Well in regards to getting more kick out of the engine. The basics are an intake and an exhaust wrap. If you're really looking to go cheap stop by an advance auto parts (I work at one in Mass) and get a spectre intake and a DEI exhaust wrap. I know I can't link yet either but I googled civic performance parts and this came up (
http://www.procivic.com/pages-main_pg/category-70_139/engine-intake-manifolds.html ) I plan on getting a thermal insulating intake manifold gasket. This will isolate the block heat from the air your pulling into your intake.
Your goal is to get as much and as cold air as you can into your engine as possible. The exhaust wrap drastically lowers your engine bay temp so there isn't as much ambient temp being added to your cold air. I believe that you have your stock intake directed towards your passenger head lamp and that's where you want to direct your intake. The thing about air flow and the cheap solution is that the separate parts create drag points at each joint so if you want to do this right, take measurements (twice so you can buy once) and map out the shortest path to jamming that filter to the corner as far from your engine as possible. Another thing is when you assemble each individual piece, I suggest getting some cheap putty to seal each gap for drag reduction, sand it and blow air through to make sure the particles are gone. If you've got some money left you can get the insulating tape for maximum heat isolation.
If your exhaust manifold is in bad shape I'd consider getting a 4-1 with a high flow cat in the future and when you wrap this one buy a set of hose clamps so you can take it off and re-use it. Also to make it worth it, wrap the exhaust all the way to the piping outside the engine bay if you feel comfortable with removing the presumably rusty bolts.
Should you break any bolts in the process someone at advance can help you find replacements.
This was all done on my friends 2002 Nissan Sentra SER V-spec and he noticed considerable torque gains. The only thing is that I vented his bumber under the headlight he sent the intake to. If you're interested in a cheap way of making a custom bumber that gives your new intake a cold ram air effect let me know.
Happy modding and welcome,
Pyrodude :blink1:
