My D17 epiphany
11-30-2004
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The Beer-man
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My D17 epiphany D17s are economy engines. They are designed for fuel economy and reliability. D17s are not designed for racing. So these are the roads we take:
Bolt-ons:
After dumping $1,500 in bolt-ons (intake, header, exhaust, cam gears, intake manifold, spark plugs, ECU,) you're putting 140hp to the wheels and probably still running 15's. Congratulations, you can now beat a Taurus.
Swaps:
You're tired of your low gain, economy D17a2, so you drop $8,000 and get yourself a K20a2, a 6-speed transaxle, and all the goodies for a swap. Not quite the best financial decision you made, but you are now running 14's. Congratulations, you can now beat a V6 Mustang.
Forced Induction:
Or you turbocharge your D17. Full SF kit, 180hp to the wheels, $4,000 later and you're running 14's. Probably the most cash effecient way of making your Civic move. Congratulations, you can now beat an RSX Type-S.
Next you upgrade your internals (pistons, valve springs, injectors, etc), up the pressure to 15psi, $1,000 later you're running 13's. Congratulations, you can now beat a Camaro Z28.
Nitrous:
Assuming you still have your SF kit, $500 later, you spray and run low 13's. Congratulations, you can now beat a 911 Carrera.
Swap+Turbo:
Ah yes, the ol' Turbo'd K20in an econobox. Either you have an excellent job and for some reason you like Civics rather than BMWs or your parents are filthy rich and give you anything you want. About $12,000 later you own a Civic that runs, quite possibly, 12's. Congratulations, you can now beat a Corvette.
Why do we subject ourselves to such pain, sweat, time fending off import haters, while our wallets continue to get thinner just to build a car that runs with production sports cars? No, there moght not be any logic to it all, but we do it anyways. Why? What is the attraction to turning a cheap car into a fast cheap car? The world may never know.
Bolt-ons:
After dumping $1,500 in bolt-ons (intake, header, exhaust, cam gears, intake manifold, spark plugs, ECU,) you're putting 140hp to the wheels and probably still running 15's. Congratulations, you can now beat a Taurus.
Swaps:
You're tired of your low gain, economy D17a2, so you drop $8,000 and get yourself a K20a2, a 6-speed transaxle, and all the goodies for a swap. Not quite the best financial decision you made, but you are now running 14's. Congratulations, you can now beat a V6 Mustang.
Forced Induction:
Or you turbocharge your D17. Full SF kit, 180hp to the wheels, $4,000 later and you're running 14's. Probably the most cash effecient way of making your Civic move. Congratulations, you can now beat an RSX Type-S.
Next you upgrade your internals (pistons, valve springs, injectors, etc), up the pressure to 15psi, $1,000 later you're running 13's. Congratulations, you can now beat a Camaro Z28.
Nitrous:
Assuming you still have your SF kit, $500 later, you spray and run low 13's. Congratulations, you can now beat a 911 Carrera.
Swap+Turbo:
Ah yes, the ol' Turbo'd K20in an econobox. Either you have an excellent job and for some reason you like Civics rather than BMWs or your parents are filthy rich and give you anything you want. About $12,000 later you own a Civic that runs, quite possibly, 12's. Congratulations, you can now beat a Corvette.
Why do we subject ourselves to such pain, sweat, time fending off import haters, while our wallets continue to get thinner just to build a car that runs with production sports cars? No, there moght not be any logic to it all, but we do it anyways. Why? What is the attraction to turning a cheap car into a fast cheap car? The world may never know.
11-30-2004
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yup. so true and so sad. but for those of us whom bought our civics at 10.5k and the thought of spending another 10k to put 300whp on a 2600lb car makes them cream in their pants. that and also the WOOT factor.
edit: you can find a wreck or rolling chasis and add even more to the savings. 2-5k for rolling chasis plus 7k on swap = killer vic for 12k. later on, get a turbo and put down some 300whp.
^^^I think i just came up with a master plan.^^^
edit: you can find a wreck or rolling chasis and add even more to the savings. 2-5k for rolling chasis plus 7k on swap = killer vic for 12k. later on, get a turbo and put down some 300whp.
^^^I think i just came up with a master plan.^^^
Last edited by lkm; 11-30-2004 at 08:59 PM.
11-30-2004
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The Beer-man
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Rep Power: 0 I guess I ought to repost this in General Auto Ramblings. I kinda meant to do that in the 1st place. Oh, the epiphany part is meant to be sarcastic.
12-01-2004
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Rep Power: 0 Did you people research the car at all before you bought it? Seriously, the many downsides of the D17 have been known since late 2000 when the first boltons started coming out. I don't mean to sound like a **** here or anything, but seriously, you don't just buy a random car and expect to get crazy power out of boltons, especially a high MPG econobox.
12-01-2004
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Rep Power: 263 All I have to say is the best bang for your buck is Mustang Cobra. I know three people that have them. This one guy got over 50 horses for intake and a catback!!! He's got the Dyno sheets to prove it.
12-02-2004
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Rep Power: 279 Tuner Transformations did an 02 civic. They just laughed at it, but in the end did all the usual crap everyone else does. They DID get a bit more out of it, but I wonder how long before the CEL comes on. Bigger injectors, etc. In the end, they called it a dime-a-dozen car, and does anyone actually tune these things?
Eh.... was fun to watch. I love mine.
Eh.... was fun to watch. I love mine.
12-02-2004
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Originally Posted by Wolfgang5884
All I have to say is the best bang for your buck is Mustang Cobra. I know three people that have them. This one guy got over 50 horses for intake and a catback!!! He's got the Dyno sheets to prove it.
holy ****
90 in 3rd
12-23-2004
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Rep Power: 0 All I know is i'm glad I spend my money on suspension mods and repalcing any stock part that goes bad with soemthing much better (air filter, muffler, clutch, plugs, struts) It's better than lambo doors, automatic shift ***** and altezzas am I right.
12-23-2004
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Hmmm. You'd have to call me a "ricer" rather than a "racer" then. 
I got the muffler, intake and header for the sound. I have no plans to turbo or N20 my car. I don't care to make it "fast", just so long as it looks cool and is fully functional.
I got the muffler, intake and header for the sound. I have no plans to turbo or N20 my car. I don't care to make it "fast", just so long as it looks cool and is fully functional.
12-27-2004
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Rep Power: 0 I just like to beat other civics.
To be best in class is a fine goal. Civics won't be able to beat corvettes so we must show respect for the car despite the fact that the driver may be inferior!!!
To be best in class is a fine goal. Civics won't be able to beat corvettes so we must show respect for the car despite the fact that the driver may be inferior!!!
12-27-2004
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Rep Power: 245 I think we all underestimate our cars. K20a2 swap, turbo, some serious tuning, our light *** civics will be flying my friends, FLYING!!! But yea i know, why dont u just buy this and that, rsx, etc. But just think about it, puling up, guy is in other car " HAHA Look at that vic!!" AND BAM, shove the dirt in his face. God, i live for that day. Its gonga take me 2 years though to get money for k20a2 though, lol so i might as well keep on dreaming.
12-28-2004
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Rep Power: 245 I dont know how to explain. Ok civic with our stock engine is slow, no doubt. But transforming that slug into a ****en fast machine can be done. Swap will have to happen, but its still like a civic, u no?? I mean if u think its all Honda. And we keeping true to our import ways. LOL sounding like poet or somtin, but im serious.
12-28-2004
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Originally Posted by SevenCyrus
I think we all underestimate our cars. K20a2 swap, turbo, some serious tuning, our light *** civics will be flying my friends, FLYING!!!.... But just think about it, puling up, guy is in other car " HAHA Look at that vic!!" AND BAM, shove the dirt in his face.
that is exactly why i want to swap my car
12-28-2004
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Originally Posted by SevenCyrus
I dont know how to explain. Ok civic with our stock engine is slow, no doubt. But transforming that slug into a ****en fast machine can be done. Swap will have to happen, but its still like a civic, u no?? I mean if u think its all Honda. And we keeping true to our import ways. LOL sounding like poet or somtin, but im serious.
01-01-2005
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Rep Power: 0 But like I said before...is it still a Civic after so much modding with a completely different drivetrain and powertrain? There are a lot of kids who see this Civic hatch and think that because it had a 140mph trap speed they can buy a shitty CRX, put on I/H/E and smoke Camaros and Mustangs.
01-01-2005
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Originally Posted by Metallica454
But like I said before...is it still a Civic after so much modding with a completely different drivetrain and powertrain? There are a lot of kids who see this Civic hatch and think that because it had a 140mph trap speed they can buy a shitty CRX, put on I/H/E and smoke Camaros and Mustangs.
or those goddamn neons.....
01-01-2005
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it still is using all honda stuff BTW
take off weight, reinforce the engine, add boost and voila! fast car.
take off weight, reinforce the engine, add boost and voila! fast car.
