First off let me introduce myself, this is my first post on this website and so far this seems like a cool board to be a member of so here i am! Name's Danny, college kid, and i've been a prelude owner for about 7 months now. I purchased the car out of impulse/necessity without really looking too deeply into the problems it had. My fault i know, but i had always loved the prelude and still do!

Well then onto the reason for this post! My prelude is an automatic, and when i drove it i stayed in vtec, using the triptronic alot! Like alot of auto prelude owners, my tranny started to give and went from a bad situation to a worse situation fast. To sum it up i had to put a junkyard tranny in for lack of money to rebuild, and needless to say the performance has gone waayy down.

Anyways now that i have a nice paying job, i've decided to do a tranny swap in the next two months, but am curious as to how much the job should cost me. I know prices vary but im sure there has to be range that the price should definitely not surpass! Question is, what is that range?

Onto the other questions (srry for the long post!).

My cai broke and i'm looking to get a new one, i've done my research and was dead set on buying an AEM CAI. I live in florida so flooding is pretty common during midyear but i was looking to overcome this by putting a bypass valve on the intake.....that is until i read a post on this forum that said that the bypass valve renders the CAI useless because it completely disrupts the air flow. Is this true? and if so what would be the best option then? Should i stick with the CAI + bypass or go a different route?

the previous owner didn't take much care of the car, or simply didnt do things right and im looking to change that little by little (however im a complete newbie when it comes to cars, as a fulltime student/work i lack the time and lack the tools to learn on my own).

I also figured if i'm going to do the tranny swap then i might as well install headers and exhaust, i've decided megan racing headers and greddy or skunk2 exhaust. Low and behold here lies another problem (::sigh:, my car has kind've been over heating and it only happens after i run the car for a while, and the only way the temp. goes down again is by turning on the ac lol. I've replaced the radiator already and after talking with someone i think that my catalytic converter is clogged and there might be causing the engine to overheat. So here's the newbie question, if i install headers and exhaust, does it come with a catalytic converter? or do i need to purchase one? also is completely removing the catalytic converter a viable option (i live in FL no emission laws) ? will that greatly increase the noise levels (hope not) and if i do remove the cat how will that affect my o2 sensors since they're on the cat?

o also, whats the best place to order these types of parts from?

im rlly srry for the stupid newbie questions, but i tried to search for answers but cant find the exact ones im looking for. Thank you guys in advance i reallllyy appreciate it!

 

How did your intake break?

 

old intake, it had a bypass valve and it just broke i guess. i could probably just buy another bypass valve, not sure i can find one that fits though. regardless i didnt rlly like that intake, even if it is just a tube. plastic and looks cheap.

 

as far as the overheating issue, it is very unlikely that it is caused by the cat. Most likely your thermostat is not working properly, or your water pump may be failing.

 

1. AEM CAI is a waste of money. A three-inch tube is a three-inch tube.

2. There's not much sense in replacing your crapped-out automatic transmission with another automatic transmission that will just crap out later. Go for the manual transmission swap and start actually driving the car, instead of just steering.

3. Megan racing headers are said to be junk. There have been complaints of the welds cracking. Also, the pipes appear to be the same size as the stock system, making it pointless. However, it might be a viable option if you intend on cutting the collector and increasing it to 2.5 inches.

4. The catalytic converter is not causing you to over heat. Usually that is caused by a lack of coolant (leak somewhere in the system), or a bad thermostat.

5. Most cat-back exhaust systems do not include a cat. Some due and usually cost more. However, if you do the 2.5" collector mod on the header, you won't want a standard cat-back system, as it is usually stock size (2.25").

Here's what I would do in your situation.
1. Manual transmission swap.
2. eBay generic CAI with K&N filter. If you're worried about flooding, don't install the extra ~18" of pipe that puts the filter into the wheel well.
3. Used DC Sports or New Megan header with 2.5" collector mod.
4. Universal Magnaflow/Carsound High-Flow cat (2.5" I & O), with O2 simulator.
5. Custom 2.5" exhaust pipes, with your choice of resonator and muffler.
6. Pressure test coolant system. If no leaks found, replace thermostat.

 

i would do a swap to a manual trans, also a clogged cat will not make your car overheat its most likely your thermostat (cheap part) and most headers dont come with a cat unless you wanna spend big money. depending on how old your car is then your cat may be clogged making your car not run at the best it could, and your 02 sensor is b4 your cat. i have a 4th gen prelude and i put dc headers and i cut my cat off and ran 2.5" pipe all the way back to a huge greddy muffler. so to answer your question about if itll be loud then yes my car is loud as hell and ive been pulled over a few times, but it does sound good! i would cut the cat and run 2.5-3" pipe all the way back. and if you dont wanna spend alot then shop ebay, just read up on the **** b4 you buy anything.