Originally Posted by Metallica454

I accidentally posted this in the Vehicle Issues Forum.

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.