Tirod... no you didn't answer my question... I know what a catback is and what an axleback is... it was a matter of figuring out if a few extra HP was worth a few hundred bucks, and that I was having a hard time finding a catback with a 3" tip. Thanks for the info though. DelSolSIinMD, I think you've got some good points there. I mean... the price diff between an axle back and a catback is a few hundred bucks. Is 2 or even 4 HP worth $200-300 extra. Gives me something to think about. Hmm... STOCK96civicDX, you were saying that when you change a component such as exhaust, make sure the air/fuel delivery is adjusted accordingly to compensate or you are just wasting your time and possibly causing damage to your engine.
Would I need to do that with 2.25" exhaust? Let me know

 

str8edgexx is exactly right. Just get the 5zigen border axle back or the thermal stealth axle back. both are nice looking (not a huge tip) and the gains would not be noticable with a catback anyway so why bother. Also, a friend of mine has a JRSC D16Z6 and he gained 8HP by putting the stick exhaust system back on. Go figure, the JRSC made more HP from the increased back pressure.

 

hmm.. do u plan on turbo? if so then wait on the piping and go 3" once you do turbo, then the exhaust rly helps out with power.. if you dont plan on turbo but do plan on some heavy engine building, then you will want to go with 2.25" piping catback now...

 

I probably will get into doing a turbo, but it's not going to be any time soon. I already have the next $3,000 for my car already mapped out and it's not in those plans. So, I think you're right Tirod, about staying with the 2.25" for now at least and worry about 3" when the time for turbo comes in. It's just one of those things that I want to get right the first time. I have no problem spending money for good sh!t, but I do have a problem spending money on sh!t that I don't need. Know what I'm sayin'? :driving:

 

i do :thumbup: i have all kinds of plans for my car too, i wish i could do them all at once and move on to another car lol... of course never sell mine, this is my first honda

 

I know that -Im saying should I change the piping (not just the muffler) and how many inches wide?

 

This is my third, but my favorite. Wouldn't trade her for anything. It seems like it's never ending though. Save save save save, spend spend spend spend. $$ goes too quick too. I got expensive toy. It's ok though. She's real purdy. Gots to get my pics up here this week. I have to get rims and rubber next. eek. Haven't made up my mind yet. I've only had this Civic since late fall, and she's been stored all winter. I've had her out for a month so far and I have a lot done. I'm pretty stoked about it all. Can't wait to get my exhaust and rubber next. :driving:

 

Since we're talking about a fuel injected engine, it becomes a lot simpler process to take care of what you're doing. I'm not familiar with the computer system in cars, so i don't know if it will automatically adjust the fuel delivery based on sensor readings. So that would be the first bit of info you should seek out, and i don't know where you can get that info. If the computer does not automatically adjust, then you need to find out exactly how to adjust it. Sometimes this can be done by changing out the chip in the computer, other times you can download a new injection program and load it into the stock computer. This info you will have to get from someone else, as i don't know.

As far as hp gains, you are not going to notice a thing unless you start talking about 15hp more. Some people will go and change their exhaust and swear their car feels more powerful, but that's not always 100% true. You can, for example, put on an exhaust and claim you feel more power from it. then you have to evaluate WHY. does the engine feel more powerful at 4K rpm now because it's actually producing more power, or is it because there's now a severe lack of power at 3K rpm and now you feel a "boost" at 4K rpm because you are finally making power again. to REALLY assess what your engine is doing, you will need to take it to a performance shop that has a dyno. They can run your car on the dyno and use the proper analyzers to measure your exhaust to see if you are running rich or lean, and they will also be able to check your hp and tq curves to see what your engine is REALLY doing and where you are/are not making power. My ultimate goal when entering a situation like this is not to increase hp and tq at a certain rpm, but to make an improvement across the ENTIRE rev range and to smooth it all out. To do all this the proper way, it's going to cost you quite a bit of $$$. My suggestion is to contact performance shops in your area and find out how much all the proper testing is going to cost and to see if they really know what they are doing. You will do better in the long run if it's all set up right and tuned perfectly. Otherwise, you are just wasting your time and money for no reason.

Also, don't base your exhaust choice by what the manufacturer CLAIMS you'll make in hp and tq gains. you need to see proven results. and everything must be taken into account for all of this. your altitude will play a role in this as well, because as your air density changes, your engine will require a different amount of fuel to compensate. Hope all this helps!

 

Damn, STOCK96civicDX..... it sounds like you do know somethin'. That's why I started this thread, to figure out from people who know about this sort of thing, or get more info from people who already have had a cat done. That's really great info. It's pretty sweet to get some good info from all of you guys. I appreciate it. I'll let you know how it turns out. :driving:

 

Does anyone know whether or not the stock catback from a 97 RS would fit on the 92-95 hatches? I am thinking that the b pipe would be just right but the axleback would be too long ... anyone know for sure?

Thanks!