Hows it going-I recently bought a 94 del sol vtech 130k on it, with some mods already installed on it, oh and I just love the car. Of course, I cant legally drive it till september, but no worries. I am new to the import scene with this new car but I really want to make a beast out of this thing and have even more fun driving it than I already do Anyways, to my questions..

Well to start off, I have a vtech engine with a DC header and an AEM intake on it, I was thinking about replacing the intake with something better-the RSA Funnel Ram IV I believe, but is it worth the extra money to switch it? For some reason I have this feeling AEM is like the Kmart of performance parts, dont ask me why, it just seems like it to me

I was also thinking about switching the engine, I've read on this forum that the best bet with a sol is a complete swap with Type R b18C1, but is that also worth doing? I realize its a lot of money, but I'm worried my Vtech (which is a b16 correct?) is going to be next to worthless if I attempt to sell it. If I DID get that engine, would there be a truly significant difference in power, enough to warrant the 3 thousand I'd be spending? Plus, is it true that mods like your intake become useless once you get that engine?

I'd also not like to sound like a ricer either, I like the roar it has now, so would an exhaust manifold and system really make it sound like I'm actually burning rice or does it just add to your performance? I'd like to make it sound as beefy as possible (give it little car complex ya know ;p), so any suggestions to do so would be great.

Now with the suspension I was thinking of this package for great handling:

Tokico Illumnia shocks
Energy suspension
progress springs with front/rear antiroll bars

I've heard this set up gives you great handling, so I'm curious to see if they can really do that.

I am also wondering if any of you knows where I could get a right lever for my targa top, it was broken off before I got it and using a wrench to pop open the top everytime just isn't koscher

I'd also like to know where I could find a good review site for parts and/or the companies that make them. Itd be a huge help to sort out the good from the bad, because being very new to this, the many brand names and companies and parts are quite intimidating.

So thats it for now, if you have any ideas for me on what else I could do to my car for added power, feel free to post. I'd very much appreciate it any and all help.

Cheers,

Gatch

 

first off, is it the dohc VTEC (no H) or the sohc vtec? If it's the dohc b16, it's the PERFECT engine to build up. The b18c5 would be pointless with what you ahve already.

AEM is one of the most reputable companies for intakes. You probably have close to a $200 intake on there.

You asked about an exhaust manifold... You already have a dc header, again a great piece, that's worth a nice chunk of change. If the exhaust hasn't been upgraded, get a cat back system.

The rest I'll leave up to others to help. Gotta run!

 

a'ight bro, lemme break it down

ur VTEC 1.6L can hold its own in performance AND resale... switching to the 1.8 c5 is pointless, unless thats what you really want to do... aem is a good company; they make quality products.

so you dont wanna be a ricer, eh? well, if u wanna run with the big dogs tell us what you want out of your engine. you looking to increase horsepower by 1) naturally aspired 2) forced induction or 3) a little bit of both? if i were you, i'd do some more reading up on the b16 and its capabilities before thinking about a swap. and then, if u have a specific question about what to do, bring it back to us...

my advice: do more reading and figure out what you want out of your engine and we'll try to help you along the way

oh, pics of the car pleeeeze ; )

 

oh where to start....

the "h" thing obviously :slap:

AEM is by far the best intake you can put in a car, they have done extensive testing on air flow and dynamics, temperature properties and moisture control, if you have an AEM intake in there now dont touch it....

Type R B18c1, two different engines, the b18c5 is the type r engine and the b18c1 is the GSR engine, both will cost you well over 3 grand after all is said and done, stick with the b16. The b16 will actually out perform a b18 on a flow bench so you have the better of the two in my opinion. Make sure you actually have a b16 though and not the d16z6 (SOHC 1.6 litre vtec engine) because either you didnt read the sticker on the back of your car, its not there anymore or you have the Si version and not the VTEC

An import will never sound beefy. Beefy comes from large displacement engines, not rice burners. If you're going to drive a honda, take pride in your riceness, dont hide it, embrace it

suspension...koni shocks, eibach springs

lever... throw the whole roof away and get a glass top

 

My car doesn't sound like a rice mobile. It's quite low, and soudns good. My other sol sounds like a Harley. (don't ask) lol

 

yeah, mine right now sounds like a frickin 18-wheeler...i have a hole

 

ahhh ... the H.
It's Variable Timing Electronic Control. No H

I was going to respond to this piece by piece but the other guys said it far better than I could. I however, am not a fan of DC Sports headers. Sure, for the buck they're all right. They're right about the motor. If you have a 1.6 ltr B16 motor, dont swap. If you do, at least sell the B16 to cover half the cost of going to a B18. You can see the engine code to the left of the header stamped on the block. If its a B series, beef that up and dont worry about it. It'll have balls if done right. As far as it being rice, theres a HUGE difference between IMPORT and RICE. For further examples check out pages like www.ricecop.com. Either way, I think you made a wise choice on a del sol, they're fun cars. As far as a glass top ... I had one, keep the stock one. Those things let in the sun and it gets hot quick. That way you can go back and forth when it gets hot or cold during the year.

 

hey if ur gonna get another header, hook me up with the dc

 

i agree about the glass top, dont just trash the old one, you'll still need it, while the glass tops are tight as hell, they do have their drawbacks.

to me all imports are rice. I dont think rice is a bad thing like everyone else. I turned it into something positive, kinda like how black people now call themselves nigga as a way of embracing their difference from mainstream culture and trends, well i do the same thing with rice, my car is rice, i have nothing APC, no altezzas, nothing tacky, but i wave the rice banner with pride. To me there is a difference between rice and tacky, not import and rice, but hey, we all have our opinions and point of views

 

Thanks for the replies, folks....<slaps his n00b self for vtec blunder> I've done a lil readin up on the B16a, and damn do people like this motor or what, lot of peeps wanting to do engine swap with one, talking about how 94 DOHC V-TEKH <grin> are so rare, and to think I got this thing for 2100 bucks, 130k miles with DC header AEM intake and he bought me some killer tires as well-not to mention the pioneer and polk audio speakers. So I'm going to keep it for sure. I don't think he realized (nor did I) how good this motor really IS the former owner even showed me the nice chipped paint on the hood from someone tryin to break into the car and take the engine out of there. So ya ;-) I'll get pics soon as I can.

Well I have been reading on what to do, and I'm pretty confident with some things I want to do with car, but others I am clueless. I read in the Honda mag this month how a guy "bored" his engine to 1605cc...<NERD ALERT> is this like overclocking your CPU to an extent? If so does it hurt the engine in the long run that much?

As far as what I WANT out of my engine...my main concern is acceleration, just for passing stupid mf's naturally aspired, forced induction, it doesnt matter I guess. Just as long as i can get the most out of this thing. but I only know of the basic mods...theres so much you can do to these lil things, and I want to know what. suspension wise, I want to corner, but will sacrifice some of my ride comfort for better performance, like I said I was thinking talicko blue and progress, but I'd like to hear more opinions from you guys, and what you think/know is best.

The exhaust issue, from what most people say and from what I've read on websites, is that skunk2 (which supposively sounds real good) and the greddy evolution are great for vtec sols, but once again I'll "embrace" my riceness I have no problem representing that fact. but I don't want to sound like every other guy on the street with that annoying high pitched whining that a lot of ricers make (at least around my area), Id just like a change, to see if it can sound like an "18 wheeler" or something :P heh anyways I just really don't take a liking to that sound. So does anyone know if I'd get that high pitched sound between those two exhaust manifold/cat back exhaust thingies? Or would it sound the same or a lil lower and what not. Or does someone know of even better exhausts, my ears are open.

I'm probably going to keep the mods I have on there now, and keep ont he search for a damn targa lever-I still might opt to take out AC, so I cant have that extra heat on meh

Cheers,

Gatch