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Old 28 Jan 2008, 01:01 am
snookynibbles snookynibbles is offline
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Honda/Acura, like most auto manufactuers, produce vehicles with a fair amount of restriction on both the intake & exhaust. This is to make the driving experience reasonably sedate....most folks don't want their cars sounding 'Ricey' (a popular euphamism among car 'tuners', not intended to offend).The easiest/cheapest way to experience about 10%+ gains is to remove the intake resonator box & replace it with a good cold air induction system, and then add a good performance exhaust system. RE the intake upgrade, products by AEM, and INJEN for example, both make decent CAI upgrades ~ mid-high $200 range. AEM also makes a version, the V2, which actually is tuned to produce a slight overpressure on the the intake valves...a mild 'supercharge' effect, similar to VVI systems found on many sport sedans. Another upgrade, one recommended deploying in conjunction with CAI, is a good catback system. This aftermarked upgrade replaces everything from the catalytic converter, back. Some will increase pipe diameter, eliminate resonators & mid-mufflers, and provide flow-through exhaust. All this to say that a good cat-back exhaust will substantially reduce backpressure, enabling the engine to breath better. The price on these vary by car, but for an Integra one can probably be had starting around $400 or so. Beyond intake/exhaust upgrades, I'd consider performance headers, which provide a tuned, resonance/pulse scavaging of the exhaust gases...basically reduces exhaust back-pressure, adding a few horsepower.Yes, you could also add an aftermarket ECM chip/chipset to reprogram your motor's fuel & timing setting, but they're not magic...you have to have the mechanics of the engine optimized to see the greatest gains....manufactures of these chips tend to overstate the gains...be cautious.You can also add various other components proven to produce addition power in varying amounts: underdrive pulleys, iridium spark plugs, high quality grounding wire sets, thermoblock (Phonelic) spacers between throttle body/intake & between intake ports & bottom of intake manifold (keeps temp. low for denser air/fuel mixture; see link below), etc....also, faster doesn't necessarily mean in a strait line...there's value in improving braking & cornering...the ability to get into and out of a corner quicker. You might think about mods in that area (e.g., brake rotor, pads or complete kit upgrades, top tower bars, larger sway bar, coilover suspension upgrades, etc.).































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