Originally Posted by eternal
Yep - I live in the UK - so it's a 2 liter engine. Not sure why we get a smaller engine as we still have the cat, a/c, etc. and I can't imagine that our emission laws are tougher than the CARB standards?
Not sure about the guages now that you mention your problems? They fit over the top of the stock dials, so I think I may try and get away without sticking them so that if they break I can just remove them and revert to the original dials.
I've been reading about the Ecotek valve which is meant to cause swirling in the inlet manifold to produce a more evenly spaced air-fuel mixture. For GBP50 (about USD90) it is meant to improve performance and can save fuel on long journeys at steady speeds. Not sure if this is worth it or just another gadget? Anyone any experiences?
You won't get away with that, trust me. My gauges were glued down as best as I could and the speedometer and fuel gauge still always skipped a bit because they rubbed on the gauges.
Gee that Ecotek sounds suspiciously like the Tornado. Let me put it this way: If Honda didn't already think of it and it doesn't involve forced induction, don't put it on. They're a complete waste of money.
Eternal you have a lot of options, naturally all of them being quite expensive. You can swap your motor and piddily automatic out for the mighty F20B DOHC VTEC in the Accord Type-R or the venerable H22A in the Prelude. The "problem" with your engine is that it's not a good platform unless it's supercharged or turbocharged, and your automatic is gonna sap most of the power and fun out of driving. I dunno, if you're looking for performance I don't think you bought the right car.
If you don't want to swap the powertrain, just do the basic recipe for about 10-20 HP at the wheels and a grand down the drain:
- AEM CAI (which you already have)
- decent header like DC
- exhaust that's not a fart can and actually has backpressure
I dunno, to me it seems pointless to spend that kind of money on barely noticeable power gain, thats why I haven't done it. I'm, waiting till I have about 15k in the bank to drop in a CL Type-S engine (3.2L SOHC VTEC 260HP) with the 5 speed automatic paired with a supercharger, header and exhaust for a total of around 340-380 horsepower. Haha that'll be the day, but only after I get my S2000.