I want to open the airflow a little bit on my 93 Civic VX. I don't want to get 400 whp or anything just be able to stay in 4 or 5 on the highway passes and maximize overall engine efficiency. Please give me some pros and cons of each upgrade and /or problems I may run into.

open air intake
larger throttle body (off an Si or DX)
intake manifold to match
headers and exhaust

A better breathing engine generally gets better MPGs but I am not doing this to increase economy I am doing it for increased power. At the same time I am not willing to compromise my 50+ highway MPGs (any increase would be welcomed). Also, I don't want a loud exhaust. Some noise is OK but I'm using this car strictly for road trips so I want an overall quite ride. If you know of any good exhaust flow systems that won't wake up suburban neighborhoods as I drive by let me know.

Thanks

 

leave it alone. none of what you're proposing will do much of anything for power. keep up with regular maintenance and enjoy your mpg's.

 

Leave it stock

 

I agree, the only way you're going to see real power increases are a.) swapping in a new head/block, b.) installing turbo, c.) both a and b.

If you want to increase airflow, throw in a high flow air filter and call it a day.

 

Keep the MPG, find another car, work on that.

 

Enjoy your MPG and leave it stock.

 

The pros.... leave it alone.
Cons...... anything you put in is a waste of money!

 

You bought the wrong car.

 

Actually it's not a bad car...just a SHITTY motor/tranny.

 

It is a great car if MPG is your priority but if your looking for power you need another motor. I have a VX where mileage was the least of my worries so I swapped a GSR into it. I can still get 34 mpg with the ac off but boy is it a fun car to drive, more so than my G35.

Your only wasting money if your trying to mod for performance!!!!

 

If you REALLY want a drag / race hatch... I've got a 92 CX that I'll trade you

 

Adjust your throttle cable, get a short ram intake. That will improve throttle response and also the intake will free up some MPG.

You have the wrong car if you are looking for performance.

 

I remember my vx, the throttle body was like 1" wide lol. Such a useless intake system for anything but mpg. Swap, that is all I would recommend. You can go to a junkyard and find a b18 for dirt cheap $200 and just plant that in there.

 

x2

If you want to do anything get a less restrictive air filter( Hks/K+N etc) and maybe pull the useless"airbox" that sits in the bottom left corner of your bumper.


Best of luck.

 

This is exactly why I bought my VX AND a CX with a B18 in it. I leave my VX bone stock and will be my DD once I fix it and my B hatch is my current DD/future project car.

 

Well you can make a little more power. On Onecamonly.com Robster port matched a Z1 head to a Z6 intake manifold but he put it on a Z6 bottom end. As well as running a stand alone ecu. He was still making 45+ MPG.

 

Doesn't sound all that special for the amount of work and money put into it. You could probably get low-mid 40s on a stock healthy Z6 with a VX transmission and the right driving conditions as well as wheel/tire setup. I know I managed 36-39mpg quite on my old Z6 which was not stock and starting to get a little old and tired.

Anyone with a VX should just leave it alone. It's always a damn shame to see a VX for sale with a swap. It's getting harder and harder to find a VX with the original D15Z1 in it. If people want to swap a hatch so bad stick with a DX/CX or even an SI.

I finally got one after six years and it needs a lot of work but I'm already heavily attached to the car and can't wait to start getting MPGs. I used to drive around a lot but with gas prices I never drive recreationally anymore only when I need to go somewhere. With 45-60mpg I'll definitely start cruising again even if it's only like 80hp.

 

He doesn't wanna swap guys. He wants a little more out of his current engine. That's like telling someone with a stock B18C1 that wants a little more power to swap in a K. If you wanna get a little more air flowin through your Z1, you could throw the intake and throttle body and exhaust mani and cat off of a D16Y5 on it. Use your original injectors and block off the second O2 port on the bottom of the cat. You can also a short ram or cold air intake on it too. That should get it breathing a lot better.

 

94preludeguy
It is true finding a VX with a Z1 still in it is getting very hard to find. I love love one myself. I was just trying to help answer the guy's question. The tuning the most expensive part. I agree the easiest power upgrade would be drop a Z6 leave the VX trans. P28 ecu if I remember right. But the wiring for the O2 sensor is a 5 wire not a 4. But I could be wrong it's been awhile.

 

if you want better breathing motor for some power get a good aftermarket im and largest throttle body you can buy and a pswjdm whale p intake and ported head. good fuel rail injectors spark plugs and wires. also you want a larger exhaust if your going bigger intake. you want more air in and more exhaust out for smoother running engine more hp and more mpg.

 

 

Mini-me or a different engine. Don't throw any bolt-ons on this engine.

 

"The largest Throttle Body you can buy" is not a good way to make more power on any motor. A larger TB will not make anymore power with out supporting mods.

 

I'm hoping that was sarcasm and wasn't serious advice.

 

what is the main difference between the vx and a dx? i have a 92dx that is pretty well worn out, and it gets pretty good gas mileage like around 35-40mpg but nowhere near 50+