> Hey > > With 50K+ on my '05 Accord, and still running well, > I'd like to take the next step in hopping up the 4 cylinder. > I've had the car a while now, without a single problem. there's a reason for that!
> It's stock to the bone, right now. > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > pipe would 'look as cool' (and subtle) as the V6 exhaust for that > year. all it does is add weight [-you want to keep weight down if you want to perform] and it adds nothing to performance - it's fed by a single pipe. two outlets fed by a single inlet is utterly pointless.
> How about in the air cleaner dept? Would a K&N add any horses, if > they even make a bolt-in for the car? it's only worth it if you bear in mind two things:
i. the #1 objective is cold air, and 99% of kits suck warm air from inside the engine compartment.
ii. you don't mind sacrificing engine longevity. that brand doesn't filter very well, so the engine is sucking fine grit all the time. that reduces engine life.
> Can anyone here verify if there's a performance chip that 'piggybacks' > on an existing one? Is that true? If so > does it perform? How bout injectors? forget it. with obdII, it's a complex system and optimally tuned. simply putting your foot down switches the engine into "max power" mode.
> If I wanted to go yet a step further and go inside the cyl. head, do I > have any valve train options? yes, install the ex head. the cam/valve arrangement improves performance significantly. you'll need the ex engine computer as well. be aware, this involves some re-wiring, and this is a non-trivial project. worth it though.
> It's been a couple years now, and think somebody's come out with some > extras. It's a stick tranny. your best bet is the head/cam. all the rest of the aftermarket stuff is just lipstick on a pig. you may be able to get an aftermarket cam for your head as-is, and that will improve performance, bolt-in, no other worries. it probably won't run as well at lower revs, [mine doesn't], so if this is a daily driver, or you share the car with the wife, i'd forget any mods.
another thing to consider - hondas need high revs to perform. i've been out with people who criticize honda performance, when they're flooring it at 3krpm, then shifting to the next gear. at those rpm's, you're well below peak power and the motor will just plod. get the motor bouncing off the red line and it's a completely different animal. make sure that you have this technique down before you spend money on things that will affect normal driveability, seriously deplete the value of your car and reduce its life.
finally, make sure that what you already have is performing as well as possible. things like iridium plugs make a small difference, but every little helps.
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