On a D17A1 is a mini-me conversion worth it? After that I'll also add on a turbo kit.

 

sure it's worth it, if you can get a good price on a head. It'll give ya about 15-20 hp gain.

 

I know that I'll have to get a good D17A2 head for the swap, but what other part will I need? I was also looking at the AEM E-Manage system, this should be enough to run the vtec and turbo tuning right?

 

AEM E-manage? whats that? do you mean the AEM EMS? yeah that'll definately work for tuning. You'll also need the VTEC solenoid and if you are doing the head swap before the turbo pick up an EX ECU.

 

meant ems, thinking about two different things at the same time. if i do the head swap first and get ex ecu would i need the ems? also, would i need honda to reprogram the ex ecu to work with my lx key?

 

Totally not worth it by all accounts. The 15-20Hp that Chimera speaks of is for every other generation BUT the 7th. A 7th gen head swap will only net you about 7-8Hp. Sorry to burst your bubble but the D17 isn't the best platform. I would go FI.

 

^ I'm not trying to start an arguement but, isn't the ~20hp difference in the EX and LX/DX models from the VTEC head?

 

well, the compression ratio is different too. LX =9.5:1 EX=9.9:1 other than that I don't think there's anything different with the LX and EX except for the way the exhaust is set up. But, with a mini-me wouldn't the CR of the LX be the same (or extremely close) as the EX?

 

youd squeeze some hp out of the compression and the vtec but it wont put you at the power of an A2. i believe it gets some power from longer rods and shorter strokes, and if thats true you wont get the 9.9:1 compression ratio...it will prolly end up in the 9.6 or .7 area.