All the mods you want are in the realm of intake/exhaust. These help your engine "inhale" and "exhale" easier.

A CAI while most likely increase your sound by a little bit, and will net you a couple HP increase. It will also slightly improve your gas mileage. This makes it easier for the engine to inhale.

Headers are the things that come out the front of the engine. They start off as 4 pipes, and eventually come down to 2, and then 1. Thats where the 4-2-1. Most racing headers are 4-1, while you can get performance headers that are 4-2-1 from most name brands. In all honesty there isnt much difference, but your looking at a little bit of torque down low, vs a little bit of HP up high. Both will net you some good HP/Torque gains. They also help your engine to exhale, and if your exhaust and muffler are good, they will increase your gas mileage.

Exhaust is everything after the headers. This includes the pipe, your catalytic converter, and the muffler.
1. The pipe:
The pipe is just that. Pipe. When you buy this from a company, your paying for the name. Just pick the material of your choice, and go to down to a local shop and have them make one to fit your car IMO.
2. The catalitic converter:
Short version: Something the government puts on cars to help filter out bad stuff for the air.
Long verson: Dont ask me. I live in Mississippi. No car I own has one still on it.
Oh and dont let people that have never taken one off fool you. Taking it off will not make your exhaust stink, and it will not "leave a smokescreen" behind you. Infact, noone but an emissions test will be able to tell youve done it.
3. The muffler:
Probably the most important part of the exhaust system. A bad muffler can hinder your performance and make your car sound like ****, while a good one can make your car sound nice and smooth, and also increase performance. Just do some research, ask opinions, and take your time.
Upgrading your exhaust will produce the biggest gains to sound. As long as you aren't cheap you will get a good smooth low tone, and not that ****ty hallow ricey sound most people get. Upgrading your exhaust will also increase your gas mileage.

 

Goodness.. A CAI is better than short ram unless you live in a aquiarium. A by pass valve fits in to your CAI piping to prevent you motor from hydrolocking. So if you live where it rains a lot, you'd want this piece. Filter cleaning system is what you use to rewash-clean and charge your filter for the intake. Its a kit that you buy at autozone, you just follow the easy steps included in the directions, and your filter will be good as new. A short ram is really worthless so Im not gonna discuss. AEM V2 intake is their most advanced, and promises optimum gains. However its pretty expensive, and it will only net a few ponies over their origional CAI. Like I said, Ill sell you mine if intrested. No pressure.

 

Go CAI. The SRI will be slightly louder (from inside atleast) because the filter is mounted much closer to the cabin, but a cold-air intake is definately the way to go. It will sound better, plus will actually add some hp. Skip the bypass valve unless you plan on using your civic as a boat.

 

Is there any really noticeable horsepower/audible differneces b/w the Short Ram & standard AEM CAI??? The Short Ram is a lot cheaper! Just so ya'll know... no, rain is not a problem where I live, so both the Short Ram & standard CAI are definitely my 2 choices.... the Q is... which one do I want if I want the best performance for the buck? I plan to get DC headers eventually, so keep that in mind as well.

As I read all of ya'll's responses, I am thinking about all that I want to do. I feel like I am changing my mind constantly. lol... anyway, one of you guys suggested getting the Injen CAI. I don't know much about cars, but I guess AEM is prefered b/c I don't have to buy any additional filters. Right??? But, with Injen, I would have to change it which means more $$$ to spend that I don't have to.

SO FAR THIS IS WHAT I HAVE LEARNED:
---CAI is the first part I need to get the VTEC sounding richer & to get better performance
---AEM is the brand to get for a CAI
---DC headers are the brand to get for headers
---Short Ram is better for rainy environments... but b/c I don't live in a town with lots of rain, the standard AEM CAI is what you guys think I should get
---I need to finish off my piping from my Catback to my exhaust with 2.25" piping
---I need to yell "VTEC!!! VTEC!!! VTEC!!!" anytime I am at a stop light so that erbody knows I got VTEC!

I still need to know what the best DC header for my civic is for the buck! I have a single ANSA Silverline exhaust for my 5 speed Civic.

 

The difference b/t a cai and a short ram is that in a cold air you get more power right at 0mph but like said before if it rains alot get short ram b/c the cold air hangs low in your engine bay away from your engine so it won't suck up all that hot engine air leaving it vunerable if you pass by water. B/c if that cai sucks up water...pull out the daily classifieds and start looking for a new ride. The short ram is alot higher that the cai but it sucks up your engine bay air which makes it a little weaker. It doesn't give as much power as the cai on takeoff but I've noticed that you get higher gains at higher speeds with the short ram than you do with the cai. It depends on your preference really and mother nature's influence too.

 

No, no need to yell Vtac Vtac in traffic, people will think your nuts, and a ricer.

 

I thought that yelling VTEC in traffic will make it go faster!!!!???!!!! lol

All right, so I'm goin with the AEM CAI... now, I guess I can only used the model # 21-401 for $280.46. WHAT WEBSITES do you guys recommend??? I.E. for computer hardware, all computer geeks that you shop at www.newegg.com!!! I need to know the website for the best deals/customer service!!! OR... should I just go to Indianapolis, IN & find a shop?


<http://www.aempower.com/product_intake_app.asp>
Cold Air
Application Part Number 50 State Legal Availability MSRP

Honda Civic 1996-00 CX/DX/LX 21-413 Yes Available $300.33
Honda Civic 1996-00 EX 21-414 Yes Available $288.55
Honda Civic 2001-03 DX/LX M/T Only 21-502 Yes Available $312.90
Honda Civic 2001-04 EX M/T Only 21-500 Yes Available $319.59
Honda Civic 1988-91 EX/Si 21-400 Yes Available $286.51
Honda Civic 1992-95 DX/EX/LX/Si 21-401 Yes Available $280.46


Peace ya'll!!!!

 

ebay is the best place for intakes. but still, wont match my price even close.

 

also try jwhitney and summit racing for your tuning needs as well as ebay

 

All right, all right... here is the latest update for my Civic: I took my Civic to the shop in my town & they got it up in the air on the lift & the guy took a look at it & said I already have 2.25" pipping on it.

B/c I already have 2.25" pipping on my Civic, it would be dumb to spend $$$ on getting a 2.50" pipping, right? Besides, I am not a street racer or sumpsing... all I want is the BEST bang for the buck. I am gonna be buying the AEM CAI that ya'll are talkin' about as well as the DC 4-2-1 One Piece header ya'll talk about.

My 2.25" exhaust is not stainless steel but like I said, it is a true 2.25" exhaust & it still has a great quality too! Jason, the guy I let work on my Civic, said that he wouldn't spend the $$$ on a 2.50" if he already had a 2.25". Jason told me that if I was truly dragging a lot or had a lot of performance parts I would want to upgrade to better pipping, but for my use... he said that my 2.25" will be fine.

-Mr. "Can I Get A HOLLA for VTEC!?!"-