How can I get some more torque?

[devilz005]

I bought a 97 civic ex coupe a few days ago. Its my manual transmission car so I cant say Im driving it to its capabilities but I can tell that the thing is lacking in torque. With that in mind I want to keep some mods in mind that will boost my torque numbers. I dont want to swap engines or do anything crazy like supercharging it.

I was thinking about getting an AEM Ram Air because I hear its more low end gains oriented. What else should I be looking at?

Oh yeah, I welcome myself to the forum...lol

[pitchblacktyper]

normal i/e/h throttle body. boost is always good.

[devilz005]

Can someone explain the different headers to me?
I see there are 4-1 headers and 4-2-1 headers.
Is it safe to buy headers off ebay or are they garbage like everything else on ebay?

[JLAUDIOinCIVIC]

look at the brand names.. anything is better than stock

[mdt017]

the only replacement for displacement is Boost...
Move the torque curve up... and go for HP

[1point5crx]

about the headers, if you want to stick with better torque, go with a 4-2-1, the 4-1 is more for high rpm

[Honda4VW]

the only replacement for displacement is Boost...

There is no replacement for displacement

[SilentWrath*]

the only replacement for displacement is Boost...

There is no replacement for displacement

except boost!!! joshin witcha!!!

[Toddnos]

get a DC 421.......it gives nice increase in midrange power........then:NAAAWWWZZZZZ-w0rd

[DJ_SaNdOz]

put some new pistons in that motor; a 1.7l or even possibly a 1.8l sohc should be fun, although the 1.8 even sleeved wouldn't last long being a DD.

[Toddnos]

put some new pistons in that motor; a 1.7l or even possibly a 1.8l sohc should be fun, although the 1.8 even sleeved wouldn't last long being a DD.cant go 1.8 on a sohc with just sleeves, 1776 is the biggest.....youd have to get a stroker kit as well........and thats hella expensive.......

[kyosoeg6]

the only replacement for displacement is Boost...
Move the torque curve up... and go for HP

never move the tq curve up and tq wins races hp sells cars.

[Honda4VW]

never move the tq curve up and tq wins races hp sells cars.

That is so true! The average car buyer knows very little about tourqe

[brent]

get more torque...hmmm . dont buy a honda ;)

[n_23_s]

if you wanted more torque you should have gotten a honda with a h22 engine in it.

[green_hornet_96]

Anything to help it breathe and run efficiently. Definitely a minimum of K&N drop-in filter or intake system, and an aftermarket muffler (I recommend Flowmaster American Thunder, but I'm biased :lol:). Standard tune-up stuff does wonders, like dizzy parts, plug wires, plugs (another biased opinion: Champion 318 gapped at 0.040"). Make sure the valve lifters are properly adjusted, this makes a HUGE difference if they're out of spec. Check to see the throttle is opening all the way, sometimes the cable stretches a little. Check tension of the serpentine belts and make sure everything's bolted down good (I had a loose power steering pump, that squeaked like crazy and sucked the low-end right out of the thing). Keep the A/C off when needing performance. Get good tires. Stuff like this really helps more than one would expect, and bang for the buck is good.

If ya got the buxx, then I'd say yeah, go for an exhaust header, engine work, or if you're a boosting fan, turbo or supercharger.

I hear ya on the torque. I started on a Ford 5.4L Triton V8, and the car seemed to lack somewhat when I started driving it, but after just a few minor mods and keeping it in peak running order, it no longer disappoints. Me and my lead foot love burning tires :lol:.

[Lule]

Torque: 4-2-1 header, higher compression, overbore the cylinder, advance the cam timing.

[dxthatcould]

I agree with Green Hornet on the Amer. Thun. Flowmaster. I noticed a big difference in throttle response and low end. It's cheap, it's a quick bolt-on, and it sounds really good.
Speaking of the sound, I just got pulled over a couple of hours ago (I'll do a post on that in the P.&B.S. forum later or tomarrow) and the cop was gonna have D.M.V. inspect the exhaust so I was like, "come on man it's just a flowmaster muffler". I think that helped because he went back there and made me rev it, then was like "well I guess thats fine."

Also, if your new to Honda's, particularly VTEC don't be afraid to rev it. You don't get the 127 horsepower you paid for until 6600 r.p.m.'s.
I had a EX auto and really had no complaints about power I just kept the revs up and left it locked down in third unless I was on the highway. Since you have a standard, you'll just have to keep it in a gear that'll have you cruising at or just below 4000 r.p.m's so you can just stomp on it and not have to constantly downshift.

[n_23_s]

only use ngk plugs in honda's don't ever use any other brands ngk are just as good or better. I have used champion platinum and there standard plugs, i have used bosch platinum and bosch platinum +4's, i have ran denso all of which suck major ass. be smart stick with ngk plugs any of them work well, personally i am using iridiums b/c they can handle more abuse. if you are going to spray use iridiums b/c of the type of metal it can take the combustion temps

[Rufus]

get more torque...hmmm . dont buy a honda ;)

My thoughts exactly! :lol:

Like buying a 12ft flat boat and then wanting to go offshore fishing!

[S Q A D]

^^ LOL that's such a louisiana thing to say ... a comment on fishing ... lol not everyone is from the south and will get that !! classic

[chasloa]

get more torque...hmmm . dont buy a honda ;)

ditto :wink:

[Toddnos]

shaddup^^^

[Cleriq]

EX civic? Cat back exaust and dump the crappy muffler.

Cheapest and easiest to do. The Ram air will give shift your torque curve to higher RPM. Cold air will do the trick.

But...maintainence first.

I'm new from the Caribbean.

[Toddnos]

irie mon........

[Cleriq]

^^^Lol, and all or cars are JDM!

[Toddnos]

REWIND.....SELECTOR........BUCKBUCKBUCK.........LI CKSHOTS>.........BOMBA........ROSCLOT......

[cation]

^^^LOL. Listen to alot of Reggae there Toddnos? :lol:

[Toddnos]

i like dancehall.......

[silvermugen]

I agree with Green Hornet on the Amer. Thun. Flowmaster. I noticed a big difference in throttle response and low end. It's cheap, it's a quick bolt-on, and it sounds really good.
Speaking of the sound, I just got pulled over a couple of hours ago (I'll do a post on that in the P.&B.S. forum later or tomarrow) and the cop was gonna have D.M.V. inspect the exhaust so I was like, "come on man it's just a flowmaster muffler". I think that helped because he went back there and made me rev it, then was like "well I guess thats fine."

Also, if your new to Honda's, particularly VTEC don't be afraid to rev it. You don't get the 127 horsepower you paid for until 6600 r.p.m.'s.
I had a EX auto and really had no complaints about power I just kept the revs up and left it locked down in third unless I was on the highway. Since you have a standard, you'll just have to keep it in a gear that'll have you cruising at or just below 4000 r.p.m's so you can just stomp on it and not have to constantly downshift.



--- Isn't it bad thow to always rev an engine like cuzing, My friend burnt an engine cuz he never let it rev under 4000 rpm but it was a NISSAN pulsar. I have manual and I try to keep it around an dunder 3500rpm in normal driving. I'm just affaird of the engine burning oil before it should any comment's.

[Toddnos]

your civic dosent even make any power until 5500....it dosent even start to show red on the tach until like 6500....your safe. Ive been reving mine for six years with nitrous.

[green_hornet_96]

always revving? sure, be prepared to so some engine work in 50k miles or less, just in case. When the car's properly tuned and can operate efficiently, though, it doesn't need it all the time. I shift at 3500-4000 for daily driving and its pretty darn quick, and I still get 32 in town/ 37 hwy (on an ex thats supposed to 35 the hwys). Going down the freeway, there isn't exactly an option to rev low, it turns a noisy 3700 rpm. As a rule, I always open it up at least once a day (well, it would be once but for the slow chevys in the way. what's wrong with the speed limit???)

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there's problems if the motor isn't allowed to rev every now and then. My older sis's Merc Tracer got like that; she never revved it over 2500. She let me drive it when it had 70k miles on it, and I shifted at 4k (oops, habit) and, even though it redlines at 5k, I honestly thought I was going to throw a rod. That car was shaking sooo bad from all the carbon crap inside putting it out of balance, it was a miracle i didn't blow a mount. She religiously maintained it, too.

[Toddnos]

always revving? sure, be prepared to so some engine work in 50k miles or less, just in case. i dont agree.....i have 92000 on my odometer. its being rebuilt, but not from just reving it to 7200....from squeezing it to the rev limiter, and detonating.
Hondas are made to be drivin hard......change the oil every 3000 miles, and keep it properly serviced, and you can rev it no problem. I know guys with over 150000 still beating on there hondas.

[custom_junky]

i have 63,000 miles, rev it all the way out to the rev limiter every day ever since I bought it brand new in 2001. i agree with toddnos honda's like the higher RPM's, that's where they breath the best and run the best. but use your head, don't just sit there in 2nd gear doing 50mph and not expect to get good gas mileage and stuff.

[Toddnos]

w3rd

[ottomaticjack]

Mine has just shy of 106000, and all it is needing now is valve adjustment...and thats on a 95. I drive her hard, and that's how she likes it. Figure from a stoplight on the way to work in the morning, after a nice warm up, I usually shift at somewhere between 4k and 5200, if I'm just mellow, shifting at 3700 or so, but I love that high RPM howl. This from a guy that grew up in the south on camaros and mustangs...lol

[Frodubious]

i love that sound my vic makes just about about 5500, it screams for more! for some reason i think it sounds a lot more healthy way up there than at about 3000.

[Flight120]

I've got a '91 DX hatch with 207,000 miles, and I BOUNCE it off of the rev limiter EVERY time I drive the thing. It's not my daily driver, but I've never been afraid that it would let go and leave me on the side of the road. I do maintain it, but it's absolutely bone stock still. It's not fast, but still lots of fun!

Laters

[97civichatch]

Just turned 144,000 miles and mine sees the 7200 rpm redline daily. I have kept after it and I have never had a problem with the engine. Average cruising rpm is 3500 and I just drove it 170 miles one way to WV at a constant 3800-4000 rpm (except when I was messing with an integ....oops, that one must've been a REAL type r) and still got about 30 mpg. The pistons are still original, but all of the seals in the engine were replaced when I did the swap. Along with the oil and water pump. I plan on rebuilding the bottom end this summer, but when I had the head off around 125,000 for the swap the pistons still looked good and the cylinder walls still had hone on them; which i thought was amazing!! As far as torque, I can drive mine up good size hills in 5th at 50mph and not lose speed. Could not do that with the dx tranny, but I still wish it had a little more too.

[ol'skoolrex_PH]

My D15 has 274000 miles, the car runs 13's pretty consistantly (with 13.482 my best time so far) I rev it through redline pretty much all the time.. because it's so much fun.. no to mention the thing will SLAM into the revlimit in 5th gear, about twice as much as a GSR
stock bottom end - never had ANY problems.. the only thing that I'm now dealing with is it burns a little oil - but it's neglegable because every time I change my oil at 3000 miles I maybe have lost about 1/4 of a quart if that

[1point5crx]

230,000 miles here.
no problems