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Anybody running their civic in H-stock? I'm looking for some tips for my HX (I know, it's dog slow but it won't matter, I need to learn how to drive it before more power will help). What do you think of the following:

1. Front sway bar (none stock) - installed a 22.2 today and it makes a huge difference.
2. Tires after I wear out what I have (Sumitomo HTR200 summer)
3. Crash bolts - are these legal since they're listed in the Honda parts list? Top only, or both top and bottom? I saw a tip on a neon board that said to install them over wet paint to help keep them from slipping; anybody have problems with them?
4. Konis - nice but might not matter much since I'm a beginner anyway.

And yeah, I know the nut behind the wheel counts the most.

 
Rep Power: 424

I don't think you can add a sway bar unless you already had one. Check me on that, but I think stock rules only allow for changing it, not adding it.
If you're serious about running stock, get some Hoosiers or Kumho Victoracers and shoehorn them onto the stock wheels.
Konis are legal and get new brake pads.

 
Rep Power: 315

Yeah...I was gonna say....

ADDING a sway bar (if it's not already stock) will put you in a street prep'd class.

Honestly though...that sway bar will do more harm than good. IMO

But like B said...GOOD race tires, i.e. Hoosiers, Avon's, Khumo's, etc. Some Koni's...they WILL make a difference. Some new brake pads. Maybe even a harness to keep yer *** in the seat. And you should be all set...

But the most important thing to remember is....GO HAVE FUN!!

The more fun you're having, the better you'll prolly do. If you start taking it too serious to begin with...you won't reach your goals...and you won't perform the way you want to.

 
Rep Power: 381

actually on a really soft stock suspension, adding a front bar, or getting a bigger front anti-roll bar can actually help handling. But once you start going away from stock, your going to want something small on the front...

 
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Thanks for the fast feedback!

As far as I can tell, the front bar should be OK: "substitution, addition or removal of any front anti-roll bars is permitted". And Zzyzx is right, the reduction in body roll helps more than the forward bias hurts. Not enough power/gear ratio to spin the tires anyway. And now I can corner hard without hitting the bump stops!

What about the crash bolts, top only or both?

 
Rep Power: 424

You only change the top one, that is assuming Honda has replacements which allow more camber and its a part number FOR THAT CAR (this is part of what's killing SRT-4s right now, that and 17x6" wheels). I know they sell them for the Si, but you can't legally use them. And the wet paint idea is a good one, camber bolts tend to wiggle around.

 
Rep Power: 381

^^ the 17s are whats going to kill the Mazdaspeed Miata too... .Especially when you can fit 13's on them.

 
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Now I'm not sure if they are crash bolts or not. The honda parts list shows 2 part numbers for the same item 12 bolt, one is identified as "service". They're only listed for 03/04, and the honda guy didn't know what they were so I ordered some to find out...