New to cars. What can I do to my 97 ex coupe?

[nvus94]

So i recently turned 18 and got a 1997 honda civic ex coupe as my first car. I'm in love with it!!! Everything is stock besides my 15" motegi mr7 rims. I was wondering what I can do to increase the performance of my vehicle. I also want to do exterior and interior work on the car. My hood is a little bent and my front bumper has a dent and a crack, this happened to me drifting and i flew into a ditch and hit a fence. I know you're not supposed to drift in a front wheel drive car but i couldn't resist. If anyone can help please post on this forum!!! I'll be uploading pictures soon.

 

[AlaskaB16]

You'll shoot your eye out kid. (Love that movie)

Anyway, "what I can do to increase the performance of my vehicle" you ask? Motor build/swap/tune, boost, suspension, tires, etc .... You should probably start with a roll cage though if you're going to be going all F&F in it though.

 

[CO671]

Great start, EX trims are great to start with, clean it inside and out, tune-ups and maintenance work before you start modifying it. Always best to understand your vehicle before you bolt stuff on. Strip out the seats and thoroughly clean it with a shop-vac and steamer. Give it a good wash and wax, clean up the engine bay with WD-40 and make sure all the fluids are good and it's not running poorly.



Click links to see how mod looks

Complete FAQ of important things
http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=1998336

Engine Swap:
http://www.hondahookup.com/info/engine_swap_faq.php

Interior:
Broadway rear view mirror (240mm convex so you view a good amount and it doesn't block your flip visor clearance)
Integra 98+ or GSR seat swap, Del-Sol seats and 92-96 prelude seats are said to be comfortable too
Assuming it's manual: Integra 94-01 Dual-bend shifter

Exterior:
Front lip (CTR replica) or SiR replica
Mesh/replica CTR Grill
Fog-lights
DIY CTR Replica headlights (black/gunmetal housing headlights)
Koni/GC coilovers+struts (~$800) or Progress CSII (~$600)

Engine bay:
Valve Cover / heat shield painting:
http://www.hondaclub.com/forum/articles/1546-diy-valve-cover-painting.html
http://www.hondacivicforum.com/forum/detailing-paint-diys-57/valve-cover-painting-81040/
http://www.d-series.org/forums/diy-forum/82600-diy-paint-your-own-valve-cover.html
http://www.clubcivic.com/board/showthread.php?t=98074

Cleaning it with Wd-40 (i recommend it if it's really dirty)
http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2680235&highlight=clean+engine+bay

Intake (just get a quality K&N filter, an ebay intake piping is fine because intake adds little power to Honda's)
Exhaust: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzvl6-_lWIE that's the best muffler i've ever heard for $40, you'll just need to get it
welded at an exhaust shop which would cost $30~$80. Part #17733

etc:
Progress 22mm sway bar

 

[mikekh10a]

for now, don't even worry about the motor until you get a better understanding of your honda.
focus on safety and maintenance like
replacing brakes
upgrading to springs or even coilovers
doing a tune up for your motor and oil change
etc

 

[nvus94]

for now, don't even worry about the motor until you get a better understanding of your honda.
focus on safety and maintenance like
replacing brakes
upgrading to springs or even coilovers
doing a tune up for your motor and oil change
etc

I know how to do an oil change and my brakes are still good. How many inches should I lower my car? Also, do you know where I can find a cheap hood and front bumper cover?

 

[JohnS.]

for now, don't even worry about the motor until you get a better understanding of your honda.
focus on safety and maintenance like
replacing brakes
upgrading to springs or even coilovers
doing a tune up for your motor and oil change
etc

Huh? The car already has springs. And adding lowering springs could be worse or better, depending on the setup the OP decides to buy. Cutting the springs is definitely a no-no. eBay parts are definitely a no-no. Lowering on stock shocks is also a no-no (you can but it's not recommended).

OP - it all depends on your budget and goals for the car. What do you want it to ultimately be? When you say "increase the performance of the vehicle", in what way? Speed? Handling? Both? Expect to spend at least a couple thousand for just one of those. That is, if you want reliable and dependable parts that don't suck.

 

[CO671]

I know how to do an oil change and my brakes are still good. How many inches should I lower my car? Also, do you know where I can find a cheap hood and front bumper cover?

Lowering your car depends on a few things:
1) Budget - expect to pay up to $800 on a safe setup to get you LOW, $600 on Progress CSII's are good because they're not meant for going low, but they are known to be great quality and only go recommended as low as this
Function & Form coilovers are said to go low for their cheap price but many people made complaints of their quality, and that's for 'medium' quality coilovers, imagine how crappy cut-springs or ebay sleeves are. You don't need camber kits also, you need a toe alignment, don't waste money on camber kits.

2) Wheel/Tire setup - I don't know much about the things about tires and wheels other than 15's are on the small side, 17's are on the large side and 16's are just right. Quality tires are what you want though, don't cheap out tires.

3) Local roads - do you think you can safely clear most of the roadways in your area when you're 'low'?

 

[nvus94]

Lowering your car depends on a few things:
1) Budget - expect to pay up to $800 on a safe setup to get you LOW, $600 on Progress CSII's are good because they're not meant for going low, but they are known to be great quality and only go recommended as low as this
Function & Form coilovers are said to go low for their cheap price but many people made complaints of their quality, and that's for 'medium' quality coilovers, imagine how crappy cut-springs or ebay sleeves are. You don't need camber kits also, you need a toe alignment, don't waste money on camber kits.

2) Wheel/Tire setup - I don't know much about the things about tires and wheels other than 15's are on the small side, 17's are on the large side and 16's are just right. Quality tires are what you want though, don't cheap out tires.

3) Local roads - do you think you can safely clear most of the roadways in your area when you're 'low'?

You're right, and I never want camber kits. I think they look hideous. I have 15's right now and i feel like the car is at a decent height because maybe getting some bigger rims and tires with give it some low profile. I live in Vermont and the roads are pretty shitty here.

Do you know where I can get a cheap hood and bumper?

 

[nvus94]

Where can I get a bumper like this? http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/2588/2901/31468950020_large.jpg