DCsports and Chikara are two that I can think of offhand. Stay away from pacesetter.
Exhaust: An exhaust will give you a great sound along with a little performance gain. Here are a list of manufacturers that make exhausts for the 88-91 civic
Catback:
DCsports
Thermal R&D
Bosal/Brospeed
Greddy
Tanabe
Axleback:
Tenzo-R
Vibrant
5-zigen
You could also buy a universal muffler and have a muffler shop make you some custom 2.25 inch mandrel bent piping.
I hope that this will help you out a bit. Happy modding. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/smile.gif
------------------
1991 Civic 4dr
B16A
a bunch of other mods
------------------------
AIM-jbprader
Well since I can't edit my last post since it says I am trying to hack the subject topic. Whatever that means?? http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/frown.gif
When I said there is only one kit I meant to say that there is only one kit that looks good. The WW kit is the cleanest looking bodykit for the 88-91 civic/crx
------------------
1991 Civic 4dr
B16A
a bunch of other mods
------------------------
AIM-jbprader
thanx, but what exactly did you mean by "it does not respond very well to performance mods."? I've seen some pretty bad dx's, and a few of them even had stock engines.
------------------
-Oh, that was yours? you must have dropped it, i picked it up back there-
88-91 civic/crx std and dx have DPFI. It only runs two fuel injectors as compared to the other models that run 4. For some reason the dx model does not respond well to mods. Once a new fuel injection system is swapped over it perks right up. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/smile.gif
------------------
1991 Civic 4dr
B16A
a bunch of other mods
------------------------
AIM-jbprader
91ZC is right on the money
For Body kits check out
http://www.members.tripod.com/4thgencivic/id8.htm
I like the WW kit the best myself http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif
P.S. Welcome to the board!
------------------
90 Civic Turbo ZC
Home Page:
http://www.geocities.com/cwbetb
4th Gen Page:
http://www.geocities.com/hondacivic4g
Car Club:
http://www.teamkayo.com
A friend of mine told me i could gain a little hp by replacing that tiny stock filter with a bigger one. i've seen some color anodized aluminum universal ones for as little as $20, are those any good? they made my brothers 2001 alero as loud as heck.
how complicated is the header work? a friend of mine is a mechanic, so i figure i can get him to help me if its not too complicated. are injen filters and intakes good? they're less expensive than some of the others.
thanx
------------------
-Oh, that was yours? you must have dropped it, i picked it up back there-
i like vis racing kits
------------------
10 switches for the bitches
for a WW kit go to:http://www.newwayautosports.com/
several people from this board (including myself) have ordered from there. it's the cheapest place (because it comes directly from WW), he has the fastest shipping & response time, and he is extremely helpfull.
stop by www.4thGenerationCivic.com for all Civic related stuff...from engines, info, photos, classifieds, events, how-to's, links, and more...you'll find it there http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
WELCOME to the BOARD! make yourself at home!!!
ami
------------------
www.4thgenerationcivic.com
"Hi, my name is Ami and I'm a Honda-coholic"
My Si:
http://www.members.tripod.com/4thgencivic/id41.htm
hey, if i throw a B16A VTECH in there, will i need a new transmission, or will it work with whats already in my car? If i dont need to buy a crapload of new parts to make it work, then that would probably be one of my longer term mods.
------------------
-1988 Civic DX-
Mods:
Absolutely none yet.
Planned: AEM Cold Air Intake, DC Ceramic 2pc. 4-2-1 Header, GReedy SP Exhaust System, GReddy GREX Shift Knob (yeah!), lots more beginner stuff later.
B16a requirements:
Mount kit: Hasport, Place racing, HCP
Shift Linkage
Axles: depends on the intermediate shaft
Since you have a dx you will have to convert to Multipoint fuel injection and then run 4 wires for VTEC and the 2nd O2 sensor and knock sensor(if applicable)
You will need a new transmission and that usually comes with most swaps and is included in the price.
Some websites to get you started:
www.hybrid.honda-perf.org www.hasport.com www.hcpengineering.com www.importautosalvage.com www.hondamotorsonline.com www.nippon-motors.com www.jspecjdm.net www.pri-racing.com great prices on parts www.hondaautomotiveparts.com great prices on oem parts
------------------
1991 Civic 4dr
B16A
a bunch of other mods
------------------------
AIM-jbprader
ok that is going to be way more money then i have to spend right now, if i can get my dx to 150hp without having to swap my engine then that'll have to do for now.
------------------
-1988 Civic DX-
Mods:
Absolutely none yet.
Planned: AEM Cold Air Intake, DC Ceramic 2pc. 4-2-1 Header, GReedy SP Exhaust System, GReddy GREX Shift Knob (yeah!), lots more beginner stuff later.
You wont be able to get your DX to 150hp! the DX does not respond well to mods. It is an economy car, your best bet would be to change over to multipoint and then maybe you might get some more out of the mods, but dont expect 150hp. Sorry to let you down, i know how ya feel, and at least you have a Stick, i got stuck with a damn Auto!
------------------
88 Civic Hatch in Auto! I got is as a present, and i need help....... With the car that is, not that i need help!
Oh well, then unless i come into some inheretance, my civic's going to be a "fun to drive" car. I had origionally planned to buy a 1992 Toyota MR2 N/A, in a few years when i have about 4k, i might just buy a newer civic instead. I dont want to spend $2000 on swapping an engine and adding performance parts to a car this old, when i can buy a newer one with a much better base engine, eh?
Oh, and as for your auto, i'm very sorry. One of my friends has the baddest 280hp Maxima, and its an auto. he hates it. he loves it. yknow the feeling i guess.
I'm not into being a poser, but there are tons of kits to replace hoses and stuff under the hood that makes the whole thing look a lot better. I'll probably stick with sound system stuff and cosmetic stuff on my 88dx until i get the $$$ to go in on a new civic. Still, for a first car, i'm pleanty content with it not being a racer, It's just the concept of modding up your car and making it fast that attracts me, but if all of that wont do much for my dx engine then whats the point eh?
------------------
-1988 Civic DX-
Mods:
Absolutely none yet.
Planned: AEM Cold Air Intake, DC Ceramic 2pc. 4-2-1 Header, GReedy SP Exhaust System, GReddy GREX Shift Knob (yeah!), lots more beginner stuff later.
Oh well, then unless i come into some inheretance, my civic's going to be a "fun to drive" car. I had origionally planned to buy a 1992 Toyota MR2 N/A, in a few years when i have about 4k, i might just buy a newer civic instead. I dont want to spend $2000 on swapping an engine and adding performance parts to a car this old, when i can buy a newer one with a much better base engine, eh?
Oh, and as for your auto, i'm very sorry. One of my friends has the baddest 280hp Maxima, and its an auto. he hates it. he loves it. yknow the feeling i guess.
I'm not into being a poser, but there are tons of kits to replace hoses and stuff under the hood that makes the whole thing look a lot better. I'll probably stick with sound system stuff and cosmetic stuff on my 88dx until i get the $$$ to go in on a new civic. Still, for a first car, i'm pleanty content with it not being a racer, It's just the concept of modding up your car and making it fast that attracts me, but if all of that wont do much for my dx engine then whats the point then i think i'll make a down payment on a 5g or something instead of swapping my engine!
------------------
-1988 Civic DX-
Mods:
Absolutely none yet.
Planned: AEM Cold Air Intake, DC Ceramic 2pc. 4-2-1 Header, GReedy SP Exhaust System, GReddy GREX Shift Knob (yeah!), lots more beginner stuff later.
I put an AEM CAI on my DX motor. It did make a difference, but not much...I compare it to about the same as switching off your A/C under hard acceleration, so a few HP...maybe 3?? and that depends on the air temp. And a lot of peeps say there intake makes the car growl and sound good under Wide Open Throttle - i don't hear shit unless I am standing there next to the filter hearing it sucking in a little air as I tug the throttle cable.
I also put the CAI onto this motor knowing it would move over to the ZC when I do that swap -heh heh!! http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
Not to beat it to death, but I think the point is that if you buy a bolt-on performance part and it says, "expect 20HP gains from this header on an Si", don't expect 20HP from your DX too.
------------------
-Shawn
91 DX 4-door
AEM CAI & other mods which only add weight ;)
Coming soon:
ZDyne controlled ZC
Si tranny w/ ACT clutch