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Hey guys as you can see I'm new to the forums... AND the car world. I'm 16 years old and starting to love cars more and more. I see myself reading turner magazines everyday and drooling over modified cars. I own a 2002 Honda Civic EX 1.7VTECH.

However, I am completely clueless about cars. I was wondering if there were books or sites or people who can help me learn about modding cars. I am willing to learn and practice on my Civic.

Any suggestions are great.

Thanks a bunch! Hoping to really contribute to the forums here.

 
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Welcome!! As far as info on your civic goes I would suggest SEARCHing DIY and based on your skill level go from there.

 
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Its Vtec not Vtech. Vtec is cars, Vtech is phones. Best way to learn is to do it yourself man. There are plenty of DIYs on this site for simple to extreme mods. Start small though like a short ram intake or blacked out headlights. Don't try to go over the top with wide body kits and turbos just yet.

 
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Thanks for all the good info!

Why are body kits not good for a start? I was thinking of ordering an octane r34 kit and getting it painted and fit on at a shop.

Also, what kinda of intake is ideal for my car? I was thinking a cat back exhaust system and a cold air intake, what do you guys think about that?

and what is the difference between intake and shortram?

 
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Because more often than not, folks who are brand new to cars and modding go out and buy the first "cool" looking body kit they see and take it to ship for paint and fitment. The shop sees them coming a mile away, does a half-*** paint and install job (keeping the stock bumpers), completely bending you over on the price and then you're stuck that way.

Body kits are OK if that is your taste, in a lot of folks' opinion, a lip kit and skirts are a much more tasteful modification.

As far as intakes go, a short ram is a type of intake. Also known as a shorty, or warm air intake. In reality, it's half of a cold air intake because the CAI has another length of tubing that moves the filter down into the wheel well area. Short rams basically just replace your stock air box with a short tube that moves the torque curve up in the RPM range and changes the sound of the car. Some folks will say, "Dude they don't **** for your D17, don't waste money on them" and they are partially right. Your best bet is an Ebay cheapie intake with a nice AEM dryflow filter on it. I wouldn't waste a ton of cash on an AEM V2 or Injen or any other intake.

Headers are fun, you lose the stutter from about 6600 RPMS to redline with a DC Sportsshorty 4-1, and exhaust also helps a little too.

Welcome to the site, make judicious use of the search button and enjoy driving your Civic!

 
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I'm 24 but in the same boat, however looking for a fun track day car that i put together myself. Body kit is totally irrelevant to me, I am always a fan of the 'sleeper' car with not even a decal showing that anything has been done. Some people like the flashy stuff. We are not all the same. The whole reason I joined up here is to find exactly WHICH parts are worth getting, with so much stuff out there its tricky to know.