Alright, so I've done my research too the point where i want to finish my questions.

So I have a 2004 honda civic EX with about 130000 miles on it. I bought it the beginning of the summer, I finished paying it off by now.

Honestly I wanted to gain some HP, and do the usual exterior crap, but for HP and engine wise, i've read as much as i could find.

With the D17, I understand that the gains with bolt ons isn't crazy at all, but its still something. So I was wondering what the best bang for buck I can get with hp on bolt ons.

I have the ex version, with comes with the vtec head and all that, with the research i did, i think, or found out i can switch the camshaft for a stage1.

I know this thread probably pops up all the time but I'd like to reasure to what i can do with how much gains I can pull out of it.

No, i do not want to remove seats or anything, it is not a drag car.

All i want is a little more pep in it, anyone got any ideas or explanations?

search/read about crower stage 1 camshaft. Nothing else will give any comparable gains.
during install consider timing belt/water pump/head gasket. a lot of the work are related, pending mileage on them.
intake and exhaust can be done later, but do check the TB/WP first.

Stage 1 cam is the best way to make power. Depending on how much money you want to spend you could also get the head port and polished. This will create some down time so if you can't have the car out of service for a while then I would get another head off of eBay and get that p&p and put the cam in ahead of time.