More power for CRX SiR

I have just imported a stock CRX SiR (DOHC B16A V-TEC) and I am very surprised by it's standard performance. However I have owned some pretty quick cars so I am in need of a bit more power. I have emailed Toda Racing about some of their products but they have not replied yet. Could anyone suggest what I can do for a bit more power without going to crazy (stroker kit out of the question). I was thinking some cams, cam gears, valve springs, timing belt, exhaust, vtec controller and air filter upgrade. What do you guys think about what I have listed? Any other suggestions would be great.

Cheers

I'd suggest getting a 2 1/4 inch mandrel bent exhaust, high flow catalytic convertor and high flow muffler as a starting point. If it's anything like mine, the cat is stuffed and restricting flow - and you might as well replace the rest of the system.

Get a custom made filter panel (you'll find stock replacement ones hard to find anyway). If you have some extra money put away - a DC sports header will make a big difference - steer away from aussie off the shelf B16A headers - the gen1 B16A stock header flows as well, if not better than them. Don't forget that when you change headers, you have 2x o2 sensors - unlike the aussie spec cars.

Forget the VTEC controller - gen1 B16As don't like them that much. They are pretty much a waste of money anyway unless you go extremely aggressive with the cams.

Toda cams are worthwhile - a few guys use them but you need to upgrade the valve springs etc. Don't expect much change from 1K for a second hand pair though.

Seriously, with the car you have, go the exhaust first - you'll notice the difference. Steer away from pod filters unless you go CAI - I trialled a pod v's my custom insert in the SiR box and saw no difference on the dyno under the same conditions.

BTW - where are you getting spares from... I have to ship from NZ or Japan for my SiR.

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Originally Posted by SiR CRX

I have just imported a stock CRX SiR (DOHC B16A V-TEC) and I am very surprised by it's standard performance. However I have owned some pretty quick cars so I am in need of a bit more power. I have emailed Toda Racing about some of their products but they have not replied yet. Could anyone suggest what I can do for a bit more power without going to crazy (stroker kit out of the question). I was thinking some cams, cam gears, valve springs, timing belt, exhaust, vtec controller and air filter upgrade. What do you guys think about what I have listed? Any other suggestions would be great.

Cheers

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hey dude... whatz your name? We have a CRX club here in Perth in case you didn't know???

Mike

Thanks for the response guys.

Setanta, that sounds like a good starting point. Do you rate Top Fuel products? They do an intake system for Honda V-TEC engines and they are highly respected in Japan. They also do some nuts turbo kits, if only I had the money :D

SINISTR, I didn't know about that CRX club and I am very happy to hear about it. Tell me some more details about it if you can. I have only had my car a little while so I look forward to catching up with a few more CRX owners. What model is your car? Mods? BTW my name is Niall (pronounced like the Nile river)

Niall - I'd go a K&N or even a finer filter reusable panel. I had mine done by a performance shop that made the frame - then we ran finer filter foam on it.

Another option is to PM McChook, he and his dad have Jamex re-usable inserts which are ok.

Ultimately though - you get what you pay for and K&N is a good brand.

Cheers
Pete

i found quite a gain on the stock k'n panel filter compared with the stock filter
it made my car sound a lot different and more responsive =)
or is it all psychological??
hehe

Just thought I would post this up as it seems relevant to the discussion. Here is some info about the Top Fuel Power Chamber for Honda V-TEC engines.

POWER CHAMBER SYSTEM makes intake systems on Hondas much more efficient. This product introduced in some of the Japanese car magazines has a swirl shaped air cleaner and this shape produces best air intake efficiency. Also the special shape of intake pipe produces air compressing action like turbo. Just fitting this product on your car, you'll get much more power easily. In the test at TOP FUEL, all the cars fitted with this POWER CHAMBER produced at least 5 hp more power than ones with original air filter. This kit comes with all the parts in the picture.

http://www.perfectrun.com.au/real_im...mberCarbon.jpg http://www.perfectrun.com.au/real_im...berPlastic.jpg

" At least" 5 bhp at the wheels from a unit that isn't a CAI and draws in hot air from the engine bay thereby reducing the density of the intake charge? I call bullsh|t. Don't waste your time with anything that has an exposed pod in your engine bay.

A cold air intake that runs from outside the engine bay or is sealed from the engine bay = great - that POS will just screw you over. It'll sound pretty - but that's it. I tested a simiilar setup on a dyno and it wasn't any better than a high flow panel - and that was without heat-soak.

BTW - it's VTEC... not V-TEC ;)

pod filter is not about hot air or cold air
its about MORE air coming in isnt it?

But the cooler the air the denser, helping combustion, and thus more power... basically :)

depending on ur budget....i/e/h are the first things to do...and from what l've heard, 2.25" madrel bend is the way to go...headers also play a part, and see if u can get some jap brand.

next step i rekon are cams, valve springs and adj cam gears along with an aftermarket ECU such as a power FC....after all that ur lookin round the...5K+ mark ?

u can also put in some forgies along with an itr intake manifold??

SiR CRX,
A question..are you the guy with the black EF8 with the mugen wheels?

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Originally Posted by SlobberGoat

SiR CRX,
A question..are you the guy with the black EF8 with the mugen wheels?

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Nah - thats Kris - Bedes friend.

Niall - great to meet you.. and hope to meet up with you in person sometime. I've got 2 CRXs - a 1983 genone and a 1991 Si (wish it had a b16a).

how about you visit our forum @ http://perthcrx.proboards25.com/

we have a few devoted CRX boyz and girls there... we try and meet up as regularly as time permits, and we will be happy to help you out with your ride.
We've been running for over 2yrs now as a club, Perth unfortunatelly is a small place and only few crxs but we have fun! give me a call anyway 0403 468 133.

Cheers

Mike

Mike, maybe yo can bring the crx club down to the plex on the 24th with all these new Ozhonda guys as a social gathering ?
But i do have a question tho, who drives and owns the white CRX with plates [B18CR]. he parks just around from my house everyday.

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Originally Posted by Civic Type R

Mike, maybe yo can bring the crx club down to the plex on the 24th with all these new Ozhonda guys as a social gathering ?
But i do have a question tho, who drives and owns the white CRX with plates [B18CR]. he parks just around from my house everyday.

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there is talk on my forums about a day at the plex so we will see... couple of the CRXs are comming I know that. I dont have the $ or the wheels/tyres at the moment to do it. I was asked to race on sunday as well but yeah - wheels - they are on carolines Civic. I might bring the Civic down for the drags...

the B18CR - i never met the guy - I just know his car went from speedworks to Xspeed I think for the swap to be completed. Dunno anymore than that...

are any of you crx guys on www.crxaustralia.com

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Originally Posted by Mr. Focus

are any of you crx guys on www.crxaustralia.com

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Im GENONE on crxaustralia

lol - call in the police; threadjack in progress :D

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Originally Posted by bumography

pod filter is not about hot air or cold air
its about MORE air coming in isnt it?

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Back on toopic:

Ok - here goes: A pod will not allow more air into the system than the cylinder's volume due to valve timing etc. However, the denser the air charge, the better the combustion for the same amount of air.

If you have an efficient filter (Honda's are) then changing to a pod will not force more air into the cylinder - as the vacume caused by the pistons draws the charge in on the intake stroke and then seals on the compression stroke - the pod simply fulfills the same purpose as a panel. However, when the air charge is hot, it reduces the density of the air charge (leading to worse atomisation of A/F? someone check me on this).

The pod may allow more air to flow, but it can't break the laws of physics - any advantage is lost due to the temperature of the engine bay from which the air is drawn. In fact, it can make the situation worse. A CAI on the other hand, allows cold air to be drawn from outside the car to give improved filtering (possibly, dependant on the brand) plus a cold charge... but does lead to some throttle response degredation depending on quality as the charge has longer to travel.

Turbos are the exception to running a pod in the engine bay as intercoolers are designed to dissipate the charge temp. The flow through is usually pod -> turbo -> intercooler -> cylinder.

Pretty sure I got that right - I need a tech-head to double check me.

Basically: hot air = bad, cooler air = good. You can only drow so much in with a NA motor - it's cylinder vacume/cam/timing/TB profile dependant (not to mention exhaust scavenging).

I'm able to comprehend & digest the options & course of action your fellow OH members have divulged & made you aware of...but the bottom line stands at this mere simple notion...spending copious amounts of $$$ to gain satisfaction of knowing you've extrapolated every inconceivable HP from your N/A is one thing...but it falsifies & blinds you from the justification of adding on a snail from a long term perspective...your financial disposition may warrant how you tackle this predicament though...from boost will come power...from power will come respect...from respect will come fulfillment...this assumption stems from what you have implied...but its your call at the end of the day & I'll support your endeavours whichever path you aspire to take upon...all the best with it all mate...

Thanks guys your help is greatly appreciated. I found out that the Top Fuel Power Chamber does not fit my model CRX anyway so that's out of the question now. I will try and source a good CAI, any brand recommendations?

- k&N panel filter
- JDM 4-1 or DC sports JDM 4-1
- N1 style catback

any photos??

SiR CRX: not many will have a CAI set up - if you look for European parts though, look for anything to fit an EE8 or EE9 as well as the JDM EF8/EF9. Aussie parts will be of little use as the EF is a redesign of the ED's engine bay. Having said that, you can try modifying EK4/EM1 CAIs such as AEM's - but you'll definitely have to mod them. The issue is the EE and EF VTEC varients are a rarity outside of japan and performance parts aren't made for the engine/chassis combo.

Panel or do it yourself is the way to go :)

BTW: love the post CRX-Ando :)

I know this is a hell old thread but thought I would ask my question here as it is this topic..

I`m after a replacement filter for the stock box in my 89 SiR CRX. I just want to replace the filter for the moment then will be looking into all the ideas mentioned in this thread as there is some good points in there...

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Originally Posted by rexi3

I`m after a replacement filter for the stock box in my 89 SiR CRX. I just want to replace the filter for the moment then will be looking into all the ideas mentioned in this thread as there is some good points in there...

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Trust makes re-usable panel filters for the Civic/CRX. Advan quoted me $63 shipped for my EF3.

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Originally Posted by SiR JDM

But the cooler the air the denser, helping combustion, and thus more power... basically :)

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Correct - and conversely, by heating air you reduce density and lose power - which is why the best bet is to CAI or mod your existing box - not just to add a rice fan-boi pod that sucks hot air in :p

I think what i might do (should of thought of b4 posting) ring up honda/take car in, and find out the exact part code then cross reference the part and see what I can come up with.. So looks like i`ll be doing that monday.. Cheers for the help..

Go to finer filter - they'll custom make you one. There's also a Jamex one, but the Finer Filter flowed brilliantly for me compared to the stock filter.

Hey rexi3, the factory ef8 panel filter part code is 17220-PW0-000.

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Originally Posted by Setanta

Go to finer filter - they'll custom make you one. There's also a Jamex one, but the Finer Filter flowed brilliantly for me compared to the stock filter.

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I`m on the gold coast.. So dont think i could?? If i could would you be able to put me in contact with them?? phone number, email??

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Originally Posted by SlobberGoat

SiR CRX,
A question..are you the guy with the black EF8 with the mugen wheels?

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thats me! :D

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Originally Posted by BSRacer

thats me! :D

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LOL @ BSRacer...
Somehow I find that very unlikely, unless your running CF-48's and like to drive all the way across to Perth for the hell of it...
;)

It's a short commute from adelaide ;) I've got mr5s

Well then you'd best sell those MR-5's to me then... ;)

Hey all. Im on the lookout for a crx and am intending on doing air flow modifications. I havent seen any of these systems in motion but why couldnt you do an AG job and mount the "power chamber system" or at least a pod to the end of your CAI system. Just stretch it out the the front air dam/intake, just beside the radiator or something. that way you get the compression, density, power, noise and smile?

like to suck in water as well???

"like to suck in water as well???"

Obviously you wouldnt drive it in the rain. Question still stands