Hi all, first post:

Bought a 98 CRV this week, our second Honda and I love it. It has already become like an old pair of Levis.

The trouble is, my new jeans have a hole on the a**. Specifically a lack of get up and go. A mechanic I talked to yesterday aptly described it as "gutless".

Everything's working as it should, there's just too few horses pulling too much weight. I'm not sure what motor is in it but it could well be the lower output of the two. It's a Canadian model if that helps any.

I've read a bit about the CRVtec but it's been on car forums where they talk about getting 235 hp and such. I don’t want that, my goal would be to get another 25-50 hp while maintaining or improving current drivability and reliability. Low end torque is important because I intend to pull a snowmobile trailer with a combined weight of about 750 lbs on the highway.

Any ideas where to turn to for some inspiration?

Thanks in advance,
Don

 

it's just like any other honda civic really. Vtec head, IHE, turbo, but if it's auto, kind of pointless imo.

 

you could do the bolt ons... IHE thats about it...and maybe adjust your timing....
youll get a little out of it....

 

Wat ecu can u use for an automatic crv-vtec?

 

hondata?

 

Hondata won't run the automatic trans, I believe. We have a 2000, with the higher comp. engine. That makes a big difference. Ohter than that - Change the intake. Removing the stock air box and chamber made a noticeable difference on ours. We went from unhappy to satisfied with its power output just from adding the intake.

 

wat ecu r u talkin bout?

 

r u saying or are you just asking? to use hondata

 

You could tune it with chrome by chipping a civic ecu probably. Of course you'll need IHE and perhaps some better tires!

 

I must have been half asleep when I typed that. What I mean was "Hondata won't run the CR-V automatic trans, I believe"

 

u can use a supercharger at one piont there was a crv b20 kit but i was told that the b18b kit will work the same
the aem intake is a bit more power too but its loud at around 75mph+

 

Thanks for the responses.

It does have an automatic but that's what I wanted. I'm not going to run with a Cayenne, my goal is to comfortably tow my snowmobile, maybe a small camper, and not feel hopelessly underpowered.

I don't want to rev 8 grand, I need power down low where I can use it every day.

I love the idea of interchangeable parts, Honda has learned what GM forgot: brand loyalty is built by guys who can take things apart and remake them their own. At least with this vehicle. It reminds me of my 77 Civic that way. Simple but useful.

The more I drive this thing the more I am surprised by it. It really is like an old pair of jeans. What it needs most is a wee bit more grunt. At least for my purposes.

Some good ideas, thanks again and keep em coming!

 

Back in '03 a good friend of mine had the same issue. Got the CRV, thought it'd be an awesome car at the time, but after a week he took it back because it was such a dog. He ended up going with a BMW something or another SUV type thing.

For your issue you could look into a jackson racing supercharger kit.

Cheap? Nope
Reliable? Pretty much
Down low torque? Yep
Do they make it for the automatic? Not sure

 

Here's a supercharged one
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2159134

 

Intake, headers and exhaust and call it a day. It wasn't engineered to pull alot of equipment on a daily basis so I would take extra care to monitor your transmission health. I think that's more important then power.

 

You should have bought a 5speed if you doing that much towing, dont you rember honda autos are junk

 

I have the same dilema as you, I have an automatic 1997 honda cr-v and I tow my hatchback on a tow dolly to my tuner and race track. Not a lot, but it gets its use as a DD to school and tow vehicle. I am not worried about price of a new motor $450 or tranny $200-$400 if there was ever problems. I made my own intake out of filter, coupler, aluminum pipe wrapped in heat wrap to get a bit more low end torque. It seems to make a difference. I would like to do headers and exhaust next to see if I can get more torque for towing. I would of bought a 5 speed but i got this cr-v for $3000 cash and it had 144k on it. Well taken care of too. It just needed a new radiator, it was cracked.

Intake will definetly make a difference.

 

are you talking about the air intake chamber?

that box on top of the intake?

i heard that it helps for midrange torque/power...

how did you guys do it?

 

^^
that intake chamber makes a diif. between b20b and b20z...
i already did a b20/v but somehow still thinking what if i could
incorporate that intake chamber on a vtec head intake.. will it make
a diff or could it increase my torque....!?!?
if not, guess i just have to swap my 99 head to my 97 crv....