Here's probably a dumb question: Is it worth the effort to try to make some power out of my '97 Civic DX, or should I just go for looks? I don't plan on doing an engine swap any time soon, can't afford it right now. Just wondered if any of you have had any luck w/this situation. Also, what is a good exhaust for the DX? I was leaning toward Mugen TL. Thx, Lata.

 

i havea 97 DX as well, the motor isnt all that bad really..i meant its no B or anything but its ok for the car. there are some minor things you can do to pick up some xtra power, so far i have added intake, exhaust, and a header (coming this weekend) and its given it a nice wake up call. but if you dont wanna spend money on that i'd just go for looks for right now andswap later, thats sorta the way im going right now myself. you could also pick up a vtec head for it, it will bolt right up no prob from what im told, thats what im doing also.

 

i had a dx. i know with just bolt-ons (intake, header, exhaust) you can get up around ex range. i was able to keep up with ex's at a regular basis with just bolt-ons. so if you want a little extra pep for your dx i'd say go for it.

 

don't go for looks, go for suspension.

 

97DX, what kind of exhaust do you have? I do alot of highway driving in my commute to work, I don't want one that's really loud and annoying on the highway. I've never heard a Mugen TL but I've been told its not loud. Any suggestions?

 

i wouldnt spend that much money on an exhaust on a stock dx motor. just get a oval es or someother nice muffler and get some custom piping. then save up for a swap or do a mini-me.

 

Dont spend a dime on your car or your motor, SAVE it all for a swap. Then you will have a better platform to build on. Do it right the first time yO!

 

i'm running a greddy sp exhaust and it's fairly quiet compared to other exhausts.

 

i got an Apexi N1 exhaust, it has a nice tone, yet not as loud as some of the **** out there (people with like 10 cat and 10000000000000inch tips n **** ). i really am happy with it.

 

im running a 97 dx, with piece of crap intake( get AEM) a dc sports cermaic coated header, and apexi world sport exhaust, the WS exhaust isnt loud at all. really nice, header makes a little noise, but u also have to remember if u live in a state that inspects ur vehicle u wont have a cat, if u get the header, cuz dx exhaust manifolds have internal cats right underneath the header, so just remember that, u can get an exhaust for an ex tho, and buy a high flow cat, and will bolt up perfectly from that i was told, but i dunt know for sure, cuz i live in KS where they dunt have inspects on ever registration. get some good suspension (FULL) and some good wheels and tires, and u can beat vtecs, i can beat a 92 vtec with header exhaust wheels tires and suspension, and i can kick his ***,, and all i have is intake, header, exhaust , and plug wires. but driving is the key here.. learn to drive good, you'll do much better. and swap only if u want to, everybody else duz it... cuz they think they're the next stephan papadakis. u can make an awesome motor out of a d16y7, u can turbo it, u can super it, its whatever u want to do, and how much ur willing to spend, unless u just want show style... then go for it. but good luck on it.

 

Depends on what you want to do. All these pro-swap guys...Tell me this: Why do you need to make all that power? For your daily driver? To get to work faster?

A D16 can be built many different ways. It's so sad to see people abandon what they already have and go with what everyone else has. I gurantee you, with a little time, knowledge and wrenching you could be very happy with your motor. Not to mention money.

Dropping $4000 isn't always in the budget. I will agree though, B16/18's can be very fast, nobody is arguing that. What I am trying to point out is, that the motor you have could easily serve the purpose you want it to without spending thousands.

Perfect example. If you are running the stock Y7, you can swap out the intake manifold for the Y8 counterpart, order yourself a very inexpensive turbo kit from GReddy, and conservatively boost 6 lbs. all day and be happy as a clam for under $2000.

 

if you want a semi quick dx motor, go for the y8 or z6 intake manifold, VTEC head, your regular bolt ons, and an EX tranny..

 

could u just get an EX cat and plug the 2nd O2 sensor into there and then run and ex exhaust?

 

i have a 97 dx coupe. it had a dx motor in it. when that motor was in it was pretty fun to drive. with just an aem intake the car ran a 2.2 60 ft time and a 16.3 quarter mile. pretty good for a stock dx. just throw you in a nice intake and exhaust.(dont mess with a header beacause the dx has the cat on the ex manifold) and be done with it. if you then neem more power put a 50 shot of n.o.s on it. then do yourself a swap.

 

Good call Thunderlips...I was going to get a swap, until I realized driving one day that all that extra power wouldnt do me any good most of the time! I opted to keep the Y7, grab a Y8 intake mani, greddy kit with fmic and am very happy with it!!! I walk all over Si's at 7 psi and actually have some torque!!!

 

Exactly. I didn't want to swap mine. It just happened that somehow, most of my oil went bye bye, and I burned out all my rod bearings, and f-ed up quite a few more things. So that's why i deceided to do it. I'm pretty happy with my swap.
More power =
Looks nicer =

OBD II - I hassle =
other swap hassles [putting motor from different car in this car] =

Stick I would say, stick with the D16Y7, build up all your internals, upgrade your fuel system, and CrAnK uP tHe BoOsT!!!!


BoOsT oWnZ jOo !!!!!!!!

 

so buying a header for the y7 wouldnt really be worth it?

 

best bang for buck ex tranny swap.

 

yea u can always build up ur d167 motor some work duz have to go into it, but its worth it, knowing that u wooped the crap out of that big hype of a vtec engine... when u have just a y7 that nobody thought could do it... flip them off, and drive off happy... well put thunderlips, well put...