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What's up Civic Forum?! Chris here, out in Virginia (Hampton Roads area)!! VA STAND UP! haha, just wanted to say "hello" and introduce myself. I've bought my first EVER Honda made vehicle and am clueless as to were to start! I hope this forum is active, because I have a few questions to ask about these motors and such!!!

Ok, so TOTALLY new to the whole Honda tuning scene or whatever you want to call it... (no offense - just seriously don't know what it's called these days!! lol) I remember when the first Fast and The Furious came out and all of this tuning, fart canned cars started coming out of everywhere! I haven't messed with any of that stuff since then - about 03-05? That being said, I have QUITE a bit of mechanical knowlodge as I've had everything from a 97 (or was it 98??) Eagle Talon TSI (awd turbo), to a 97 Mustang Cobra, to everything else under the sun! Bmw's, VW's, Chevy Blazer's/Tahoes, Dodge Dakota, etc, etc.... not trying to brag, just letting you know that I've worked on multiple different types of vehicles and all types of parts on every one - so figuring out the basics (which is all I REALLY need shouldn't be hard). I refuse to pay the RIDICULOUS prices these shops are trying to get nowadays, its INSANE!!! I love getting them to diagnose something though and then when they tell me what I'll need to have done at THEIR shop, go pick my joint up and fix it myself for 1/8th the price! Dumb Dumb's!

I just need some info on my car that I bought last night really and the best way to go about "building" it. It's a 1996 Honda Civic LX, it has 255k on the car but the ENTIRE car was rebuilt (everything that needed to be and the engine internals). I know this because it was a friends DD and he never "souped it up", it just got him to work and back and that's all he used it for. It's bone stock other than the extra intake cone I had laying around I fabbed up on it last night and the muffler being literally cut off! It's actually not loud at ALL though and I plan to get a full cat back and headers with the high flow cat n everything.... this is where the questions start to POUR IN!

Ok, so here's what I would like help with:

- First I would like to know what motor I have exactly... the book didn't come with the car and again, clueless when it comes to Honda's! The car runs strong and the guy I bought it from IS A MECHANIC so I know he took good care of it, just never got to tuning it. He was the second owner when it had less than 40K on everything. I know theirs B16's S1 blah blah (not really a motor prob. lol) and so on, again no offense just COMPLETELY CONFUSED when ppl talk about these different things!!

- Next, is there another head that I can put on this car for more power? Higher or Lower compressionn? Something cheap to turbo? An EASY, and I mean EASY engine swap (plug and play type thing), Etc... I know on the older VW's the 1.8L head on a 2.0L makes a WORLD of difference! Any info on such things??

- The exterior is in OK shape, I'll give it a 6 out of 10. Reason being, friend had liability - backed into bushes in front yard and never got the dents fixed on the quarter panel. Also the hood has a pretty un-significant dent and the paint is fading. Nonetheless, I did body work for almost 5 years including painting at a high end auto body shop and cosmetics are not a problem. The interior gets an 8 because the only thing its missing is a plastic cover for the map lights! Everything else, immaculate!

All of this being said... let me get down to business as far as what I WANT OUT OF THIS CAR! I don't want a 10 second civic, just an automatic (which I forgot to mention it was) clean looking civic that sounds good and has a LITTLE bit of pep! I know I have a 1.6L, I think I read it puts out right over 110hp? Whatever. Here's a list of what I'm thinking off of just other vehicles I've owned. Oh AND HANDLING IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR ME! I want GREAT handling!

- Coils (how much drop?)
- Upper Front Tow Bar (money is an issue on all of this btw, think cheap brands! As this is not going to be a racecar, just a BA daily driver that can get out of it's own way!)
- Lower back strut bar? Not sure if thats the correct name or what I'm looking for, someone please correct me if I'm wrong!
- Rims (what size with the coil drop? I'm thinking just some SI wheels. I used to go with 17's and low pro's, I'm thinking that's old school now though!? )
- Cold Air Intake (I'm sure I can ebay that! all I need is the hard pipe!)
- Full exhaust, header to muffler (I MAY be able to ebay that as well)
- Fuel Rail (is this an investment toward more power or just something ppl don't do on Civics and just VW's?)
- Front Lip - NO BODY KITS OR WINGS!!!! JUST THE FRONT LIP!!!! (again, sure I could find it but looking for cheap prices)
- Some type of better ignition system. MSD? (Just thinking... more compression + more gas + more air + better exhaust = more power!)
- HID Kit (found an 8000, may buy for $125 - made in Germany)

I'm not expecting to get anything free, money can be saved and I have some money saved as we speak but would just like to keep it simple and not EXTREMELY complicated. That is UNLESS the POWER or HANDLING is worth it. Just looking for idea's to get a better running, better looking, better handling 96 Civic 4 Door! I love it already and can see how people can get "addicted" to tuning them! It's just a great riding, sounding (yes even without the muffler!! LOL!) , comfortable car! I ESPECIALLY love how everything seems so solid and stiff, the steering, pedals, tranny... just feels SAFE? For lack of better words! If I can get this thing to get up a little bit using little money and junkyarding it, that'd be GREAT! I guess time shall will show.... what are you all's thoughts? BTW PAID $1300 and right at 250k on the cars OD and 50k on the rebuild... in case I didn't mention that!







This is the dented up quarter panel and a small metal panel under the taillight...

 
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You have a D16y7.

Yup!

The most popular options would be a d16y8, d16z6 or d15b.

There are two great budget minded coilovers sets, the ideal drop for handling is only 1-1.5".

- Progress CSII, not dampening adjustable but overall great value and quality for the price, they sell for around $550.

- Koni Yellows/Ground Control Sleeves, dampening adjustable and can be order with custom spring rates, they sell for around $850.

I think you're referring to a strut tower bar. If you are, don't waste your money, it will not improve handling to any noticeable degree. If you must have one, Megan or Neuspeed.

If you're referring to a rear strut tower bar, it does even less than on the rear than the front. If you're referring to a sway bar, that's the best money you could spend on your car when it comes to improving handling.

There are lots of options involving utilizing either stock Honda parts from other models or aftermarket, google is your friend here.

17"s are very large on a 6th gen, most prefer to stick with 15" or 16"s. SI wheels are always a good choice, but also severely overpriced in my honest opinion.

Search ebay, pick up whatever replica you like best.

8000k is rice, your losing a ton of actual light output to the blue tint.

A cheap $40 DDM HID kit is all you need, spending more on an HID kit being put into stock halogen headlights is a waste of money.

 
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Thanks for your help and yes, it was the sway bar I was looking for.... now that I know what motor I have, I can search on head swaps and such. Thanks a lot man! Any other suggestions? I like the SOHC, always have, don't know why! Just so realible, easy to work on and parts are everywhere. Oh AND I LOVE the 25 buck fill up thatll last me all week heheheh!

 
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as for the intake advance auto parts carries a universal intake that is 3" and fits perfect in our cars as a short ram intake, and since you have a filter (im assuming a decent one not an ebay one) you may be interested in that.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...RPFILTAMS_____

yes i know its around the same price as one on ebay with a filter but ebay filters are garbage and in this case you can just drive on down to your local advance auto and pick it up and not have to wait for shipping.

 
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Since you live in VA i would make good use of the Pick N Pull in Va Beach if and when you need parts, they have great prices there..And grab a set of 16 in rims...

 
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HAHAHAHA!! These last two post are hilarious!

Wanna know why? Cuz I bought that intake this morning at 10 and it slipped right on - as ur said it does. AND I'M AT PICK N PULL RIGHT NOW LOOKING AROUND!!

AND I SWEAR this is the first time I've seen these post(s) !!! I'm a mind reader! Lol!

I'm having trouble discovering the head I need... Is it a vtext head? And what were they put on stock? Also do I need any other components or is this just bolt n go?!

 
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Vtec, damn auto correct...

 
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Tell Jerry Franklin that Shane sent ya..can't promise anything but he will help you out..

 
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your D16y7 is not a Vtech engine (i think)..the Y8 is, which is on the Ex model..

 
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yes you need a head off a d16y8 in an ex. make sure you get the solenoid bolted on the back left side of the head too.

 
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D16z6 is a vtec head and can be found in the 92-95 EX or Si.

D16y8 is a vtec head and can be found in the 96-00 EX

D15b is a JDM head, but they're relatively easy to find on forums, best D-series head ever built. Three stage vtec, 130 N/A hp out of a 1.5L..

 
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I have a 1997 civic with a d16y7, are you saying that it would be a good choice for me to get a d15b head if I want some extra power?
and would it be a simple bolt on or would I need to improv a little?

Also what exactly does a sway bar do? (sorry, I'm a Honda noob too)