First Honda... Need some help

MyCivicScrapes

New Member
Hey everyone, I just bought my first car for $1900 its a Honda Civic si 2000 VTECH 5 speed. I know what you are thinking that car for that cheap!!! The only problem with the car is a small dent by the back wheel well besides that the cars fine. The car is BONE STOCK!!!!

The reason I`m posting is cause I know most of the civic owners that aren`t RICERS will help out the younger and newer people to modding civics. I want my car to look fairly stock and still be fast!

So if anyone can tell me what I should get.

Thanks for you time=):?::?:
 
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CO671

New Member
Registered VIP
Are you sure it's an SI? What kind of engine does it have? Does the interior look like this?



disregard below, I didn't consider it being a Canadian SI. I totally read your location as Minnesota or something.

If it's a true USDM SI (EM1), and you don't know what you're doing, Keep it clean. Don't molest an SI, it's getting rarer and rarer. If you're not sure that you're keeping this car forever, just take care of it. You'll get WAY more money selling it as STOCK later, than you will with mods.

If it's not an SI, time to fix it. Take some pictures, show us what you got to work with.


Check the link in my sig for some modifications if you're interested:
http://www.clubcivic.com/board/showthread.php?t=219682

Honestly, if I were to go back and start off with my Civic from stock (after I had fixed my engine, ac,sounds and got it running reliably) I would've started off with suspension mods. You get more bang for your buck (more use for your money) by getting a 22mm rear sway bar and a good set of coilovers or suspension such as Progress CS2 or Koni/GC coilover setups. After that I would've (already did) an integra dual bend short shifter swap with a nice weighted knob. It's all about functionality, and my first year with Honda's I was too exposed to the fad/scene/form side of it that I underminded functionality. I hope you see beyond the looks and learn to spend money on functionality instead.


HOWEVER, this has been posted SO many times. I just posted this in another thread an hour ago:



Take pictures, this is the best thing.
1) Repair existing problems, FIRST
2) Tune ups, because you just started owning it, reset all the maintenance to your intervals so you know exactly when to change it all.
3) 17 Inch rims are usually too big for a 96-00 Civic, but can be pulled off sometimes; otherwise, it's ugly.
4) How do you know it handles well? What's your driving experience?
5) To tell the difference between cut springs and coils, look at it... Take a picture if you cant tell the difference. So far, I wouldn't be surprised if it's a cut spring or Ebay coil sleeve on stock shocks.
6) Please do your research, or make your own build thread that you can sneak in advice relative to photos. Everybody makes a thread like this and it's annoying, there's enough info on the internet on how you can "How to build my Civic like everybody else"
7) If you want more "UNF!!" without motor swapping, just turbocharge and tune it for 200HP which'll run you around ~$2500, if you don't have the money, dont consider it. If you want to learn more, search it up.
8) If you just want to do bolt ons and you're going to expect power, its a waste of time. You can spend $1000's on headers, exhaust, intake, cam, external coil (MSD), etc;. They're all just overkill. Without a proper tune & OBD1 conversion at this point, you can't get any power, and even with a proper tune, it's just a D-series Civic. An ECONOMICAL engine which it's potential has already been tapped to the best by Honda without turbocharging.
9) Look at your car, figure out what needs to be done before you do any work on it. You'll just be driving a hunk of junk if you accessorize it before you take care of it.
10) Good luck.

Read the thread in my signature or click here
http://www.clubcivic.com/board/showthread.php?t=219682
 


MyCivicScrapes

New Member




The damage


I just to do some small things so its abit faster then what it is.
 


CO671

New Member
Registered VIP
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Mission, Canada.
So it's a Canadian SI... I didn't think about that.
Anyway, imma edit my previous posts.


Anyway, since it's not an SiR, just an SI what do you want to do on it next?
 

MyCivicScrapes

New Member
What I have so far.
K&N Typhoon Air Intake System
wheels- Enkei FUJIN
Mishimoto Weighted Shift Knob (MMSK)

What exhaust system? and witch headers??
 

CO671

New Member
Registered VIP
Don't need headers, stick to stock. It's headers anyway.
If you want a catback or muffler, go to Youtube and search up any 92-00 Civic with any exhaust, you'll buy the exhaust solely on sound anyway. Favorable ones are Yonaka, Apexi WS2 and a few others.

Seriously, what are you looking to get out of this anyway? Are you really going straight for exhaust before any proper functional modifications? Exhaust does nothing on a Civic but make it sound annoying, I really recommend if you want the car to FEEL better not LOOK better, look into suspension and an Integra short shifter. Did you not read the link I posted?
 

MyCivicScrapes

New Member
Okay okay okay... I started to then got lost... way to many words I had no idea what they meant..


I only have another $1,000 to spend on this car before I have to start taking out loans for car parts....

So what should i get that are key with in my $1,000???
 

CO671

New Member
Registered VIP
Why do you need a loan for car parts?
What do you want out of this car, whats your mechanical experience like.


Idk what you use to purchase stuff, but here's a few items I'd recommend checking out for the first $100 to spend:

LED Dome Light Panel: http://www.amazon.com/White-Interior-Light-Panel-Adapter/dp/B009E1BW08/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1380430844&sr=8-3&keywords=48smd+led
Smaller Dome light & License plate light: http://www.amazon.com/Jtech-T10-5-SMD-White-Lights/dp/B00877SL2M/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1380430864&sr=8-4&keywords=168+LED
Map Light: http://www.amazon.com/Cutequeen-12-SMD-Festoon-DE3175-DE3021/dp/B00AO4QP3S/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1380430894&sr=8-8&keywords=DE3175+LED

Wide Angle rear view mirror (Clears sunvisors): http://www.amazon.com/Broadway-Type-Mirror-240mm-Convex/dp/B003VL62AM/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1380430995&sr=8-5&keywords=240mm+convex

Integra dual bend shifter (quicker throws into different gears slightly): http://www.d-series.org/forums/diy-forum/9772-diy-integra-gsr-shifter-install-into-civic.html

Choose which one you like and can get secondhand, keep an eye out locally or check a junk yard
Front seat swap (bolt in) stock Civic seats SUCK
~$??? - Seat Swap
More Info
96-00 CIVIC:
-Front-
•92-95 Civic w/EK rails
•94-01 Integra w/EK rails
•97-01 CR-V w/EK rails
•92-97 Del Sol w/EK rails
•97-01 Prelude w/EK rails
•97-02 Accord Coupe w/EK rails
•01-03 CL w/EK rails*Requires 12v for heat feature
-Rear-(Hatch)
•92-95 Civic *Hatchback only
•94-01 Integra *Hatchback only
•02-06 RSX
-Rear-(Coupe)
•01-05 Civic Si*EP3 only
-Rear-(Sedan)
•92-95 Civic Sedan
•94-01 Integra Sedan
 

MyCivicScrapes

New Member
Cause I would have to get more money for parts.. loans from family/friends and banks...
I want it to be more faster then it is.... and look descent.... I Owned a Lincoln LS 2002 v8 witch i had turned into a show car witch cost me way to much.
 

CO671

New Member
Registered VIP
So you need loans and need to borrow money to modify your Civic?
You can't work? What? Are you still in high school?


You owned, fixed, funded and built a previous car yourself? Am I reading that right?

Im spoonfeeding you information, and starting to realize your perspective of this more.

You posted this thread asking for some advice and i'm giving you all I can (only my opinion, others on this site have better opinions than me)
 

MyCivicScrapes

New Member
If I break my budget of $1000.
I have a job just gets me enough for car insurance, gas,bills. yes im still in high school.

I owned and payed for my car to become a show car. Yes.

I have always liked Honda's, If I did want my car to become a "Ricer" I would not have joined this forums. I want my car to look fairly stock but have enough power to beat most of the cars at my school.
Yes I know and I thank you for it.
 

CO671

New Member
Registered VIP
If that's all true then kudo's to you, I got respect for that.

Yeah it's kinda hard to get a Civic to be a decent sleeper, for me I personally think it's turbocharge or do nothing if you're still using the stock D16Y8.
If you're pushing hard to try to build an N/A D16Y8 you'll end up looking retarded (IMO). If you put in a cam, headers, exhaust, intake etc; you'll just look like a screaming snail, whereas you can turbocharge it and that's respectable and fascinating and be a whistling snail.
 

ewilliams1990

New Member
First off, your signature is RICER.

Secondly, there are TONS of threads/posts/articles/etc with your EXACT scenario..

IMO. Make sure engine and everything else is running 100%. Make sure it's healthy. Also, it sounds like you like lack mechanical experience, so I'd suggest doing a LOT of reading and researching. Especially before trying to make your car faster.

Set goals for yourself. Realistic ones. Don't take loans, they suck, lol. You're in highschool and you need a good A>B car, not a racecar to kill yourself in racing one of your classmates cars.

Take it slow and do everything right the first time. You won't regret it.
 

CO671

New Member
Registered VIP
First off, your signature is RICER.

Secondly, there are TONS of threads/posts/articles/etc with your EXACT scenario..

IMO. Make sure engine and everything else is running 100%. Make sure it's healthy. Also, it sounds like you like lack mechanical experience, so I'd suggest doing a LOT of reading and researching. Especially before trying to make your car faster.

Set goals for yourself. Realistic ones. Don't take loans, they suck, lol. You're in highschool and you need a good A>B car, not a racecar to kill yourself in racing one of your classmates cars.

Take it slow and do everything right the first time. You won't regret it.
^ Please, please, please take this guys advice.
 

MyCivicScrapes

New Member
Um thanks... :|

The car engine is 100%, I have done all the cleaning,digressing, fluid flushes.

Im not trying to make a "Racecar" im trying to make a car that can surprises my classmate that drive around in there mustangs, camaros and s2000 that think they got a fast car.
 

JohnS.

BANGARANG
Registered VIP
Registered OG
5+ Year Member
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Um thanks... :|

The car engine is 100%, I have done all the cleaning,digressing, fluid flushes.

Im not trying to make a "Racecar" im trying to make a car that can surprises my classmate that drive around in there mustangs, camaros and s2000 that think they got a fast car.
You're going to have to dump thousands of dollars into your car if you want to surprise any of those cars.

If it hasn't been mentioned yet, the Canadian Si is the equivalent to the US EX, which has the SOHC VTEC, compared to the Canadian SiR/US Si that has the DOHC VTEC. Even if you had the B16 DOHC VTEC motor, you'd still need to dump thousands into it.

If you want to compete against any of the cars you mentioned above with such a low budget, sell your Civic. You're wasting your time and money. If you want pure entertainment, throw in a bottle of nitrous and drive it until it explodes. If you really want to devote the time and money, start researching engine swaps and turbo builds.
 


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