I've got a 90 2 door Dx Accord as my daily driver. i love it, has 138k on it and runs nice. It replaced '86 with 200k that served me well.

Anyways, I want to know what would be some quick hit performance increases for it. Unfortunately, the tranny is auto, so I can't do anything wild with it right now, but anything to give me some more low end grunt for would be nice.

So far the only thing i've done is replace the air filter with a K&N drop in replacement.

I've considered overhauling the ignition with an MSD replacement cap and roter, ignition coil, wires, and 6A unit. Is it worth it?

Any other quick hits I can do for under a grand? Again, it is a daily driver, so I'm not looking to tear up the front tires...just make the car a little more happy.
thanks, j

 

Ignition is a waste of money for what you have. Unless your coil goes out, don't worry about it. Nitrous would be best bang for the buck, but I'll assume you don't want to squeeze so this is what I would suggest in order of bank for the buck:
1. Sell the K&N on Ebay and get a Cold Air. AEM CAI- $160 - 10-15 HP gain.
2. Adjustable cam gear. AEM - $130 - ~10 HP, including way better bottom to mid power.
3. Header- DC Sports - $330 - 3-6 HP.
4. Cat back exhaust of your choice- $300-500 - another couple HP gain.

That'll keep you under 1K and not too hard on motor or tranny and actually improve gas mileage IF you drive the same way.

 

1)TB trick (free)
2)cold air intake(non-aem 40-50)
3)high flow cat(50ism)
4)custom cat-back(someone here sell one for 250)
5)Header(300)

 

i'd like to know where you guys are getting these prices for headers from. $300 from what company through which retailer? jesus, GReddy wants $480 (why are they so proud of that thing?) for theirs and DC wants $380 and then add in whatever it costs to get the 2.5" collector modificationand matching test pipe from a muffler shop.by the way i'm quoting prices for an h22 since i'm not doing any more power adders for the car until i get the damn h22 in.

 

What TB trick are you talking about?

 

i think the one where you re-adjust the throttle cable for better response.

 

Thanks for the advice, just a few more Q'S

Why would the ignition be a waste of money? Not questioning your advice, I'm just curious being a little new to this. Electrical work for me is actually one of the easier things that I can manage, so it was one of the first things I looked at.

As to the choice of exhaust, what is the best way to go on muffler choice without having the mind numbing 60 mph drone that my friends accord has. Any suggestions as to brand / model? Just throwing this out, but i saw that the flowmaster 60 is tuned for the 4 bangers.

Thanks all again for the advice, these forums rock!
j

 

get a 4-2-1 header from a junkyard EX trim..lx and dx use 4-1 should be cheap and functional..gain about 5hp+If you have the cash go SS header if you plan on keeping the stock motor.. ie:building it up

Intake-Any CAI intake most opt AEM
Exhaust-Full catback..get the whole piping not just muffler 2.25 I believe..custom piping will be cheaper and you can add the flowmaster mufflr. I would ask around how it sounds.. Greddy SP is nice as well as OBX for budget.Paried with the header you will get more top end. 5hp+

Ignition in generally doesn't do jack for any car unless it's heavily modified, it just looks pretty and fact of the matter for the most part on a stock/slightly modded car the stock ignition unit works best.
I would spend money on a tune-up if it hasn't been done already..IE:change spark plugs- ngk coppers, add some chevron techron fuel system treatment, adjust your valves to spec, carbon cleaner like seafoam, your car will run better overall.

 

If you don't want to put a cold air intake on your car, a free trick is to take the bottom of your air box and a 1" hole saw and cut as many 1" holes in the bottom you can. Not as good as a CAI but it's free and looks stock and will let that K&N work a lot better. It boosted my MPG's on my '91 EX 1-1/2 to 2, low end response was a bit better and I could feel a difference in the mid and upper RPM when I was passing on 2 lane highways. That was with just a cheapo Fram filter. Around here you have to get out and around ASAP as traffic is heavy and the roads are curvy and hily so passing ops are few and far between. Had to put a stock bottom on when it started getting down in the 30's though as it made cold weather starting and warm up a bit rough. It's going back on about the end of March next year.


[Modified by Hippie, 6:37 AM 11/25/2002]

 

i reccomend an intake, test pipe (careful about emission laws in your local), and remove your stock ignition coil and replace with dist cap from 93' and use msd external coil. this is all the ignition you will need for a stock motor. i swapped an oem 4-2-1 header from an ex and noticed good power from 3-5k.

 

upper manifold plenum and t/b from an h23, bypass coolant from FIV and plug, intake hose and box from h23/h22 lude, and a drop-in k&n filter

yAy

 

Hey fellas...what was the title of his tread??!?

If your looking to be mindful of your spending, lets keep it in perspective and offer some real advice.

1) keep the K&N. And drill some holes in the airbox/ remove the reasonator (if equiped)
2) get the 90-93 EX accord exhuast manifold. Real power, real cheap.
3) Forget the headers and all the other crap. Find a local muffler shop and have them do up a Walker/Dynomax performance muffler system for $75 bucks.
4) With so many heat/cold cycles out there, I'm sure your spark wires are crap. Replace your spark plug wires with OEM honda or magnacors ($75). No neuspeeds, no ngk's, no jacobs, no msd...go w/ the real stuff). Back to stock power levels and maybe a little more.
5) Get some used OEM honda rims (94-95 Accord EX 7spokes are nice) and some good performance tires. In KS with the snow, I'd get Dunlop D60A2 with snow capability. http://www.tirerack.com
6) give your brake system a nice flush. Use Valvoline Syntech DOT 4 brake fluid. Good stuff/cheap.
7) use some good fuel injector cleaner to clean up your system...i like STP $2.39 @ walmart.

for me, it's about restoring all the power that your system has lost over the years.


[Modified by RotaryBzzz, 3:15 PM 11/25/2002]

 

lets not forget the duel stage intake manifold...


peace

brett

 

no such thing

 

Go to a junkyard/salvage yard and pick up an EX manifold (hell I'll give you mine if I still have it). that will take you 125hp --> 130hp.
Also find a 92-93EX Intake Manifold and swap that guy on there too. Now you are at 140hp. I just did this recently for only $60! However, mine '90 EX has the stock solenoid system/vacuum tank which I adapted to operate the manifold at the 3500RPM change over... don't know if the DX's have that stuff...

 

"Mild", the man said "mild". There's a ton you can do to ANYTHING keeping that in mind. Just gotta get those neurons warmed up.