Hey everyone, I' just got my first civic, n I was jus wondering what did you guys do when you had your first car. Aside from the basic stuff like oil change n stuff. How did yu learn how to put together the mod stuff. If anyone can gimme sum tips that'd be great. Thanks







Modified by AyZyN at 11:36 PM 5/25/2008

 

welcome to HT.
you should at least lower your car, change the grill and headlights for visual mods

 

Haha thanks dood. Yeah I'm gonna lower my car in the next week or two. Gonna buy new breaks and everything and tires as well. I'll get a new grill too. Do you think i should put a spoiler on here. I was also thinking about getting some rims for this but I needa save up for that. What rims would you think look good on this.

 

bronze rims ftw! yeah i always liked bronze on a cypress green car. maybe something like this.


Rotas Circuit 8. they're cheap if youre low on money

 

No spoiler, My first things are always stereo and lower, usually little things like an intake. And me being a mini-trucker, I usually start shaving things too

 

I always start with stereo then just go and replace all the broken or missing stuff them go from there.

 

I would start with a CAI, then a full exhaust go from a 4-2-1 header to a high flow cat and then a 2.25 or a 2.5 inch exhaust, then would use upper and lower strut bars for the front and rear, change the breaks and the rotors, then look at doing bigger stuff. But that's just me!

 

Looks like a pretty decent base to start off with. when it comes to modding most hondas it's as simple as taking off the stock part(s) and replacing them with aftermarket. Not to over simplify it but I mean really, unless you go for a fully built motor, there's very little thought process involved in installing mods like I/H/E/IM/TB.

first things I'd do [after your brake upgrade(be sure to get better pads and SS lines) and wheels(don't go bigger than 16s IMO and go for as light as possible)]

very first mod: GOOD ALARM!!!!! Lets be honest we live in a world where thieves are now stealing cars from big meets/shows you NEED security.

Exterior:
-CTR style grille
-DIY black/darker colored headlights
-Front lip

Interior:
-nice headunit
-better speakers
-weighted shiftknob

Suspension:
-good shocks and springs or full coilovers....DO NOT cheap out on shocks/springs....if you can't afford it, don't do it, save up and do it right
-ASR with bigger rear sway
-SOLID strut bars(with no flex points like what password or carbing sells, but you could just make your own if you know how to weld or have a friend that can)

motor wise:
-Tune up(plugs, wires, cap and rotor)
-valve adjustment

If you want just a little bit more imporvement
-generic ebay intake(just go to the store and buy a true K&N filter)
-generic header(if you want the bling factor, otherwise just leave it stock....unless you go with edelbrock or a racing header you will most likely not even notice the difference)
-custom 2.25" mandrel bent exhaust

OR
if you've got a bigger budget and want more power
-used turbo kit
-custom turbo back 3" mandrel bent exhaust
if you go the turbo route BE SUR TO GET IT PROPERLY TUNED!

OR
-swap it for a bigger displacement DOHC motor

although for the $$$ the turbo setup is much more worth it. you don't add nearly as much weight, more TQ. more WHP and (if it's properly tuned and the turbo is freshly rebuilt or new) just as reliable


pretty basic mods, most of which you can do 100% yourself with just hand tools, a haynes maunal, a jack and 2 jackstands

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Security81 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would start with a CAI, then a full exhaust go from a 4-2-1 header to a high flow cat and then a 2.25 or a 2.5 inch exhaust, then would use upper and lower strut bars for the front and rear, change the breaks and the rotors, then look at doing bigger stuff. But that's just me!</TD></TR></TABLE>

I dont think he needs a CAI, just a short ram. short rams are cheaper and less things to worry about, (locking the engine up)

 

Daym thanks guys, this really helps haha. I'll get on this. I dunno some of the stuff but I'll learn. Lower the car is first priority of course. But thanks for the detailed advice i really appreciate it.

 

Hey dude, You might want to consider some good security/alarm for your EX. My insurance premium just went up to couple of hundreds bcuz of high theft around my area. Do this before buying your rotas !!!!

 

Take things SLOW and save up for the real deal. Id start doing these if this was my car.

Yank power steering out
Shave antenna with an OEM block off
Swap out manifold with a 99-00 EX exhaust manifold. 96-98 tend to crack.

Drop in filter - cry every night because I didnt keep my OEM airbox on my EX

Grab some VHT plastic tint, and crack open the headlights, tint the chrome bezel to give a sweet CTR look, dont F with black paint, looks cheap.

CTR grille, however I would keep it OEM due to the color, just would NOT look right

SECURITY x100.

then after about $500+ in security then I would start modding away. Nice platform

 

Yeah I like your idea of keeping it slow haha. I'm still in highschool n saving up right now for stuff. Right now I'm just tryna get the lil stuff done like you said. I really like your idea. The big stuff I can do later. That really helps. Do you think this car is pretty clean as is? (it's all stock right now)

 

I would personal start with stereo then i would go with some window tint and some wheels. From there i would do performance. Header, high flow cat, Cat back system, intake. and whatever else you can afforded after that

 

the first thing i did to my virgin civic lol was i bought a skunk2 short shifter with a skunk 2 shift **** and bought h&r race springs with tockico white shocks the perfect combo. i didn't like the sloppy shift feel

 

Honestly heres my opinion. I just bought a 1997 civic hatch bone stock. This time im doing everything the right way. I hate working backwards. For example. More than likely your gonna want to eventually do a motor swap. So why waste your time buying crap like headers, CAI, blah blah blah...work on the things that you are definately always going to have...Brakes, Suspension, interior, exterior...i hope you kinda understand what im trying to say...

 

what he said ^^^ just make sure you get things that you REALLY want to keep and are not gonna have to take off again later wasting hours. personally, i say start with a stereo, lower it, and mayb a front lip for starters

 

thats a **** load of potential you got there. save up and get some authentic parts, along with a great alarm. good luck!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cubanSiR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Honestly heres my opinion. I just bought a 1997 civic hatch bone stock. This time im doing everything the right way. I hate working backwards. For example. More than likely your gonna want to eventually do a motor swap. So why waste your time buying crap like headers, CAI, blah blah blah...work on the things that you are definately always going to have...Brakes, Suspension, interior, exterior...i hope you kinda understand what im trying to say...</TD></TR></TABLE>
yup.. but please, please.. make the first thing you buy a good alarm and do some security stuff.

 

Haha yeah thanks guys that really helps.