Mats_A_G

hey everyone, would you mind helping me out with what kind of things i can do to my engine to make it faster, better on gas, and everything? just let me know what you have to say. i have a 1995 honda del sol S.

U-C-IT

Go fast or save gas

Pick one or another...

builthatch

nothing worthwhile. that engine has a weak bottom end for anything other than the basic bolt-ons, and the basic bolt-ons will cost more money than what you will actually get from them in terms of increased power. you could get a high quality header, a high quality exhaust, a "cold air" intake with quality filter, some sort of mild camshaft upgrade and an ECU tune, but you are looking at a lot of money for very little in terms of performance upgrade.

the best bet is to simply make sure the car is tuned up properly, meaning new spark plugs, fuel filter, quality replacement panel filter in the stock airbox, etc.

you might want to consider upgrading the suspension with koni yellow "sport" dampers and and eibach pro-kit, and running high quality performance tires like falken azenis rt-615k.

that's my take on the whole thing. that engine in that car, i'd elect to swap it out before i'd try to make it any more powerful.

EJeff8

Eh, people say a turbo solves both problems... But I don't believe it.

builthatch

it can - if you drive in vacuum all the time some turbo setups can be fuel misers. i get about 28 mpg with a setup that makes 280 ft/lbs of tq. but what the heck kind of fun is that, driving in vacuum all the time?

B18C5-EH2

My mom has a 1997 Del Sol S - super clean, super low miles, and a fun little car to drive.

Honestly my suggestion would be:

1. Remove engine entirely

2. Replace with bigger, better engine of your choosing

...and the guy above me who stated pick "faster" OR "better gas mileage" is absolutely right. Adding mods that are conducive to going faster (and thus you driving faster) are not going to help gas mileage.



The Del Sol S model is the base model with the smallest, least powerful (but best mpg) engine in a Del Sol. The 1995 model should have a 1.5L D15B7 which also has a boat anchor tall geared transmission bolted to it. I know you said "small" mods but my best advice is ditch the "small mods" idea and save for something bigger and better. Bolt on intake, header, and exhaust will make it louder and sound faster, but ultimately they don't add up to much more power.

I'm just being honest here. I too was once where you are, only I had a much crappier 70hp 1990 4-speed Civic STD model I was working with. After an intake I realized the only way to be happy was to ditch the engine entirely and get something altogether better.

U-C-IT

Yup I speak from experience. I had a 95 del sol type s aswell. Swear to buddah that thing average me 400+ a tank. Then I boosted it with a greddy kit at only 5 psi. Mileage got cut in more than half. I'm not saying it can't be done just doesn make senesce.

Mats_A_G

Well, i was going to wait until the mileage gets to 200k, then swap it with a b18 or something. but i wanted to add a little somethin in now, if i got an exhaust now, would i have to change the exhause if i get a new engine?

builthatch

not necessarily, but it depends on the exhaust. many bolt-on cat back exhausts have very restrictive inlets near the cat. at the minimum, you might have to change that inlet, and run a cat with a larger inlet/outlet when you change your engine.

many people fail to realize how small the ID is on cat back inlet. it's crazy IMO because to me it can make many exhausts useless.

i'm telling you though a quality suspension and tires will make an already fun car even more fun to drive, and you won't have to really change anything if you swap (technically).

EJeff8

^D series and B series are different for a reason. D series parts to a D, B to B.

So it won't work.

Edit: Carrot meant for OP, not BH. and I'm speaking from Header back.

builthatch

i'll qualify my original answer - i had an apexi n1 on my 6th gen while it had all kinds of sohc in it, and when i eventually swapped i kept it - i just had to modify the inlet...and was running no cat...but hadn't been since 1998 - i realized in '98 when i went exhaust shopping that all hatch exhausts basically had built-in test pipes since they were made for fitment to the y7, which = catted manifold ; )

EJeff8

^So when you went header, you solved the problem of the terrible y7 manifold but already had the "test pipe" installed.

nice!

builthatch

i was a bad boy though...for 10 years!

i don't suggest anyone follow in my foot steps ; )

Solebrity

I would do basic bolts on first. It should make the car a little quicker and not effect gas mileage. Unless you are hitting high rpm all the time. I still get great gas mileage with hitting vtec occasionally.

AGENT_47

I'd take all the money you plan on putting into that horrible engine and start saving for a B series, if you had at least a D16Z6 I'd say go for it , but the engine you have is not worth a penny upgrading IMO.

Get a "B series piggy bank" going and everytime you think about adding an exhaust or intake to your engine now , instead put that money in a piggy bank towards a B series.

You do have the lightest Sol BTW I think the 'S' is only 2300 and change while the 97 B16's are a heavy 2500-2600

seemorebuds

k&n

EJeff8

^. +4hp, air restriction and possible lag time and hydrolock worries for $300. Brilliant.