Honda Car Forum

i have a 96 honda civic LX sedan. i got some extra cash.i was wondering how to make this car better performance.how much more HP will it gain?i am new at car stuff.BTW will i able to beat my friend's 96 pontiace grand AM?lolone last question, what is a good store or website for car addon's / accessories?

used headers, test pipe with catback exhaust.

Shop on ebay for a good wet nitrous system new or used.To beat the pontiac I would think you need a 250 horsepower dual stage nitrous system.Also see if you can find an engine programmer that lets you retard the timing while sitting in the car a must have for nitrous.The wet nitrous system will give you a fighting chance of not turning your motor into piston soup.I would set up for a 100 hp shot out of the hole with another 150 horse shot in second or third.This will also help save your motor because you won't be dumping it in all at once.The hundred horse shot will help you out of the hole without hopefully to much wheel spin.The higher the horsepower the shot of nitrous the more you risk damaging the engine.The reason I recomended the wet system is because most of the engine damage from nitrous is caused from running lean.You just might beat that pontiac.Have fun be safe and good luck.Andy J 150hp is nothing most good v6's put out over 200hp and as much as 250 v8's over 300 chryslers stock 5.7 hemi 345 to 360 hp.Also I said to use a wet system and while I didn't say it before I'll say it now don't push the button all the time only when you need it. Also something you might have forgotten andy is when you retard the timing you lose hp so with a hundred horse shot he might gain 75 hp.My answer is the most bang for the buck. Cold air intakes are a joke that provides little gain for the money. the other thing you stated about taking all of his 500.00 dollars might not be correct either as I said new or used.Also I stated to not use more than the 150hp shot if I had said 250 hp or a 500 hp shot then I would think you would be right to invalidate my answer.

Honda-tech.com Is your new best friend.

For 500 dollars, i suggest getting a cold air intake and a after market exaust that DOESNT sound rice. It wont add alot of horsepower, but i would guess anywhere from 8-10 horses.

A for sale sign would be cheaper

a cold air intake and a after market exaust, aem cams, headers

Pay someone $500 to tow your car with their truck.

i will say invest your money in something Else! something that will make $500 in $1000! think wisely

Wow. Please ignore 2n1, as that advice will destroy your car. Keep in mind that a 100 shot is small for a v8, but big on a high compression 4 banger. The engine was not designed for a sudden 150% increase in power that a "small" 150 shot would give. B16s have fragile pistons.A '96 Grand Am only has 150hp, and you have 106 hp, so all you would need is probably a 50 shot to out power it. 75 shot to be really sure about winning. Keep in mind your car is lighter too, so that plus the instant torque of a small shot and you should win easily.If you are in a large city, look in the phone book for car shops that specialize in modifying imports. Join a Civic message board and ask around, see what worked for people and what didn't. It can be done, but it will probably take all of your $500.