I just got 1992 Accord LX for getting my drivers lisences ...its auto with 108 miles on it and i wanna do some engine mods, but I dont know where to start or what to get or what to do...Can anyone help me?


(and I'm kind of on a budget cuz im 16 with no job and i have around 1500 to spend)

-edit-
I'm not planning on doing a engine sawp with a H22A but im lookin into it and i was wondering...Would that be a lot better? Where can I get a cheap one online?

Thank you to all who replied

 

if you're stuck with the auto i wouldnt do anything extreme, you might want to look into headers and a cold air instake system from aem.... but then again you might just want to go for the normal ecu upgrade rather than any physical mods at all (which is what i would do for an auto, due to it's control of the tranny)

the ecu upgrade can increase up to like 25% with a stock honda, so i'd say do that, not to mention you can do it in like 5 minutes

i must stess tho that if you plan to upgrade the ecu that you must see a mechanic or professional to adjust the ecu settings or you could mess up your car.... but it's still all good.

 

i must not of looked back at what i wrote

i meant to say at the end there that i stress the fact that if you do change away from stock anything (intake, header, etc.) that you see a mechanic for ecu upgrade tuning. ok thats it...

o and i meant to write intake, not instake

 

save some more and do h22 swap. moding a single nonvtec auto car . is a total waste of money. if you dont wanna go with that then just invest your money on cosmetics. make it look pretty. but for speed dont even waste your time what that motor. to many miles to go turbo. so speed isnt even a factor anymore.

 

I'd invest that $1500 in some performance springs, shocks, and tires. That'll make you faster (at least on fun roads) than engine bolt ons.

 

manual changeover

 

If you plan on keeping it auto I'd do the following...
1.Intake (AEM Cold Air), Headers, Catback Exhaust.
2. Do what Jschmid said and drop $1500 on Rims, tires and a lowered suspension. Personally I use, Eibach ProKit Springs, KYB Shocks And Yokohama AVS ES100 tires 215/45/17 (You cannot go wrong with yokohamas)
3. Don't rice your car out with a stupid aluminum wing or some ugly body kit or Altezzas...unless you happen to like that style.
4. Keep it clean...
5. Get a job. Cuz with $1500 you won't be able to afford all of this stuff

 

if it were me, i'd go ahead and replace some of the things that mess up over time, like the timing belt, water pump, other belts, etc.... then get some new tires, maybe wheels and go from there. if you dont know how to work on your own car then just those things'll probably eat up your budget. you wont really get any gains but you wont have to worry too much about being stranded somewhere. oh, and get you a refurbished main relay so you dont end up like a lot of us.

 

dont put 17's on a 4th gen, just get some nice 15's. 17's are kinda wierd on a 4th gen.

but suspension mods are a very good investment, it makes the car so much more fun.
i wanted to get a h22 swap and the whole bit but i decided not to go with it becuz it wont pass smog, i dont want to bother with refs and i dont have the time anymore for swaps..

but front and rear struts was my frist, suspension and rims, intake, ground control wires...just installed a dc sport header, sounds nice.

 

exactly, simple engine bolt-ons are pretty much useless as you can see no more that 10whp gain max.

save that to handling (suspension, tires, swaybars, etc), it'll improve your ride quality better.

I/H/E don't do much at all.