New to me Honda

[jwcrellin]

I bought a 2004 civic 2 door a couple weeks ago. First mod was to get a better exhaust on it. The stock pipe was 1.75" and was rattling. I didn't want to straight pipe it and sound like a bees nest. So I got a chambered muffler (flowmaster knockoff) and a polished tip off Amazon. The exhaust shop only charged me $175 to bend up everything from the oil pan back (2.5" mild steel) and weld in the 2 mufflers. Sounds nice and low and rumble'y now. Got the car all waxed up last night and took some pics.

So, what should I do next?
Any suggestions?

 

[velocityg4]

Perhaps aftermarket LED headlight and tail light sets. You could get a decent stereo with Carplay and Android Auto support.

 

[jwcrellin]

I did two things to my car today. I'll post a before and after, can you spot the differences?
before

after

 

[USAFRet]

new grill

 

[jwcrellin]

Winner. I also polished the headlights a bit. Oh, it's already got a Kenwood head unit. KDC-X501 I believe. Nothing special, CD, usb mp3, rgb, etc.

 

[WildCard999]

That's the nice thing about Accords as you can do quite a bit of customizing relatively cheap. Perhaps some fog lights next and/or aftermarket speakers?

 

[jwcrellin]

Okay, today I installed a cold air intake, moved the battery to the trunk, and replaced the bumper stickers with some family pride.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Although the hubcaps look decent, you could get a set of alloys or even just paint the wheels black behind the hubcaps since they are rusty.

 

[jwcrellin]

Thanks for the advice. You're right. I don't have the funds for rims at the moment, but I really should pull off the wheels and give them some rehab.

 

[jwcrellin]

Got a great deal on this at Pepboys this morning. Was marked as $32 but the register rang it up as $13. Cashier said it was all good, so I got it for a steal.
You know what this means!!!

 

[jwcrellin]

Tonight I found some new rims for my baby. Got a fire deal on them too. There's a reason they were cheap tho, they need some tlc.

 

[jwcrellin]

Boost part started coming in today. 38mm waste gate and oil pan gasket came in this morning. This afternoon I picked up a D16Y8 intake manifold. It needs cleaned and modded but it shouldn't crack like the stock plastic ones are prone to do.

 

[jwcrellin]

Turbo manifold came in today. Spooly boy should be here in a few days.

 

[jwcrellin]

Chinese choo choo came in and so did my Oil kit.

 

[jwcrellin]

Good haul this morning.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

What engine does this have? I'm guessing a D16 or something.

How are you planning to control it? An ECM piggy back?

Bet it will be pretty fun once its all said and done.

 

[jwcrellin]

The engine is a D17A1 non-vtec.

I am in the process of modifying a D16Y8 intake manifold from a 96 Civic EX to swap over to my 2004. Basically it's better because it's aluminum, whereas the stock D17 one is plastic. Plastic doesn't like boost.

For engine management, I will be using the AEM F/IC-6. It intercepts and modify's the ecu voltages to keep the check engine light off. It can also control larger injectors.

My goal is 220-240 horsepower.

 

[jwcrellin]

Intercooler came in today along with my silicone vacuum hose for the boost gauge.

If anyone is interested, this is the breakdown of all the parts I've bought so far. Some still haven't come in.

Same Side Intercooler .......$138.00
Oil Pan Gasket.................... $20.00
Oil pan bulkhead................. $15.00
D16Y8 I.M. ...........................$60.00
D17 Thermal I.M. Gasket ..$45.00
Carbide Dremel Bits ..........$16.00
Adjustable FPR ..................$50.00
Gauge Pod.......................... $27.00
38mm Wastegate ..............$70.00
AEM FIC6 ...........................$408.00
ARP rod bolts .....................$55.00
Cast manifold .....................$62.00
Boost gauge........................ $22.00
8mm Vacuum Hose........... $21.00
Oil feed/drain kit ................$38.00
T3 T04E Turbo ..................$106.00
5 bolt Downpipe................ $53.00
2.5” S.S. Flex Pipe............. $16.00
2.5” Intercooler Piping.... $108.00
Blowoff Valve..................... $40.00
AEM Wideband .................$170.00
Misc bolts & gaskets.......... $35.00

Total ..........................$1,575.00

 

[jwcrellin]

Got my AEM wideband and Ebay blow off valve in today.

 

[jwcrellin]

More goodies. Adjustable fuel pressure regulator.

 

[jwcrellin]

And now the fuel pump.

 

[WildCard999]

Not that I can tell a lot about the parts but it appears this is going to be one beasty little car.

 

[jwcrellin]

Thanks. The goal is "fun". Supafast is gonna take a little longer to get done.

Not even 30 mins later and my oil catch can and new pcv valve on the doorstep.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Nice. Are you going to paint the intercooler black or leave it metal?

 

[jwcrellin]

I'm leaning toward leaving it silver. Something in the back of my mind is telling me that painting the fins would make it less efficient.