Anyone have an RSX that is not Type-S

[Los7Krpm]

I know now that Type-S is way to go. But at the time I didn't know the difference was night and day. So does my car ('04 RSX) have any potential for performance? Or do I have to rip the engine apart and rebuild it from scratch?

[06RSXSiVTEC]

It all depends on what you're goals are. All motors have the potential for performance. Although the Type S is the way, you can always get some power. If anything you could always throw on a turbo kit or something.

[Los7Krpm]

Well right now I'm working on getting the car to breath better. Afterthat I might consider purchasing hondata reflash to get a little more hp. A turbo is in the distant future, but a definite goal. Right now I want to know what I can do for naturally aspirated(gotta pay down the credit card). Suggestions are appreciated.

[06RSXSiVTEC]

I'm sure you can find the basics. Like I/H/E but i'm not sure how much hp you will actually gain on a base model. Those are always good things start with because they are pretty cheap for the gains. Pulley's are pretty cheap, also a grounding kit would help a little.

[JimmyJames]

Originally Posted by Los7Krpm

I know now that Type-S is way to go. But at the time I didn't know the difference was night and day. So does my car ('04 RSX) have any potential for performance? Or do I have to rip the engine apart and rebuild it from scratch?

Absolutely not, I know the Type-S owners love to sit there and laugh at bases for compensation purposes.

Plenty of things can be done to a base, though some things are harder to find ie. turbo/sc kits but they do exist.

the base is a great way to go, you can save some serious gas and you get some sweet mid-range torque with the so-called 'vtec' haha.

Truth be told the Type-S will always have a bit more potential because it is a more powerful engine in its stock form, but honestly the base is nothing to be ashamed of.

Many Type-S owners also suffer alot of 2nd and 3rd gear issues with their 6 speed tranny's, something us base 5-speeders can simply shrug off and not worry about.

There is the obvious 50hp difference between then cars but I mean honestly - they can pay an extra 6 grand off the start for that, we can spend 2-4 grand on aftermarket (depending on how much work you do yourself) and ****en spank a stock type-s

When I bought my base it was a good deal (for Canada) a 2002 base 5sp, 130k for 10,900 (my dad is an asst used car manager at an acura dealership so I got a dealio) while the cheapest price for a reasonable type-s (ie. not some dumb teenager who obviously raced it and prolly ****ed it up a good bit) with just under 17k

I've just started my work but I've gained probably 10-15 horse with little money spent.

- Magnaflow muffler (I will be doing the full exhaust soon) - $50 (was 140, buddy of mine put a clearance sticker on it from canadian tire how could i resist)
- Synthetic AMSOIL oil -$25
- Insulated my fuel lines with insulation tape - $15
- Threw in a B&M short shift (no performance boost but faster shifts) - $180

I've spend money on some exterior mods to but thats besides the point. Point is for less than 100 bucks I've already upped it around 10-15 horsepower given I did all of the work myself.

I'll be fabricating my own Cold Air intake hopefully this weekend my exhaust hopefully next weekend - you can use PVC pipe for a cold air and slap an injen filter on it, works very well maybe a little ghetto (im using actual pipe for mine though).

If you want to save cash on an exhaust do it yourself, OR find a good deal on a muffler (which is usually the expensive part of the exhaust, and then have a muffler shop build you an exhaust, usually in the 3-400 range where I go which is significantly cheaper (they can copy brand name designs and lets face it a pipe is a pipe is a pipe)

Right there for well under a grand you'll give yourself a great boost.

If you are disciplined enough save up buy some DC headers (they only fit type-s so again I refer you to a muffler shop, they can usually adapt them for 50 bucks or so) and then look into kpro - get it tuned professionally if you dont know what you're doing though, only one place in Calg does it and they quote 1200 for kpro w/ professional tune (so you're paying about 250 for the tune)

Seriously I know there is a base RSX kicking around Calgary thats working in the range of 500 horse.

Don't listen to morons who believe the Type-S is the end all and the be all of the RSX.

Last thing, get some cams (I like Skunk2 Stage 1) you'lol have to a little work to your engine to prep it for the cams though (not required but recommended) seeing as the base exhaust cam is rather restrictive.

If you want a cheap immediate result I suggest the exhaust as the rsx stock exhaust is less than 2in thus quite restrictive.

Cheers

[Los7Krpm]

well that makes me feel better. right now im just working on bolt on. I have to find someone here in houston (that i can trust and wont screw me out of money) who knows more about the internals than me before i start working with cams and all that good stuff. thanks I appreciate it.

[JimmyJames]

Originally Posted by Los7Krpm

well that makes me feel better. right now im just working on bolt on. I have to find someone here in houston (that i can trust and wont screw me out of money) who knows more about the internals than me before i start working with cams and all that good stuff. thanks I appreciate it.

Nonsense - do it all yourself, teach yourself.

Get an engine lift for around 100-150 and go pickup either an old beater civic or something for super cheap or goto your local pick-your-part type place and pull and engine out of an old car, they usually cost 100-200 bucks for an engine depending on condition - a lot of places go by weight.

Buying a whole car is a better way to go because you can always test your work but dismantling just an engine and putting it back together will teach you oodles of things.

If you buy a car pickup a haynes or helms (helms is better but more cash) manual and they teach you a lot of crap, ie. camshafts.

Also here is a copy of an RSX helms manual - though i dont recommend tinkering with your RSX until you are more comfortable with engines...

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