In terms of performance, how much modification can I do with an AT FD1?

[Reclus]

So far I've only installed a HKS air filter and it feels much better than the original one. I'm wondering what more can I do?
Seems like all great mod for performance are stand for MT? Correct me if i'm wrong :)

[shadou]

I'm assuming you mean transmission? You can turbo it, some guys have done.

[Reclus]

yea i meant transmission, sorry for the abbreviation

really?
but i appreciate the NA engines of Honda

[ej20i]

exhaust?
Throttle controller
is ur intake CAI, SRI or just a panel filter?
get CAI!

[Reclus]

thanks ej201

it's the stock intake system

what's CAI? :P i'm pretty new to mod so..

[Reclus]

and which throttle controller will fit the best?

[ej20i]

Cold Air Intake, i use Fujita CAI
i use the shadow throttle controller which is the same as the pivot
johnnyfd uses the buddy club but hes having some problems with it

[JOhnnyFD]

buddyclub japan got it fixed.. sensor has been reset for civic AUD settings

try using pivot

there are alot of mods for both AT & MT.. the only thing with MT coz of its transmission, u can get final drive gears and a LSD for handling and performance

flashpro is making something for the R18A MT engine later on.. and the guys up in the states want to get flashpro for AT

[kawai]

I recond if you have some cash on hand just do the basic stuff suspension, sway bars, some nice and light wheels, and full exaust system (don't go for just an n1 muffler look, it will sound like a rice canon). But if you think about it, if you put any more money into it you might as well Purchased the civic spots to begin off with.

[Reclus]

Kawai, I can't agree more

I just didn't think the sport model is worthy
only 10kw more and it's heavier
it's all about comfort, not sporty i guess

anyway thanks for the advice
my first goal at the moment is to replace that stupid look steel wheel covers...

[ej20i]

steering wheel covers?
u got a steering wheel cover?

[eNGee]

i'm pretty sure he means the plastic hub caps & 15" steelies.

[Reclus]

yea, i said 'steel' not steering

anyway will the stock Euro Luxury (07-08 model) rims fit our FD1?
offset etc

[kawai]

If I'm not mistaken I've read it is 5X144 16X6.5 +55 i think this is the Tyre size 205/50 R16 87V tires same as the '97 preludes.

[ej20i]

oops
sorry didnt read properly
LOL!

those rims will fit our fd1
kevin had em on his car before

[aero]

Is there really much gains from staying na on a r18? Imo, if u don't wanna go turbo on it, save for a k24 or k20a. Better to save that 10k ppl spend on a sport model to convert an fd1

[Reclus]

yes K20a will be my final final goal..
but it's very hard to install..

ej20i, which rims are you talking about now?

[aero]

i think he was talking about these euro lux rims

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/2133/5603021.jpg

they work fine on springs, but u may have problems with them on coils because of the +55 offset

[Reclus]

the best offset for our FD will be +45? +42?
depends on wheels size right?

i'm new to this, humbly seeking information from all of you guys :)

[ej20i]

+45 is a good offset
im on +42 atm
its good but had to cut the plastic a bit since it was rubbing a tad

[black8thgen]

whaat tim u scrubbed with these rims? fark =[. on the inner wall yeah?

btw i think stig/dez said 35-40 offset is good with about 7.5-8" width?

[JOhnnyFD]

Kawai, I can't agree more

I just didn't think the sport model is worthy
only 10kw more and it's heavier
it's all about comfort, not sporty i guess

anyway thanks for the advice
my first goal at the moment is to replace that stupid look steel wheel covers...

a k20z2 engine only having 10kw more than the r18a engine.. not worth it in my opinion.. and there are more potential mods for the r18 engine (mostly from the states) then there are for the k20z2..

in terms of engine performance... with a cai/sri intake setup, stainless steel/titanium catback exhaust setup, throttle mod, and lightweight pulley setup and potential ECU mod.. is more than enough for decent performance out of the R18A NA

and then theres handling performance.. proper suspension setup, lightweight rims & high performance street tyres, proper camber settings, rear sway bar, chassis reinforcements is enough on the streets for good handling

[Reclus]

thanks Johnny
have you done all those..

i'm already excited by seeing all those mod terms haha
but i don't think I'll be able to afford them all

In your opinion, which one should I do first?
probably intake? and ECU?

what's lightweight pulley?

and how to workout 'chassis reinforcements'?

[JOhnnyFD]

ive done most... ECU would be the last mod once uve got on all the other mods as the ECU is tuned to suit all the mods uve got on

recommend doing intake first for engine performance

pulleys are the wheels on the side of the engine tat operate the crank, water pump, and alternator.. with lightweight pulleys, the engine would be able to pump out more power freely than the heavy oem pulleys

chassis reinforcement is basically strengthing the overall chassis stiffness.. by putting in strut bars and underbody chassis bars

[ej20i]

light weight pulleys apparently they are not the best option for our engines
they ruin the harmonic balance in the engine
as they are way lighter than stocks

[Stig]

save! go k20 :thumbsup:

i would if i won tatts LOL

[Reclus]

Which Sway Bar would you guys recommend? i heard that some of them are made of steel, cheaper and heavier

Yea I think my step would be
1. wheels and tyre
2. SRI intake
3. Sway Bar / tower bar

[aero]

ur forgetting teh suspension. do that if ur gonna go for wheels and tyres first imo. or else it will look like a bit of a 4wd

[Reclus]

yes i understand that
so there's another 1.5k for a set of suspension then?

so the offset for the basic vti model is different from the sport model?

and i heard someone saying that for AT, we should use SRI instead of CAI?

[ej20i]

offset i believe is all the same through out Fd range (apart from FD2R).
get a sussy first den other mods after ur rims bro
coilovers are about 1.5K but springs are like 400 bux den again u will be damaging ur shocks if u go springs only
den go struts and other bits to stiffen up ur chassis den ur sway bar

[black8thgen]

ive got cai on auto fd2, cai is mad =P

[Reclus]

offset i believe is all the same through out Fd range (apart from FD2R).
get a sussy first den other mods after ur rims bro
coilovers are about 1.5K but springs are like 400 bux den again u will be damaging ur shocks if u go springs only
den go struts and other bits to stiffen up ur chassis den ur sway bar

So which suspension set would you guys recommend?
i mean, what harm will it do if i get just the springs? what are the big differences?

[Reclus]

ive got cai on auto fd2, cai is mad =P

does it mean that i'll have to remove the stock air box to install CAI then?

[black8thgen]

get tanabe pro five from jdmconcept - got em on sale atm man, get them before it goes lol.

uhm yeah gotta remove stock airbox - and also stock air resonator (but if u have an auto u wont be able to feed a Cold air feed to the foggies area due to the automatic transmission box being in the way - you'll have to feed it towards the middle of the car (behind the engine) - which is what i did, works fine =].

[Reclus]

I'll check it out right away, thx

which CAI did u get then??
and where's the best place to get it installed?

[black8thgen]

got simota CBII (carbon charger 2) - from shift performance

andd i installed it with the help of ej20i, but any place can install em mate. if u buy from shift - get it installed with em too i rkn

[curtis265]

If you want to go fast with NA, the R18 engine (that we have) is a really, really bad starting point - there's aftermarket support and all, but the potential's very limited.

I say you're probably better off keeping your car fuel efficient

[aero]

i agree. save all ur engine mods for a k series swap

[Reclus]

ye i'll probably do a little on handling and leave everything else stock

thanks for all the advices