You can make an f22b or an h22a work with your automatic(I don’t recommend it with you stock trans but it can non the less be done). Some people on here don’t want to believe that but I have done it myself and its not what people on here make it out to be. But if you want to go the manual route its pretty easy to convert it, if you can find one in the junk yard. All you need is linkage, clutch/brake pedal assembly (including clutch master cyl) ecu and wire harness.

The absolute cheapest way will be buy an f22a from a 90-93 accord or another 92-96 prelude for like 200 bucks out of a junk yard, just put it in and call it a day.

Then your next cheapest choice is you could upgrade a little to the H23A/F22B. I don’t know anyone other than f22b prelude that has had much luck with the f22b swap, most everyone gets a knock sensor cel. But if you had the jdm f22b ecu I don’t think that would be a problem. Plus the f22b is pretty cheap and it has a reasonable amount of power. They still get beat by most b16 civics.

Next you could go H22A. You can get the JDM h22a with LSD trans (M2B4) for 2 grand and stomp the ish out of pretty much every other non-fi prelude. Its 200hp and if its not enough for you, then you can always add FI later. This is when you pretty much stop messin around with most na civics and step up to lightly moded mustangs.

Just my .02