I have some questions! I'm new to this.

[sebas32192]

Hey everyone,

I'm in the El Paso, TX area and I recently purchased a 1993 Civic EX coupe. I have always seen guys streaming down the road with Hondas that tend to make a lot of noise, but do not really move. To be honest with you all, I want to avoid that cliche'. I have a few newbie questions that i would like answered, or maybe even redirect me to a thread. Keep in mind that I really don't know my way around cars that well quite yet.

1.) I read somewhere that i could turbocharge my lawnmower if i wanted to. How would i go about turbocharging my civic D16z6? Is it possible to do so without putting too much stress on the motor i have?

2.) I've seen a lot of little stores here in El Paso that sell generic brands. I know what most people say about generic brands, and I've seen how much they are hated by the guys out here that oppose them. However my question is when it comes to exhaust (test pipe, catback, headers) would it really make a great difference in performance?

Looking forward to the responses, and I'm really digging this site.
Thanks!

 

[Daddy_Digital]

1) you can boost any engine just about. boosted SOHCs is pretty common here in PHX, AZ. the concern about how much stress the engine can handle depends on how much PSI. ive heard, dont quote me on this, that u can run 10 psi on a sohc with stock internals. i could be wrong. you can look it up on here or honda tech. research is KEy when it comes to building a car. dont always go with somebody says. they always seem to leave alot of important and expensive parts of the process.

2) on this subject, its a matter of opinion. some guys beleive that buying name brand parts is the best and some beleive that it dont matter because it does the same thing. the real difference is the material used and how it may be welded togther. personally, i dont care for either. i buy what i can afford. if one day i can afford a greddy evo exhaust, ill buy it. the exhaust i have on my car now. but if i need a high flow cat, doesnt really matter. essentially, all parts are made in china and depending on what gets stamped on it will decide the price it will sold as.

good luck!

 

[XpL0d3r]

man!

Daddy is right (lol) for the most part . The amount of boost the stock internals of a motor can take depends not on just the amount of boost alone, but the size of the turbo as well. 8 Psi of boost on a t3 is going to be very different than 8 Psi on a GT35, etc.

Like my digital father said (at least he's not analog), research is KEY. Boost is definitely a GREAT way to get power, but you also want it to be reliable. Tuning is absolutely key to a reliable turbo'd application. Below are a few links about turbos, information, etc.

As for brand name parts, etc, it depends on what for. Intakes, header, even some exhaust systems, cheap no-name brands are fine. This is especially true for an intake. As for exhaust, name brands are good, though most likely you will not see a huge difference between a custom made stainless steel exhaust system from your local shop. As far as a catalytic converter goes, I would get a name brand, or something that holds a warranty. Bad cat's can kill secondary o2 sensors if they're faulty, not to mention kill your emissions.

Hope this helps, and remember.. RESEARCH IS KEY! Hope you stick around on the forums for a bit, I and I'm sure many other members would love to see your progress.

Turbo Guide, How-To, Information
Hondata Tuning, Tech Section

Also, feel free to search ClubCivic for any information. There's a good chance the information is here, you just have to find it!

 

[sebas32192]

Thanks guys! You all really helped.