Originally Posted by Neal
(Not feelin it yet.) Any specific Intake ? more cold air ? doesn't the type R already have a modified intake ? I read a few posts that claim they really don't do much on their own.
In my opinion, most intakes do not do much for the ITR unless you are also dealing with other serious modifications that it sounds like you're not about to undertake.
An exception seems to be the Comptech Icebox, which offers some little improvement even on otherwise stock ITR, and the benefits of the forced cold air, while controversial and largely unproved quantifiably, enjoys a good reputation among the track fiends and racers.
As far as a header goes, it's hard to dispute the relative, economic worth of the DC JDM 4-1 header and the header it copies, the OEM JDM 4-1 header. Both of those headers provide a discernible oomph while also not costing much (especially the DC). We're talking about the DC
JDM. There is also a DC USDM that you don't want.
If you buy the OEM JDM 4-1 header, you can even get heat shields that will make your car look entirely stock to the casual observer. Nobody would even know the header were there.
Exhaust...there are any number of good systems out of the box, and it could be a matter of taste and what kind of name you want on your car.
I have had two different versions of the SMSP 2.5" exhaust and cat on my car, and both performed very well. (As the years go by, my car gets built a little more and more...I have an SMSP header now, too.)
On the other hand, you could save a bundle and get a-hold of Mkteller8 and buy one of his pre-bent systems. They're very cheap, and he provides good service. You'll save a heap of money this way and you'll have just about the same power as anything with the Mugen name on it. LOL... If you can deal with having the power but not the name.
I respectfully disagree with the advice about a plug-in pre-programmed ECU.
With the recent prevalence of decently trained tuners, I'd advise you spring for at least the cheap version of the Hondata like I have. It's almost infinitely tunable and you will not have to replace your computer again, regardless of almost what
ever changes you make to your motor.
Lastly, I'd like to presume to warn you that you are opening a Pandora's box here. Once you start modifying, one thing leads to another, and you will almost never be satisfied.