My dad gave me his old 99 Civic SI since he now has a couple new cars.

I am 16 years old and currently in high school, I was saving up for a car but he decided to give me this.

I know the car is sort of quick stock, but I want it to be faster. I want to be able to compete with friends that have, other honda civics, MR2, RX7, and an Acura TSX. Those are just examples of what I want to compete with they are all stock.

I am willing to spend 2 grand, I know it isn't alot but im 16. I am sort of a noob when it comes to Hondas, so be easy. I was thinking of an Ebay Turbo but reading around for awhile people say it's a bad idea.

Please help.

 

Ebay turbo=bad idea. Save up another grand and piece together a REAL turbo kit and have someone tune it on a dyno. And while you're saving up read up on everything that goes into it. Also plan on upgrading a lot of other things like suspension and clutch while you're at it. Stock that engine can handle about 300hp. If you want faster then plan on building the engine-another grand or so AT LEAST.

Oh. And PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't let anyone tell you that running "low boost" or "XX PSI" will be okay because that doesn't mean DICK without knowing what turbo you're going to wind up running.

When you're able you should go into the Marketplace and pick up what I call an "entry level" Greddy turbo kit. Lot's of these being sold used (meaning cheap).

Also click on the link in my sig to get an idea of how these go together and what parts you will need to start picking up.

Don't rush it. Do it right the first time. Boost it an expensive hobby.

 

A turbo civic and a 16 yr old is bad idea.

Start slow, make the car look good, handle good, stop, and then once you have some time under your belt make it faster.

You and your insurace company will thank you. You don't have the skill let alone the knowledge to be doing this stuff to the car.

Take your time, save your money and when your ready, and able to afford the quality parts, buy them.

TRUST ME, your going to get into troub;le.

Before you buy anything, does the car have an alarm?

 

Is the reason people don't recommend ebay turbos because they might grenade and get sucked in the engine?

 

You answered your own question.

 

I would advise this as well but peer pressure is a bitch and kids don't do what they're told.

 

No, the car doesn't have an alarm at the moment, but I will get one asap. Im not sure if I want to go whole suspension tuning and such because there's not much track racing around where I live.

Yeah, what I thought, not to get an ebay turbo, ive heard so many good things, and bad things about them :S

The reason I want to do this is because the car is slow, I have experience driving faster car's on and off track and this just feels so weird being like this.

Im also thinking of taking the engine apart and changing some gaskets/cleaning things, I can do this myself, I work in a mechanic shop and I have some experience.

To the person who suggested to get an entry level gretty turbo, what is the cost on that? Also, what kind of boost am I looking at?


Also, is there anything else I can do besides a turbo? So far I have 2 grand saved for a car, I can keep saving but not sure how much I want to put into this as it won't be a track car.

 

Honda Marketplace.
http://www.hondamarketplace.com/

 

Thread titles MUST summarize the tech problem (be topic specific) so that members browsing titles can understand the problem without reading the post. Title edited.

 

A properly installed alarm is the most important thing for this car, well, next to oil. lol
You don't need a track to have a little fun. There's noithing wrong with hitting the back roads, of corse within the limits of the law, and biggest of all, not endangering anyone.
I have more fun in the back roads with my car, that I can tell you.

Experience is the key here! This is by far the most important thing, and it's what your lacking.

I've drivien fast cars my hole life, even before I could legally. I got my self into trouble a few times, simply due to inexperience. This is what get's kids killed.

Rip that bitch apart, and figure out the inner workings, maybe throw a set a CTR/ITR cams in it while your at, bolt on's, etc. Basicly what I am saying start slow.

A entry level kit can run 3-5K sometimes more. This is name brand everything. Or you could always pieice your kit togther.

Your pretty limited with the B16, unless you've got major bucks to go N/A.

Also search around, take a look at parts, look at threads, you'd be supriesed how quick the 2k will turn into $9.50

 

dude you can part together a turbo kit for 800 and get hondata or Neptune RTP for about another 400 to 500...

 

Yes, it's happened in the past.

Metal chunks in engine/oil system is big no no, and will **** your day up in a hurry!

Not to mention the crap bearly fits out of the box.

Marc- Peer pressure is a bitch and a half!

95% of the stuff i regret is becuase of it.

 

you have an EM1
Buy a nice alarm! Before your car gets stolen
And do other means of security before you go trying to make the car fast.

trust me buy an alarm you wont regret it
its the first thing i bought when i bought my em1.

 

:JEALOUS: but yeah dude #1 would be an alarm! before u put anything into it making it more of a target for theives! but check out the force induction subforum they have a massive JR supercharger thread. or turbo threads to help u decide

GL bro and BE SAFE!

 

$2000 will about get you a JR supercharger.

 

Then a tune for about $300 and a clutch for about $250-$300. Build the engine for a grand. It starts to add up.

 

The alarm won't cost me a dime because I already have the kit, just need to get another uncle of mine to install it (Electrician BEAST)

See, why I am getting confused is, theres so many different answers! I honestly have no idea what to do because everything is all over the board. I have heard some people saying that I should get a different engine? Possibly from an Acura? O_O

Also, I have heard that getting a different fuel pump can also work?

I would really love some good, honest, experienced answers. Thank you.

Also, about the 2 grand, make it 2500? :S

 

What did you expect?

For the turbo option read all the FAQs in the Forced Induction forum.

 

yea man. i put a ebay turbo kit on my del sol. it was "supposed" to be for my car and motor. Wrong. lol i had to do so much extra stuff to make it fit right. Do what grumblemarc said and get a greddy turbo kit. well worth the money. ebay turbo kits are not worth the headache.

 

all the cars your friends have are slow and your car should keep up with most of them without boost. Goautoworks.com make good turbo kits that wont break the bank. Greddy turbos are tiny and are expensive unless its a used kit and greddy turbo kits come without a intercooler its not really a complete kit. edelbrock make a awesome ball bearing turbo kit for the B series but i don't know if they are producing the turbo kits anymore.

 

Alright, I will check out Goautoworks.com since Ebay kits are a no no. Any other suggestions, $2500 budget.

 

Your browser broken?
http://www.go-autoworks-store.com/caststarterkit.html

And you still need to upgrade your fuel system and clutch and get some kind of engine management and a tune.

 

$1369, not bad, when you say upgrade my fuel system, just a fuel pump or what? Clutch? Do I need something aftermarket? :S I need a chip also?

Remember I won't be going to the track, just for daily driving + quick little guns off the line for less then 10 seconds once in a blue moon.

 

Track, strip or daily driving makes no difference. You will need to upgrade the injectors and fuel pump to handle the increased demand for fuel. You must upgrade to a clutch that will hold the new power. You will need engine management such as Hondata or Neptune RTP. You will need a chipped and socketed ECU to run it. You will need to get the whole thing tuned by someone that knows what they are doing. After that kit you still would need the intercooler and piping.
http://www.go-autoworks-store.com/gostkit.html

My advice is to find a reputable tuner in your area and ask ALL these questions and follow their advice.

 

That sounds like it's going to cost alot.