FINALLY!!!! Cheap PERformance help

[Hoy_LDT]

hey guys, im new to the 3gee family so how its going...ive been suffering for about 3 days already just reading searching and not posting to anything and not even asking questions...!!! im so glad that im able to talk to people now lol i was getting so lonley!

anyways i got a honda accord!!! as you know...its a 1986 lxi 3dr...and the sad thing its an auto!!!...hence why i wanna go cheap performance lol

and my question is what is the cheapest performance i can do to the car keeping it good with gas and as well street legal...gotta pass smog live in cali....

ive been searching and searching and i see alot of stuff but what i want to know is what should i get and will it keep it street legal...i wanted to get intake xaust and some headers but what xactly is a good buy and also what else is cheap out there....im willing to spend about 500-600 bucks in performance alone..and the cheaper the better!!!!

i was also looking into bigger gauge of wire and better spark plugs...better air filter?? i want to improve my gas and performance!!! i know i came to the right place!!!!!

[A18A]

converting it to manual would be a good start

[ghettogeddy]

well any exhust shoudl be fine just go to muffler shop
the only headers made to order are pace setter unless u can find a set of used dc's
intake most are not smog ligal unless u find an aem that will fit but most place wont hassel u to much
as far as plugs and wirs go i run ngk for both with no prob u can also upgrade to a msd blaster coil for better spark


but u can trust in me that the headers and exhust will run u at least 500
but its the best way to start

im actually rebuilding a a20a3 now and im gona be in about 1200 by the end lol but that includes full clutch net presure plate, 6 puck clutch, and 8lb flywheel
and a full pace setter exaust both header and cat back
and a magnaflow high output cat

but not included in that 1200 are parts i already have like .50mm over bore pistons
colt tri flow stage 2 cam
adj cam gear
and a few others

[Hoy_LDT]

actually scratch that ima smog it now with no mods then i will mod it...so throw me some good stuff guys...

[Hoy_LDT]

converting it to manual would be a good start

lol...ima prolly do that my self when i get my tools...right now im toolless so yea...anything major like that ima do later...

[knarg]

buy knarg's car that would be a good start
he's a cool guy too

[ghettogeddy]

holy crap i just noticed ur in milpitas lol cool another bay member

[ghettogeddy]

https://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62007
that would be a good step up

[ghettogeddy]

if u have aim post it up we normally have a chat room at night gets fun sometimes
check out the meets section were planning a bbq for the end of summer so join in on that new members are always welcome

[MessyHonda]

holy crap i just noticed ur in milpitas lol cool another bay member

werd.....im in san mateo...so if you want to come by we can talk cars.

[2drSE-i]

NGK Plugs and Wires (i have a set of wires for sale), Headers, get any cheap ebay intake (90-93 integra fits best, they all work about the same anyway)

[LXlimited]

Intake, headers and exhaust is a good start. You can also get a hi-flow cat to complete the setup. Just make sure that you get an intake with a CARB legal sticker on it. Another option is a drop in K & N air filter if you want to keep your airbox. I have a dual tip OBX muffler with pipe if you are interested. It needs to be welded though. Welcome to 3geez!

[HondaBoy]

i would recommend a header and exhaust system. it did wonders for my mid range and top end power. the manual swap, well thats not so easy. might have some drivability issues afterwards too being that your's is fuel injected. but if you want to really get the most for you're money, a manual tranny is a great idea. i need to do this to mine, but i love the easy driving automatic in the city.

[2oodoor]

lol...ima prolly do that my self when i get my tools...right now im toolless so yea...anything major like that ima do later...

How did you manage becoming an aircraft mechanic and you don't even have tools?

Originally posted by Hoy _LDT you gotta have something stuck in the inlet of intake? only way the car would fluctuate rpm like that or its either something is in your gasoline that died? maybe a prank...?because im a aircraft mechanic and the only way we get fluctuattions on jets is either something in the inlet...maybe a bird...or something in the fuel....

fuel lines clogged then when u force it it goes threw...then pistons burn gas and stuff in it and makes nasty smell...then it gets clogged again process keeps going...maybe you do need to flush your system...ahaha thats my 2cents...sorry if i confused you

[snoopyloopy]

lmao

anyway, all the basics have been covered. i/h/e, tranny swap, etc. will help you out. but yeah, definitely smog it before you mod. my smog tech was cool and didn't even bat an eye at my "illegal" intake, but usually they'll charge you a few bucks extra to smog something w/o sticker. headers, about the only option you have new is pacesetter. get a high flow cat and muffler off ebay, have them welded up at a shop w/ 2.25" piping should free up ponies along w/ the header. and since you have an 86, a b-series intake manifold would give you more power as well and make your car illegal smog-wise since it gets rid of egr. you can also get an 88-89 intake manifold which will be smog legal and it'll help your power as well. 2g integ cai pretty much fits w/ no mods, same for 4g/5g accord intake. some say the integ intake fits better, some say the 5g accord intake fits best. one thing is for sure, the accord intakes tend to be bigger which equal more power, the tegs tend to be a little smaller which means a little more torque. of course, weapon r does make a short ram for our cars, but those are $100+ and ebay cai is $40 shipped. only thing with a cai, make sure you get a bypass valve. a hydrolock would really suck (no pun intended). also, i would contact nswt8 asap if i were you and see if he has any adj. cam gears left over and buy one from him. that should really be your first priority. that was a limited-production run and when they're gone they're gone and i think that may very well have been the last run. and then decide on what kind of power interests you and get a reground cam to match. but with a cam, you'll most likely not pass a sniffer test even if you pass the visual (although it might with acg), so be prepared to swap it out every two years, and more often as our cars get pushed off the roads as "gross polluters." and get your head worked over. most outrageous work award goes to rjudgey, he has some seriously worked heads in his arsenal. talk to him, he'll spout information and tell you what kind of power it's good for. that's about it for performance w/o getting in too deep. all those mods right there would push about $800-$900 total (excluding headwork), which isn't too bad after you see the gains. only thing left to do would basically be rebuild and/or turbo, maybe some nos, or engine swap. one thing though, if you decide the hassle of smogging a turbo would be too much and keep your a20a3 and do a tranny swap, the 1g teg gears are shorter, so use teg 1-4 for accel, accord 5th for cruise/mpg. and using the teg final drive will help you more than just teg gears alone. anyway, happy modding! and

[Hoy_LDT]

How did you manage becoming an aircraft mechanic and you don't even have tools?

becuase i just became one...lol sorry if it was miss leading but hey im technecly one? im awaiting my snap on tool box fully loaded but thats gonna take about 2-3 months...

[Hoy_LDT]

i would recommend a header and exhaust system. it did wonders for my mid range and top end power. the manual swap, well thats not so easy. might have some drivability issues afterwards too being that your's is fuel injected. but if you want to really get the most for you're money, a manual tranny is a great idea. i need to do this to mine, but i love the easy driving automatic in the city.

yea im trying to keep it city for now since im still driving from milpitas to oakland...TRAFFIC!!!

[2oodoor]

becuase i just became one...lol sorry if it was miss leading but hey im technecly one? im awaiting my snap on tool box fully loaded but thats gonna take about 2-3 months...

Ok never done any tinkering or wrenching of any sort around the house, on your bicycle, anything??? and now you are suddenly an aircraft mechanic.. just wondering if you have ZERO tools.. "lol"

I think your question was more than suffeciently answered here, I am just trying to understand your skillset so I can better provide information you would understand on your next question or inquiry about your car if any.
BTW, do you know anything about the big race this weekend over the bay?

[Hoy_LDT]

nope...nothing about the big race and...i have tools...just what>12point socket set...basic screw drivers...thats it...once i get my delivery ill be getting impact tools haha big diffrence!

[2oodoor]

nope...nothing about the big race and...i have tools...just what>12point socket set...basic screw drivers...thats it...once i get my delivery ill be getting impact tools haha big diffrence!

Surprized you have not heard anything, it is a big deal in the airplane community. It is going to be an awesome show from what little know about it.

San Diego Bay http://www.redbullairrace.com/

[Sporno]

well , you can regain alot of power by cleaning the throttle body out and cleaning out as much of the intake manifold as you can.

[A18A]

oh yess!, i remember cleaning out mine, there was like 1mm+ of carbon deposits (or whatever it is) in there, cleaning that was probably equal to boring it lol

[Hoy_LDT]

Surprized you have not heard anything, it is a big deal in the airplane community. It is going to be an awesome show from what little know about it.

San Diego Bay http://www.redbullairrace.com/

haha yea i know about that...ive seen the redbull plane at oakland airport and i think there was one here at the airport... and there was a big one in nevada

[Hoy_LDT]

well , you can regain alot of power by cleaning the throttle body out and cleaning out as much of the intake manifold as you can.

i will thanks for the tip!!!

[Hoy_LDT]

good news i passed smog!!! time to get to the moddig!