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guys seriously if you dont plan to use ems just go for the stage one, the benefit in power is the same with out utilizing the increased rev limiter that ONLY the EMS will provide

 
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im planning on doing the same mods as you except with the d16y8 im and upgraded fuel system. im just gonna use the ex solenoid and wiring harness and ecu and everything, so it will shift into vtec at the correct rpm, and then later if i want you can get the ems, which worth it to save up and i can put it in later and your car will shift into vtec at the correct rpm without the vafc2. and that way i can utilize the potential power that those cams have by setting the rev limit to 7000rpm or higher. thats just what im planning on doing and i think thats the way to go.

 
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ok first off the stock rev on both d17a1/a2 is 7k. using the ecu is going to cost more and be more of a pain to wire in and use than a vafc2. not to mention the fact that you can tune more power with the vafc2. but if you not going to run the ems with the stage 2 your wasting your money. i really dont know how many times i can repeat that. its your choice but in reality your gains will be identical with a stage one as the stage two with out ems to raise the limiter. so your buying springs and retainers and having them installed for no gains over the stage one.

if you do it you may as well do it right or you will have problems. people that run the stage 2 with out ems are having idle issues and tuning issues. if you do the stage 2 you may as well do ems to take advantage of the extra power you can make with the increased rpm the stage 2 offers

 
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Listen to familycar he knows what he's talking about.

 
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^bump. damn im still wondering if anyone did hondata yet!

 
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first of all i am insatlling everything myself, so the cost isn't a problem, i already ripped out all the wiring and everything i need from a wrecked ex, so thats no problem either. the reason why im going stage 2 cams is so that later when i have the money, i can install the ems so that i can tune my car to redline at over 7000rpm or whatever i want.

 
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So if you buy the stage 1 cam do you need to buy anything else-or can you just slap it in?

 
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You can buy the stage 1 cam and just slap it on yes to answer your question.

 
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gotch ya, but dont forget how expensive the EMS is. its going to cost you about $1500 just for EMS, then another $1200 for cams and springs, then dyno tuning, install, if your doing the stage2 you WILL want to port and polish to take full advantage of the cams and that is another $800. realistically your looking at about $4k to complete this project and youll make maybe 150-160whp. so for 50whp gain $4k. doesnt seem too logical to me, and that is why i ditched the idea a long time ago. especailly when you can boost for the same amount and get over 200whp.

dont get me wrong i love N/a cars as well, but you need a decent platform to start with. i took out a b18b from my teg for a b20 which will soon have a GSR head and make about 185whp. that will stay in for a while during the build of the b18 for boost and about 600whp.

 
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yeah i know how much the ems will cost, thats why i need to save, itll take a couple months, but itll be soon. plus ive already had my head ported and polished for free, my buddy owed me a favor, and i already have the cams and valvetrain, ive finished building up my head, so it should be ready to go on now. so far ive spent close to $1500 on this project, and about another $1500 to go.

 
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some people like the challange, beside its fun to be able to handle stock-mild dohc cars on the street. with a puny bastard sohc like the d17

 
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i would also try to calculate some room for error and tuning. $120/hr for tuning. youll should also consider some arp headstuds to ensure no leaks. it doesnt get much closer to my estimate of $4k than that.

i iwsh you luck, there arent many people tht have ever completed their N/a build with a stage 2 and EMS. so i am anxious to see the results, especially since this is the route i wanted to go before i realized how much it was truely going to cost to gain miminal power. so i demodded a bit and bought a 96 teg to play with. i have love for the d17 but no faith.



definately clay the motor with the milled head as well man. problems have arised after milling on these heads.