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But what are the differences in an '01 EX and LX? I've been looking to do some modding of my LX (after getting the bug from modding my '05 Ram), and I keep coming across items that are for the EX only. Aren't the engines the same? I thought the only differences were in the trim package. Could someone please straighten me out. Thanks

 
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nope, the engines are diffrent.

 
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An ex has the d17a2 motor sohc v-tec and the lx has the d17a1 sohc non v-tec which i have and it sucks.

 
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lx has the cat up by the headers and ex has the cat under the car, you can do a full ex exhaust conversion tho

 
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the ex conversion would be sweet but what kind of gains will you get from it?

 
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ummm not a lot lol

 
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SOHC sucks in general, lol, get a k20 in either model

 
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So it would be a pointless swap, although you should think about turbo charging your car, because doesn;t the lx motor have a lower compression ratio compared to the ex which means you can run a little more boost.

 
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yea lx is better for boost, but ex exhaust just makes it easier to get cat backs and all since there is a bigger variety....i think

 
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I dont really understand the cat backs deally. If you're boosted whats the point of having the cat?

 
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no reason lol

 
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Well, not having a cat is illegal. If you can get it passed on an inspection without it, then go for it. As far as the header/downpipe/cat conversion from dx/lx to ex, it just makes it so you can bolt on aftermarket exhausts. There are not many available for the lx/dx.

 
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I've just been noticing that, for example, some intake tubes are listed specifically for the EX or the LX, while some say they will work on both. Other parts, some not even dealing with the engine, are showing the same thing. It's just a P.I.T.A. to try and figure out if one item will fit when it states that it is specifically for the EX or LX, while other similar items are listed as fitting on both.

 
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won't the intakes work for all the D17?

 
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vtec engine, cd player, moonroof, abs, and a few other little things. the engine differences are in the actual engine itself, so you can still use short intake for all models. the main difference is the header and cat are in different places so you cant use any ex exhaust components on the lx.

 
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I think it depends on the brand of intake. Check the manufacturer's web site and see if they're the same model number for the different trim levels.

 
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Man if i can go back i would have totally gotten the Ep3 instead of this sorry *** lx, but i am pretty excited about finally boosting it this summer. I tell ya doing a custom kit is a pain in the ***.

 
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Thanks for the input so far guys. This lump on head was starting to really hurt. I guess I'll have to pay closer attention to part numbers when looking for upgrades. I'm not really looking to do a whole lot of upgrades since I know we can't get a whole lot outta these engines.

 
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Very smart thinking. Mod what you want to mod, but be able to return it back to stock and trade it in or sell it to get a car you can actually have fun with modding. But i am not saying you can mod ours, you can swap or boost it. You'll have fun with the boosting.

 
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BCCentaur3= dude that is a great idea about the low compression in the lx, but you can also go EX and stack gaskets.

 
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or you can do what im doing, keep the civic as a bad wheather/daily driving car, and go to Ford and buy a brand new mustang, they are cheap, and regardless of what all the import ppl say, they are reliable(my friend learnde stick on his GT and he broke all his synchros, and stripped about every gear, and he burned up the clutch, and ford replaced it under warranty, the warranrty which was not vodied by his aftermarket chip, intake, and exhaust) Ford really backs these cars nicely, and hey allow many self-done mods under warranty, you should really look into it, because RWD torquey 300hp cars are sooo much more fun than 100hp fwd torque-steered cars.