What are some cheap and easy car mods?

[AgaBoogaBoo]

In about 3 weeks I have a 1 week break coming up, which gives me time to do something interesting.

This time, I'd like to do some mods on my car. It's a 91 Accord LX 4 cylinder. I'm not really looking for body/looks mods, but more performance related. Before you all say it's better I save my money for a faster car rather than mod this accord, I want to do this from a learning experience as well.

My dad can help me quite a bit so I won't be doing this alone with no experience at all, he majored in electrical engineering but did designs for some parts years ago, did tuning to his cars back in India (for gas mileage, not performance), and some other things. He's pretty handy when it comes to this kind of stuff and has a good understanding how all the parts work and what they do.

Now, I'm looking for some of the "simpler" and less expensive mods to do on it. I don't have a price range, but I assume it'll probably cost at least $300 to get some parts that are decent, but that's just as estimate. Again, I'm not looking for a huge increase in performance but want to do some mods for learning and maybe a little extra power.

 

[Heisenberg]

Exhaust, headers, throttle body...

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Exhaust, headers, throttle body...

What kind of price range would each of those be? How hard are they to install?

 

[Emrys]

intake is a good cheap place to start so something simple, exaust goes with that, but then again I'm not a fan of the "mellon shooters"

 

exhaust, intake, headers, reprogramming the ecu.

Typically each piece will run you about 300 bucks a pop, depending on maufacturer.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Exhaust, headers, throttle body...

What kind of price range would each of those be? How hard are they to install?

Each one is probably in the $300ish range. You'd have to check for your car though (I'm not sure if they make everything for that car). The throttle body would be the easiest, then exhaust, then headers I think.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

What's the throttle body? auto.howstuffworks.com doesn't have anything on it

 

[Howard]

Cold air intake, though I'd recommend a paper filter to go with it.

The cheapest performance upgrade would be to rip out all the stuff you don't need - carpets, back seat, etc.

 

[bolido2000]

I'll be the first one

Type R and VTEC stickers!!!

 

Throttle body is where your throttle is located.
It's what your gas pedal is attached to.
Larger throttle bodies let in more air.

 

[bsmithy]

don't do it, for the love of god

 

Get an air horn as Skoorb did for his Sentra. I think it'll get you noticed way more than any old performance upgrade.

 

[halik]

ummm theres nothing short of a turbo or nitrous that will give you any worthwhile hp gain....

you drive a sedan dude, better make peace with it...

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
What's the throttle body? auto.howstuffworks.com doesn't have anything on it

The throttle body is where the air first enters the motor. It's part of the whole intake manifold. From there the air goes through some type of plenum (sp?) and finally to the heads and the cylinder. By putting a larger TB in, you can flow more air. You can even go further and replace the rest of the intake system if you want.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Howard
Cold air intake, though I'd recommend a paper filter to go with it.

The cheapest performance upgrade would be to rip out all the stuff you don't need - carpets, back seat, etc.

Yeah, I understand that whole weight thing, but like I said, this is more for learning experience than it is for performance

 

[Evadman]

If you don't even know what a throttle body is, you should not even bother changing your tires, let alone anything else. For the love of god, have someone else do the work.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Evadman
If you don't even know what a throttle body is, you should not even bother changing your tires, let alone anything else. For the love of god, have someone else do the work.

DIdn't I say this was for learning? I am an idiot when it comes to car parts, that's why I want to learn

My dad will be helping me with most of this stuff if we decide to do it, so I'm sure we'll be fine

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga

Originally posted by: Evadman
If you don't even know what a throttle body is, you should not even bother changing your tires, let alone anything else. For the love of god, have someone else do the work.

DIdn't I say this was for learning? I am an idiot when it comes to car parts, that's why I want to learn

My dad will be helping me with most of this stuff if we decide to do it, so I'm sure we'll be fine

Good. Obvoulsy, you will need the car done in a week, or you will be outta luck.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

first up..goto some Accord boards and read up on their mods that they have one for your gen of Accord. Then start making decisions. Asking us, many of whom do not have experience with your car, would know not know the specific mods that would help your car the most.

A lot of cars have some mods that are must do for performance. For a Maxima, the y-pipe is hte first performance mod you should do.

For Accords? I dunno..check the forums and research.

I'd just slap in the H22A from the Prelude, but that would cost some money.

 

[bolido2000]

I've never understood why people mod old cars. No offense, but if you are getting a 91 Accord is cuz you want to save money and/or want something cheap. Why throw money at it? Save it for your next car/repairs or buy some other cool electronics.

 

[loup garou]

My vote is for a 5 foot spoiler.

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga

Originally posted by: Evadman
If you don't even know what a throttle body is, you should not even bother changing your tires, let alone anything else. For the love of god, have someone else do the work.

DIdn't I say this was for learning?

Once again you pick the absolute worst way to learn. Go spend time on a Honda or Accord forum.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: bolido2000
I've never understood why people mod old cars. No offense, but if you are getting a 91 Accord is cuz you want to save money and/or want something cheap. Why throw money at it? Save it for your next car/repairs or buy some other cool electronics.

word

If you double your cars value when you fill it up, dont be putting money into it...

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Get an air horn as Skoorb did for his Sentra. I think it'll get you noticed way more than any old performance upgrade.

Woah, did he really do that? I put a freeway blaster on my car, because the stock horn sounded whiny and weak. An air horn seems like too much trouble since you need a compressor and a lot more room than a regular horn.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

IHE - Intake, Header, Exhaust

Given your lack of experience, do them - Intake, Exhaust, Header

Or just go Riceboy on it

- M4H