well pretty much all civics stock engines in the US are somewhat crappy besides the 99-00 si.

Here are your options.. turbo the engine you have, and you'll have a very fast car, but reliability will be an issue. You could get a good setup and running reliably for $2k

Other option, swap to b series.. you'd be looking at anywhere from $1500 if you found a good deal, all the way up to $5000 for a immaculate b18c5.

If you want a solid, fast, all motor engine, I would recommend the b18c1, or a b16a. They are both good and don't cost too much.. The best choic is a b18c5, most power, more torque, etc... but it's expensive. Research a lot more on what you want before you buy anything else.. and sell your AEM V2 to someone who wants it

 

Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it!