88 honda civic 4 speed/need horses!
 

hello all. i am the owner of a 1988 honda civic hatch.i am looking for better performance.any suggestions? i think i only have like 80 horsepower stock. will i have to change to a five speed or does that matter? i assume i should start with an air intake and exhaust.after that i dont know.......help.

RE: 88 honda civic 4 speed/need horses!
 

Do a ZC swap.

RE: 88 honda civic 4 speed/need horses!
 

yea, you would be much happier with a swap at the end, you'll start out with a 125 horses instead of 80.

RE: 88 honda civic 4 speed/need horses!
 

Oh no, don't give it that much credit. You're rockin 70 hp and it's going to be less hitting the wheels. Don't waste your time doing any upgrades to the engine on this car. All they make is a short-ram which isn't a whole lot without anything else. Just do an engine swap. The infamous b16 has worked for many, but that's the cliche thing to do. Engine swap definitely though.

RE: 88 honda civic 4 speed/need horses!
 

what is a zc swap? i found some jdm engines online but how much extra does it cost to install after you buy the engine and transmission, doesnt seem worth it.i would be better off getting another car.i also have a 2005 mitsubishi lancer ralliart, of course it isnt paid off.i really wanted to fix up the civic also, but i guess **** it...........huh?

RE: 88 honda civic 4 speed/need horses!
 

it depends if you wanna have a faster civic or not. I mean, the mitsubishi you got is good, but the civic could be your daily/winter driver, or whatever. But if you really want to, you can make that thing haul ass, much faster then your raliart. An engine you could get off of Ebay for relatively cheap, the tranny wont be much either.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/92-95...00987533QQrdZ1

A shop should be able to install everything for around 800-1200.

RE: 88 honda civic 4 speed/need horses!
 

ummm.. what color? i have a blue '88 hatch and a green '91 Si hatch. to the '88 ive done damn near everything possible, except the swap, which is in my garage waiting for the right tool so i can change valves, cams etc. a five speed made a huge difference with the closer gear ratio's, exuast and short ram made it possible to enter the freeway at a speed where you dont feel like your going to get rearended.. other things you can do. for instance if you change tranny, while its out upgrade to a '91 clutch and flywheel, shortshifter also. if you still feel like f' it, i could go for another project.........