Quote:
Originally Posted by tanjulio
I have been asking the same question for my 1990 Civic Standard 4spd...
i have taken this car to Laguna Seca and the results were pathetic..lap times were over 3 minutes.. old stock engine and tires gave up on me after only warm up 4 laps...
if you do not have B series...or a turbo on your d series engine you will not be competitive, unless you are competing with similiar slow cars...
u have the lightest model year and if you have the stock engine it's slow..
I have thought about more downforce and less drag, especially since these cars stock are seriously underpowered.. SO:
i am going to build a Kammback and undertray for my hatch...
and eventually change to a 5spd transmission...
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This not true in theory or in practice... the D-series engine is a prime contender when cost/performance are considered together, and boost is not a requirement. 200+ HP is doable on an all motor application with proper build and tuning, and with boost, 400 and up has been done on the stock crank.
The first things that you do with a D15B1 to increase power AND efficiency are to upgrade to a 5 speed from 4 (not really necessary, but better gearing choices), swap in the cam from a D15B2 or D16A6 (basically same, offset timing for A6), and install MPFI and a header. The engine in stock configuration is mild and choked, and doesn't perform well at all in either department. 20 HP and more mid-range torque is gotten just by changing the cam from B1 to B2 models, without further tuning. Swapping to MPFI gives approx another 8 HP, bringing you up to ~100 at the crank with all OE parts, and still no tuning done, and only a few hours' labor.
Those figures assume you have a nearly fresh engine which is still capable of making OE performance.
The header takes your 1.5L engine beyond Si and Wagon HP figures, and often further increases mid-range torque and responsiveness. The OE intake is good enough to support advanced driving even with those upgrades and a paper filter, so no point in changing it. You only serve to make a loud car with less low-end grunt by doing so, but a WAI could save you fuel.
This really is the wrong forum for these types of discussions, though... if we're going to talk about aerodynamics, we're OK, but engine performance is best left to forums which are attuned specifically to that side of vehicle modification.