I have a stock 91 Dx civic. I am auto xing it for next season and I need your help. Let me give you more info on the car. 1.5 motor with 264,000km, standard. When I bought the car the clutch was smoked, there is a small crack in the windshild, and there is a hole in the muffler. The car runs and drives great, there is no prolems with it.The suspension is going to be redone during the winter with Neuspeed race springs, tokico blue struts and engery suspension bushings. With all that out of the way what should I do with the motor. What can I do with the stock motor to make more horse power? Should I wait till the motor blows then replace it, or replace it right away?. I know were to get a b16a motor for a good price. What should I do! Thanxs

 

The first thing you should do is read the rulebook for your sanctioning body. What stuff you buy might bump you into an undesirable class. Many people get an unpleasent surprise when that $200 modification bumps them up into something awful like Prepared or Modified.

That said...I'd encourage you to not buy Neuspeed race springs, or any "sport springs" for that matter. Spend the money on a good set of shocks instead, and get a coilover conversion kit (from Ground Control, Carrera, etc) that lets you get custom spring rates.

Does that help?

 

I guess the first question I would ask is "what is your autocross experience?" If you are just starting out then don't do a thing to the car. Just work on your driving. Autocross is 90% driver skill.

Once you gain experience and understand the rules for various classes you will be in a much better position to select your modifications. Autocrossing is a very specialized sport. What works for us may not be what the generic "high performance" industry says is the way to make your car faster. Modifying first and then learning that what you did needs to be redone is very expensive.

Regards,
Alan

 

In the grand scheme...

That car will only become nationally or divisionally competitive in a class such as Street Modified (SM) with an engine swap. It won't be a good STS, street prepared or stock car even regionally (at your local autox).

If you are autoxing just for fun, then any car will do with any level of mods. But if you are like most of us, you'll start to become upset that you consistantly get beaten and then you'll probably want to step up to a different car or plan radical changes to yours.

Whatever you do, go have fun and see if autox is for you.

 

Yep see signature