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What's up. I'm new to the engine enhancement scene and would like to add some power to my automatic 04 civic ex. It currently has 127 hp. I have heard everything from "it's twice as fast" to "it got slower" for such mods, but please, only those who have installed these parts reply, thank you.

1. If I were to add an aem V2 CAI and an exhaust system, how much of an increase in power should I expect? Would I really notice an increase?

2. Should I consider changing the headers?

3. What is the most effective method of increasing power (besides NOS) under $500?

Please, only those who have actually added such parts respond here. Thank you for your help. Also, any referrals to other sites that address this topic would be helpful.

 
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AEM v2 cold air and a good catback exhaust system will give you about....2 or 3 hp gain. i guess you can feel a better pull on top end. and our cars only have one header. Not tw. I hear that HP racing header or kamikaze header will give you some good power gains. if you want a noticeable power gain under 500 bucks then go order you a stage 1 N/A crower camshaft. its about 365 bucks from truehonda.com.

 
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the cam and the head are probably the two things that will yield the largest gains. Porting the head will run you ~$700 + labor to remove/install the head.

but you also have to remember, even though an intake/header/exhaust will only yield ~5whp gain, once you swap to a better cam, ported head, etc, it will prove to be most worth while.

Once the motor itself can flow more air, it is necessary to change the intake and exhaust systems.

 
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from what I know, people with the auto dont really enjoy the V2. However, most people with a 5 speed D17A1 tend to like them....

 
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Well, V2 isn't a CAI, seeing as how it sits in the middle of my engine bay about 1'' from the block and sucks hot air. Together, my V2 and cat-back exhaust make my car louder and a bit slower off the line due to the torque curve being moved to a higher place in the rpm range... but once I get up to speed, such as on the highway, the throttle response is greatly improved, which makes it easier to pass people and merge into faster traffic. This setup is perfect for me because I don't race people and I do a lot of highway driving. I have a stick shift, so I don't know what effect a V2 and cat-back will have on an AT, but I suspect the driving dynamics will be similar (nothing gained but noise at low speeds, better response on the highway).

 
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Thanks for your help. I believe I may try to replace the air intake and see what happens. If I notice an improvement in performance or gas mileage I may continue to add parts as time passes. I would really like to change the cams, but how difficult is this? I have a subscription to honda tuning, and have seen what it done, but of course they have pros doing the install. Is it really that hard? Thanks for your help

 
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well....you can instal a cam yourself. but i think you gotta be pretty good at workin with motors. just to be on the safe side, i would just take it to a shop and let them do it. after installin the cam you gotta dyno tune it. installing and dyno tuning will cost you around....maybe close to 400 bucks?

 
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um yea that stuff is hard. my head swap took 12+hrs all day and thats with two guys who have done it before. cap might be easier because there's something you can buy to just swap it without pulling the head I think. Stick with the basics imo. Its too much work for too little hp. The pnp head gave me 10whp, intake maybe 1-2 but more torque. the small mods don't really do much at all.

 
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how long does pnp take to be done?

 
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I had an auto EX. Dyno'd it stock at 89whp, 85ft/lbs.

Added Injen SRI, DC 4-1 Shorty header & 5Zigen catback.
Dyno: 101whp & 98ft/lbs of tq

Add Dezod D17 turbo
Dyno: 147whp & 124ft/lbs of tq at 8 PSI

 
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to do the porting? mine took about 1-2 montsh but I got lucky. Other people had to wait longer and the company sucked anyway. It does take time, but not that much. All they do is shave down some metal basically.

 
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LOL

Little more than that.

Remeber exhaust ports smooth. Intake ports rigid.

 
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so, even though honda advertises that the civic has 127 hp (d171a), and I suppose that is at the flywheel, it loses 49 hp! That is crazy! Does anyone have the dyno to a manual Civic ex with a d171a? If so, please do tell. I always thought my car was slow, but damn, only 89 whp, that sucks. I don't think I will change anything, it will be useless to have 91 hp instead of 89, whoopdeedoo. Oh and Dezod, how much did you spend on your car, the one with the injen, shorty headers, catback and turbo?

 
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well yea i'm just generalizing. don't go get a dremel and start grinding away

only 89whp...thats for the automatic civic EX (my car). manual civic ex (d17a2) makes around 105-110whp.

well dezod had that as a project car, so he made the turbo. prolly spent alot cause of r&d I'm guessing.

 
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Injen sri $150
DC Header $250
5Zigen catback $500

Then I sold all of these components & built the 1st Dezod turbo........GEESH.

R&D, labor, all of the parts.....over $5500

 
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Please do not do that.....

 
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Unless you know what you're doing with said dremel. Although a dremel is a poor choice to use for porting a head as it isn't very powerful.