thought I would take the time to introduce myself here and get some feed back even tho I'm sure I already know most of it will be negative I'm hoping I get some good positive advice as well so here goes.
I've had my 2000 Prelude for about 2 years now and its my second prelude because I love these cars its been so much fun to drive and I love the color and the body kit and the stereo and the loud exhaust, got lucky enough to have all these mods done by the previous owner before I bought the car. unfortunately the prelude was rear ended the other day and with having 2 small children I just decided now's the time to get something else.
I'm fairly picky when it comes to shopping for a new car I like my car to be unique and stand out I like to drive one of those cars u just don't see around very often but also a car with a lot of power and one that's mod-able and fun to drive. With these factors in mind i landed on the RSX, however I don't like to drive stick...I know how to I just don't like to, its too much work and hassle and I just prefer auto so that means no Type-S which means so BOM
So after doing a little digging about the RSX I decided I wanted a 05-06 Base Auto RSX preferably in blue. After joining RSX Facebook groups looking for one I got tons of hate for wanting to go from the Auto 200hp H22 Lude to a BASE AUTO 165hp RSX, I got a lot of "just keep the lude man" and "dude get a Type-S" but I did the research I know what I want and I wont be persuaded so even tho I began to doubt myself I kept looking for what I had my mind set on because I-VTEC! and K-series! and 5 years newer!
So since i had heard these cars were very easy to modified I kept digging thru the fb marketplace and did tons of googling with the plans of modding a base auto RSX up to the 200hp prelude numbers im used to and I finally found me a good one in black only about 3 hours away in OKC so made the trip and brought her home.
but now again I find myself questioning my decision, as I'm looking for what mods to buy and install on this 100% completely stock base auto RSX all I see is hate on the K20a3 every once in a while I see a couple people here and there giving praise to the base auto and explaining what to buy and how to mod it to get the most power out of it but some of the info seems conflicting.
so in closing yes I'm here posting to introduce myself to the boards here but also to ask for your input and advice on how to mod the base auto to at least 200hp without swapping the whole engine.
so far I love my RSX but tbh the prelude is so much more fun to drive, first reactions: the RSX is too high and too quite for starters.
so heres what I've gathered so far tell me if I'm on the right track...
Cool air intake, possibly thru the headlight?
RBC Intake
2.5 inch cat-back exhaust
ktuner or kpro ECU re-flash
K20a2 or custom cam shaft
Skunk 2 alpha header
K20a2 exhaust rockers to run 3 rocker setup on the intake side
and LAM pins to engage the rockers
or should i just do a K24 head?...K20a2 head?...Z1?
Welcome. It looks like you found a clean RSX, which is getting harder to come by these days. I would head over to the bolt on basics for the base section. Those guys might be able to point you in the right direction. I don't think I/H/E w/ kpro will get you to 200hp, but it will definitely make the car more fun to drive.
Get you some coilovers and wheels and enjoy the good gas mileage that the base will give you (while looking just as good as a type s)
Coilovers are most def on my list but categorized under cosmetic upgrade rather then performance, originally the plan was to focus on cosmetics first, fender flares and body kit and smoke out the lights but after driving the car 3 hours from OKC its so slow and quiet and I've decided to swap my focus to potentially increasing the performance first.
as far as wheels go tho, my plan at first was to make the car look like a type-S so i was gonna put 17s on it but cant find any that look good so i think before i sell the lude im gonna steel the wheels off her and hope shell still sell for what i want out of her.
Unless you're trying to spend thousands of dollars, don't bother with your goal. Our cars are pigs, even with bolt ons. Our trans is a parasite, and will make that 200 hp closer to 145 at the wheels.
We can't run true, 3 lobe Vtec in our heads due to no LMA's, and I don't believe a head swap would be worth the cost or hassle. You can however, run Vtec cams in a "Vtec Killer" setup where it constantly rides on the big lobe, or you can swap the pins around so that it operates like our normal half Vtec, but on a more aggressive cam.
The RBC will provide you with top end power at the expense of torque, so I wouldn't do it. The stock intake manifold is great for a daily driver.
Get an Injen CAI, not a velocity stack through your headlight. It'll say manual only, but it fits and you can squeeze a velocity stack on there. You're on the right track with the header and exhaust. A race header will require stiffer motor mounts, inserts, or a torque damper at the least to prevent damage. You may also need a different front sway bar. As for engine management, get Ktuner. It's more simple and cheaper for the second generation. Don't settle for the reflash, get the End User system so you can get dyno tuned or e-tuned (I'd get this first). All of this will make the car more enjoyable, but not fast.
Cool air intake, possibly thru the headlight? Absolutely not, you'd be just as fine with a short ram in your case, cheaper and easier to fit as well
RBC Intake as per mentioned, not really worth it on that engine and the kind of driving you intend on doing
2.5 inch cat-back exhaust The Invidia Q300 is my favorite exhaust for this car but without a race header it might not be loud enough for you
ktuner or kpro ECU re-flashKpro
K20a2 or custom cam shaft dont bother
Skunk 2 alpha header Skunk is a worhtless company. Buy the invidia header or literally anything else
K20a2 exhaust rockers to run 3 rocker setup on the intake side dont bother
and LAM pins to engage the rockers dont bother
Also, coilovers are going to make it lower and look a world better but if you're just going to be daily driving it, look into a lower spring/strut combo. Idk whats out there for these that come in an comfortable ride but Im sure there's things out there.
If you wind up getting Kpro, it'll feel peppier without any modifications. If you do a race header and exhaust you almost need the kpro to run them. A short header, stock midpipe and cat back you'd be fine without the Kpro.
All this said its going to be a daily driver automatic and your goals seem really ricey too be honest.
If Im reading you clearly you just want it to look and sound like a neat street car. In that case;
-short ram intake, whichever(ebay, honestly, they're all the same from $50-$200)
-short header, whichever, I had a DC one at one point, ebay might be fine if you're prepared for improving a less-than-perfect fitment.
-cat back, again I love the Q300
-spring/strut combo, whichever looks like enough drop that isnt crazy stiff/uncomfortable to drive daily
-half decent wheels and rubber
-Kpro, if you finish all that and still want it to be a little peppier driving.
Not sure if kpro makes any adjustments to shifting points or anything else neat on the A3 but... Idk...
In any case, grats on the clean DC5 and good luck in whatever you do.
If Im reading you clearly you just want it to look and sound like a neat street car. In that case;
-short ram intake, whichever(ebay, honestly, they're all the same from $50-$200)
-short header, whichever, I had a DC one at one point, ebay might be fine if you're prepared for improving a less-than-perfect fitment.
-cat back, again I love the Q300
-spring/strut combo, whichever looks like enough drop that isnt crazy stiff/uncomfortable to drive daily
-half decent wheels and rubber
-Kpro, if you finish all that and still want it to be a little peppier driving.
man, I don't even have a base but I feel compelled to chime in, lol (we do share colors though
)
Cool air intake, possibly thru the headlight? maybe foglight
RBC Intake maybe later. Could do PRB (Type S) or PRC (Type R)
2.5 inch cat-back exhaust sure. 2.36 okay too. or 2.75
ktuner or kpro ECU re-flash ktuner will be much cheaper. kpro requires 1st gen O2 sensor and wiring harness adapter, FYI
K20a2 or custom cam shaft maybe A2's or Z1's (or even Z3's maybe) but some like to use the TSX K24A2 exhaust cam
Skunk 2 alpha header I'd vouch for Invidia as well. If you want cheaper, there's OBX
K20a2 exhaust rockers to run 3 rocker setup on the intake side I don't see why not
and LMA pins to engage the rockers I don't think you can. You just switch the VTEC pins instead, with A2 rockers/cams
or should i just do a K24 head?...K20a2 head?...Z1? maybe whole K24A2, haha
This is all from what I've read on here if I had (or ever get) a base. I do feel like the auto kind of reduces some of your options (like i think I read kpro on an auto is even more money/complex), but I have seen other threads that really speak to its Kseries cred. Threads like a K24A2 swap in an auto. Or the A2 rockers in A3 head & pin swap. Or the things 02civic629 did [banned] (ram air intake through the fog light hole). Or the high stall torque converterhttps://forums.clubrsx.com/usercp.php#/topics/401785. Maybe I'll go back and hyperlink these threads tomorrow
Oh and another tip, if you didn't know: you can use a full Type S exhaust, but not just one half of it. So you could pair up a Type S header and Type S catback if you like and I've read it fits (same length, obviously).
Short header, I looked and I actually had the one that was like $46 bucks. I did have to open up one of the holes a bit to use it though. It worked fine after I drilled the mounting hole a little bit.
That exhaust looks like it'd be LOUD and raspy but whatever you're into. (those little round mufflers are the essential make-up of what is the "fart cannon")
Definitely dont buy those coilovers. I cant say which spring/strut combo, but Im sure there's a set out there that'll feel fairly decent and give you a lower look.
My old roomate actually had racelands and I could never tell what all the hate was for. He didn't track the car and never intended to and it felt reasonably compliant for street driving. I wouldnt hesitate to use them on a DD car.
Short header, I looked and I actually had the one that was like $46 bucks. I did have to open up one of the holes a bit to use it though. It worked fine after I drilled the mounting hole a little bit.
That exhaust looks like it'd be LOUD and raspy but whatever you're into. (those little round mufflers are the essential make-up of what is the "fart cannon")
Definitely dont buy those coilovers. I cant say which spring/strut combo, but Im sure there's a set out there that'll feel fairly decent and give you a lower look.
My old roomate actually had racelands and I could never tell what all the hate was for. He didn't track the car and never intended to and it felt reasonably compliant for street driving. I wouldnt hesitate to use them on a DD car.
This short header was the least expensive one i can find that wasnt just an OEM one id be interested in a cheaper one if uv got a link as long as it wont hurt performance i dont mind having to make some slight modifications to make it fit.
im totally fine with LOUD and raspy thats what gets the heads to turn and break the necks HAHA used to run a 6inch glass pack on my old 91 tegi
yea i noticed those coilovers may not fit my car after i posted but theyre all i could find for cheap...iv heard good things about racelands or rokkors and comparing the 2 rokkors seems to be the better choice 300-400 just seems a little high just to squat the car a little bit but i have heard alot of complaints about the suspension on these cars so maybe its worth it.
The suspension complaints on the RSX come from folks who track their car and deal with bump steer under high stress driving situations. Tracking a well sorted RSX is rowdy.
The suspension complaints on the RSX come from folks who track their car and deal with bump steer under high stress driving situations. Tracking a well sorted RSX is rowdy.
I'd skip the shorty header all together. We already have one from the factory. Maybe it has larger primaries, but it bottlenecks at the cat anyways. If you're not going to get a race header, look around for a Type R header.
Tinted tail lights reduce visibility to when you're stopping. One of the dumbest most pointless modifications possible. Right behind tinting your headlight housings.
Love the prelude man! I had a 1992 SI 5 speed before i got my RSX, I was also in an accident and had to sell. I love my DC5 but i NEED another Prelude in my life! Good luck with the build and hope the DC5 chassis gives you as much joy as the lude :fistbump:
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