Well I just graduated high school today and, as you can guess, I've come across some extra spending money from people. Ive got around $1500 in all and was looking for some suggestions as to what i should do with it.

My car is a 97 San Marino Red base model, manual tranny, completely stock. Here's my thoughts:

1) it needs a new paint job but thats probably going to be the last thing i do to it
2) Intake/exhaust/header/maybe VAFC?
3) Intake/exhaust, tint windows, new suspension
4) stage 1 clutch + lightened flywheel/intake/tint windows/exhaust if i have extra $$

im leaning towards #3 just because it makes it look nice while adding performance and functionality

what are your guys thoughts? what would YOU do if you were in this situation?

 

what? no ebay turbo? lol jk

do you have long term goals for it? a header would be useless with a furture turbo setup

i would do intake, suspension, lightened flywheel, and exhaust open cat back. Do a header too if you know your not going turbo

but clutch might not be necessary unless your going for much higher hp than what you would get with options listed by yourself

what sort of paint job do you need? rust or just flaking etc??

tints are nice but i'd usually spluge on performance parts rather than asthetic upgrades though. the body/paint always gets dings chips etc, key marks dents, etc etc, so paint jobs are just asking for extra annoyances. when you get it painted every little ding hurts just soo much more. you see dollers falling out of your wallet

Vafc could come in handy depending on what your long term goals are like i said.

as far as intake goes though go with a cheap ebay cold air, add a 3" to 4" adapter and throw on a quality 4" inlet K&N canister type filter. for 100 bucks you get wicked gains. Open cat for dirt cheap also yields good gains.

 

as far as the paint goes, the clear is failing on the roof and oxidizing/failing on the hood( ive done all i can to save it and it looks a LITTLE better) I totally agree with you on getting an expensive paint job which is why im doing it last. I'm 18 now so i dont know if id trust myself with a nice paint job lol

im going to paint my sideskirts and rear thing so as well which should make it look a bit cleaner

Im kinda on the fence about the turbo though which, like u said, would make it a bad idea to get a header (which im pretty set on NOT getting)

Im definitely getting my windows tinted, its clear glass all around now which kinda bugs me

also, i like how preludes sit as it is but id like to drop it eventually on some nice shocks (i really wish they had the omnipower coilovers for the prelude, i was getting those for my GSR before it got wrecked Ive heard that some accord parts work on preludes?)

My bro's are getting me a CAI for a grad present so im thinking of throwing a BPI flowstack on there since it seems to be an awesome product. I was also considering an Unorthodox pulley kit though im still contemplating the ups and down of an underdrive pulley kit (believe me, ive read TONS of stuff about it though im still leaning towards getting them)

The VAFC was just an idea i decided to throw out there and i know it wont really help if i ever go turbo

thanks for the input, keep it coming guys!

 

Just outta HS, if you absolutely have to do something I would stick to the intake/exhaust area. By far the simplest and cheapest route to go.

CAI (highly suggest one with the bypass to protect against hydrolock), header, hi-flow cat w/Apexi World Sport 2 cat-back would be my vote.

Since you are getting the CAI as a gift, this would run you around $650 + flowstack + labor if you go with your basic 4-2-1 header. Here is a good seller in the H-T marketplace that I got my cat-back WS2 from (~$480); my faded baby is the last two pics of the first post.

Nice deal on a 4-1 Megan header here for a basic (~$170).

Paint is secondary in my book to performance, my '92 is peeling the sunroof and faded on the hood/trunk as well.

As a sign of me getting older, I also have to suggest that you don't blow all your grad money on the car - but it comes down to your personal choice.


Modified by Lewdin' Incognito at 10:15 PM 6/14/2007

 

I'd get some suspension(Tein), Tint the windows and get a CAI and bypass valve for the CAI.

EDIT: Just seen you were a getting a CAI as a gift.

 

thanks for everything guys.

ok so far here is my "for sure" list:

1) tint windows
2) CAI
3) Exhaust (i had the greddy SP2 on my GSR and i was looking into the new Ti-C, it sounds awesome on pretty much every car ive heard it on)

Still thinking about header but i'll probably get one

Lewdin', i think youve got a point there, i'll probably just go bolt-on for now

 

bump for more input! i appreciate it all so far guys!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by viper_boy403 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
(i had the greddy SP2 on my GSR and i was looking into the new Ti-C, it sounds awesome on pretty much every car ive heard it on)</TD></TR></TABLE>
'
just a random question. from the gsr and prelude, which one do u like better?

 

i guess ill make a list lol:

mine by the way was a 98 gsr sedan, ill get some pics of both cars

prelude:
a bit faster
more refined
handles better
pretty dang heavy (fun to swing it around sharp turns though, something i couldnt really do with the teg)

integra:
Really fun to take the revs up (8.2k redline, woohoo!)
superior aftermarket support
still pretty fast

I love both cars, my teg was my baby until some jackass ran me off the road. Ive really grown on the lude though, its an awesome car. If i were trying to decide between the two it would be REALLY hard, its all personal preference. Just drive them both and see which one you like the most.

EDIT: pics of the teg

BEFORE:



AFTER:



it makes me sick just looking at it...ugh

And i didnt even get seriously hurt (stitches), there were 3 other people in the car too and they were fine

OK back on topic! lol

 

I only got $510 for graduation.

What are your plans for the car, did you just want something nice to ride around on the street, or were you planning on going Auto-X or something?

 

just something that's fun to drive, hopefully turn some heads at the same time...nothing too crazy though. (example: Fast and the Furious lol)

And i got like $400 from people and the $1000 was from my parents

 

my friend has a 97 san marino red with limo tint all around. looks pretty nice. but you should definitely lower your car first.

 

Get a progress rear adjustable sway bar and koni yellows with GC springs. Tints as well.

Buy Mgags7 RMF header: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1990981. The price is a steal and will make good power with a 2.5" exhaust. Dont buy a greddy...get a magnaflow. Add a intake and you are set.

 

Save your money. In a few years you'll be glad you didn't rice it out. How many miles? You might be due for new shocks or a timing belt anyway.

 

it has 111k, when i bought it a few months ago it had just gotten all that stuff done; timing belt, radiator, water pump etc

and im not going to "rice it out", did you not read all the other stuff? how on earth is tint, lowering, and basic bolt-ons rice in any way? Im goint to paint my stock side skirts as well and then get a front/rear lip, probably WWRS

foureyezz, can you get pics of your friend's car possibly?

 

i have a 97 prelude in san marino with tints on it. it had no tints when i got it. it looks much better and not to mention is much cooler inside (i live in florida) with them.

how did you manage to wreck your integra that bad?

 

i was trying to pass this guy on the freeway and right as i went into his blind spot he moved into my lane. I was going probably 85-90 (no, not racing) and just instinctually jerked the wheel and going fast+jerking the wheel does not = good results. it fishtailed, slid, then hit the median and flipped 4 times

can u post pics of ur car?

 

yea ill take some pics tomorrow or the next day becuase it is raining like crazy here right now. here is a link to a red prelude (cant tell if its san marino or the other with the lighting), but it has tints so you can get an idea of what youll be looking at.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/j...tream/

 

U can get camshafts/cam gears,springs and retainers,and some dyno time for 1500,maybe even a catback system and intake with that kind of cash.Shop around,u can find some stage 1 or 2 cams for like 300-600,cam gears like 100,intake 40 on ebay,or 100-200 if u need carb sticker,u can get springs and titanium retainers for like 245 shipped for Supertech,or kms,and a cat back for 300-400,if u shop around u can find all of these parts for around a grand or less,that would leave you 500 or more for instalation/dyno,and u should be able to do exaust and intake with little or no knowledge of mechanics.

I know your heart is set on tinting the windows,but I would opt for this route......just my opinion though.U can always come up with a couplke hundo for window tint,but when will be the next time u have 1500 to drop on ur ride?But if u are just being really conservative,tint,maybe some lowering springs(eibach),intake and exhaust always a good place to start.

 

yea i think im sticking with basic bolt-ons for now. I might eventually more up to a euro-r manifold + some cams

with the exhaust and intake ive got like...$1000-900 left and after tints it will be closer to $700-750 so that should leave enough for a nice suspension setup, i was thinking koni yellows/GC or maybe illuminas/GC but im still deciding. i was also looking at the tanabe sustec coilovers, ive found them for like $800 on modacar

 

dont be in a hurry to spend all your money either, i did that with my grad money and im kickin myself in the *** for it now.

 

I wasnt trying to suggest to blow all of your money either,I think you have a good idea of what you want to do.....and it all sounds fine.Good luck with the start of your project,and maybe of an obsession,you will see....

At least I did,when I fisrt bought my intake and header I caught the mod fever,I was hooked after that,always looking for deals on parts,always trying to improve my vehicle in one way or another.Not not just running out and buying parts like fuel rails or FPR and and big injectors for my stock motor either....just constantly planning my next investment/project and saving accordingly.Watch out the Fever will get you....haha but seriously post some pics after you get all of your new "goodies".Good luck.

 

i say get an OEM lip kit and suspension, with a 2 1/4 inch drop should cost around 600 for lip kit and 400-500 for supension (Kyb agx) and coil overs

 

yeah i definitely will post pics. i ordered my intake and exhaust today; an AEM SRI (going to add a BPI flowstack) and the new Greddy Ti-C exhaust

tints are coming when i get back from vacation, then I'll most likely pick up a nice suspension combo (can anyone give some recommendations as to what they have? i know koni/GC are very popular, i was thinking maybe kyb agx and tein s.tech or neuspeed sport?)

 

lol how much did u spend for the aem intake? i say u shoulda gone with an ebay intake and added a k&n and go out and buy some aem stickers for 5 bucks and slap it on the intake. but hey if u got the money mite as well lol. hows the greddy ti-c?