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Acura Integra GSR Customizing and Modifying

1734 messages,  Last post on Aug 13, 2009 at 8:19 AM

You are in the Speed Shop Tuning and Modification Forum.

What is this discussion about? Acura Integra, Performance Mods, Engine

Messages Page 1 of 174

#1 of 1734 too bad by only1harry

Aug 03, 2001 (3:17 pm)

we lost our part #2 topic. There were almost 1,000 posts on that. Shifty said it went to LA LA land and they had trouble retrieving it so I started a new one.
 
What's everyone been doing the last couple of weeks? Racing is going real well for me. I think the Kumhos are sticking really good now with about 10 events on them but I don't think I can get another 10 out of them, maybe 5-6, we 'll see. Did anyone hear about the stock RSX that pulled a 14.34 in the 1/4 at 97mph?

#2 of 1734 I wondered what happened by cjhannan

Aug 05, 2001 (10:57 am)

#3 of 1734 oops by cjhannan

Aug 05, 2001 (11:07 am)

Yeah, I tried emailing the help desk and about a week ago they said they were having software problems and the Part 2 forum was being archived automatically by the system. Then they said they were working on it and would unarchive part 2, which they never did, and I could never find it again. Too bad is right, I remember we were nearly at 1,000 posts and there was a lot of great info there.
 
As for racing, I haven't been to an event since mid-July. I've got a local race in two weeks and the divisional event plus Evolution driving school the week after that EEEEE HAAAAWWWW!! Can't wait! I'm also hoping to have header and new exhaust system installed before then, too. Also planned are new brake pads for the rears (AEM) and bleeding the brake system with ATE Blue fluid.
 
Harry, I got my SCCA Solo I/II rulebook and when I have more time I'll share what I learned. BTW, you remembered about 95% on what's in there for the STS class. Nice job! Haven't seen you on H-T.com lately? Hope all is well with you.

#4 of 1734 Solo II rules for STS by cjhannan

Aug 06, 2001 (7:07 am)

Basically, the only thing I don't remember you mentioning was the fact that in STS you can change the accessory pulleys for the crank shaft, power steering, etc. You were right about the ECU, and you can also add a VAFC on top of swapping out the ECU. Given that you can't do any head work (e.g., cams, valves, cam gears, port and polish, etc.) in STS, I don't see what you'd gain by changing the ECU for bumping up the rev limiter for red line and top speed. From what I understand, with a VAFC and tuning electronically on a dyno can get you 8-10 whp if done correctly. But I'm a long way off from doing that, if ever... My time and money would be better spent on becoming a better driver and fine tuning the suspension. Sure would be nice to be independently wealthy, or find someone who is to be my sponsor well, I can dream, can't I?

#5 of 1734 RSX 1/4 mile time by cjhannan

Aug 07, 2001 (10:20 am)

I finally read that threat at H-T.com about the RSX running a 14.3x in the 1/4 mile. If that stat is within a 5% standard error interval, it is a impressive run. Do you know where that figure was reported? I get so amused by the child-like banter that goes on at H-T.com about stuff like this. You've got one camp that are such diehard G3 fans and no matter what would sooner die than to say anything positive about the RSX. The other camp is keeping an open mind and pissing off the first camp. Bottom line about the RSX, if 1/4 mile times like that are repeatable, then this car shows some promise. I'm not changing cars any time soon, tho. I really love my GSR and am just getting it to where it will be more and more fun to drive. Don't get me wrong, driving a new car is always a real treat, but the next new car we get will probably be for the wifey.

#6 of 1734 Got a new '01 Civic! by only1harry

Aug 08, 2001 (1:40 pm)

What a piece of crap.. just kidding. It handles the same as my '97 Civic (which I sold in 1 day through H-T.com) but it's a little faster. I got the EX coupe in blue and it's very comfortable, more quiet, lots of amenities, bells & wistles, etc. Had 4 mi. on the odo when I bought it. It now has 110.. Still breaking it in so I haven't been passed 4-4500 RPM. Redline is 6900. I can tell the increased mid-range torque but again I haven't done any WOTs at all yet. The thing is I 'm comparing it to my GSR a lot and keep reminding my self not to do that. Totally 2 different cars. The Civic Coupe is bigger & feels a little more like a family car compared to my hatch. I mean the ride is pretty soft and it just feels like a bigger car which it is. I also don't have the road feel I had with the HB, probably because my '97 HB didn't have Power Steering ('98+ HBs had P/S). Oh well, I 'll get used to it. The main reason I bought it was reliability & comfort. I now have a CD player vs. AM/FM radio, power stuff & cruise control which is what I really missed. After driving 80mi. each way my foot was starting to get a little numb and felt weird on the old Civic. I also don't miss all the road noise of the Hatch. I find the EX really quiet compared to the GSR & the '97 DX HB.
Anyway, I didn't think you could do all the pulleys in STS! But you 're right about the VAFC. I don't know about 8-10hp but you certainly get a few extra ponnies without an ECU.
Yeah, the RSX looks promising so far.
Now I 'm going to go shop for a bigger sway bar for the Civic. It has a pathetic 12mm one (other models don't even have one!) and tons of body roll. Then I 'll get a front upper strut bar. I hope aftermarket stuff for the g7 Civics are out already..
Yeah I don't hang out at H-T that much anymore. I just go to the competition board once a week maybe but I don't post like I used to. I don't have the time anymore and the wife gets pissed when I get on the PC at night because I forget myself and can stay on there till midnight.. sometimes I fall asleep typing or on the keyboard! So I 've cut down a lot Now if I can do the same with smoking, I 'd be in good shape!

#7 of 1734 congrats on the new car by cjhannan

Aug 09, 2001 (4:45 am)

Must be nice having something brand new with all the bells and whistles for your 160+ miles/day commute to work. You probably don't want me to say how close I live to my office... Sold your old car in 1 day -- that's truly amazing. Anyways, I finally decided on the catback exhaust system I'm going to buy to match up with my new JDM 4-1 header and Carsound cat. It's made and sold by a guy at H-T.com; his name is Dave and goes by "SMSP" username. He's put together a 2.5" mandrel bent tubping that uses Magnaflow resonator and muffler. It comes as a kit and is delivered in sections so it's clearly not a bolt on system; welding is required. He's offering it in 3 versions: milled steel; aluminized steel, and stainless steel. He says it's built for performance, not flash, and that's what I like about it. I'll also be able to use the stock exhaust tip to maintain that non-flashy sleeper look. I'm opting for the stainless steel version which will cost me about half of what the other SS exhaust currently run. For the installation I'll take the car to my friend's shop who is a factory authorized dealer/garage for Fiat (of all things!). Honestly, you don't see very many Fiats or Lancias around the Atlanta area! I met Randy through my neighbor, and he has built and raced ~200 hp Fiats on flat tracks around the area and has been fairly successful. So, between his lift, welding equip, and interest in helping me out, we've got a nice arrangement. Still hoping to have all this work done in time for the divisional event in late Aug. Hope I can make it!

#8 of 1734 wow.. by only1harry

Aug 09, 2001 (2:45 pm)

The exhaust sounds nice! Did you speak to other people that have it to see what they had to say?
How much does he sell the SS one?
The only thing I 've bought this year (besides wheels & tires back in April) was a new helmet. Should be arriving today. It is ultralight with a kevlar shell. I got a $25 discount from a guy I race with. He is an authorized HJC helmet dealer. Similar BELL kevlar helmets go for over $300.. I paid $105! One of the clubs I race at use all HJC helmets for loaners but the base models (He was selling those for $70!). This is like the 2nd or 3d one up and is Snell 2000 certified. My old Simpson which I had bought used from a Porsche Club member, was Snell-85 certified (was built in '85 too) and the SCCA clubs and others wouldn't let me race with it. What was I supposed to do? borrow a loaner helmet like a novice? This helmet should be good for at least 10yrs before they tell me I gotta buy another one.. I can give you the guy's # if you want and he 'll ship it UPS to you. He 's in CT and shipped mine to NY for $5. It probably wouldn't be more than $10 to GA. These helmets are light! My Simpson was at least twice as heavy and semi-closed faced and I sweated like a pig with it in the car. The one I got is open faced and even realized some of our national champs were wearing them. I got a white one but the model I got comes in a dark red metallic and silver. Anyway, why spend hundreds of $$ on these helmets when chances are you 'll never need it in auto-x.. Track racing is different but as long as the helmet is Snell 2000 they 'll allow you to do track events with them.. but that's probably where I can see spending some bucks on a really good one I guess..

#9 of 1734 exhaust, helmet, etc. by cjhannan

Aug 10, 2001 (4:37 am)

The SS version of his exhaust costs $550. So, like I said, it costs about half of the 2.5" SS exhaust I use as the gold standard -- the Mugen twin loop. The prices for the other versions are reasonable as well: the mild steel version goes for $350, and requires high temp painting once assembled; the aluminized steel version goes for $425. I didn't speak to anyone directly about the exhaust, tho. I gathered enough impressions from the following thread at H-T.com (http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=51120) and then corresponded with Dave to feel assured enough that this was a good product. Sounds like you got a great deal on your helmet. I now wished I would have waited longer before I bought mine. I decided to bite the bullet and buy my own so that I didn't have to use the digusting loaner helmets at our events. I bought a Bell helmet, don't remember the model number, but it's a full face version, all white, Snell 2000, and it's an SA rated helmet, instead of an "M" It cost me about $225 and will be good for solo II and track event until 2010, so I figured it was worth the investment. Spending $105 would have been nicer...

#10 of 1734 where is everyone? by cjhannan

Aug 13, 2001 (11:43 am)

Sheesh, one whole weekend and no posts?!! What's this place coming to? I wonder if we're all getting a little burned out on this car stuff...
 
Harry, you'll appreciate this story. After nearly 15 years of no contact, I recently re-connected with an old friend of mine from California. This is the same guy who took me to my first autocross event -- a real die hard gear head who had major aspirations of going into professional racing. Lance and I used to do a lot of car-related things together. We even worked with each other at an auto accesories store. Before I headed off to graduate school in the summer of '85, I traveled with him to Laguna Seca and Sears Point for some sort of Honda race series where he competed in a stock-prepared CRX. Both of these events were a ton of fun, and I basically served as a pseudo pit crew member/gopher. Well, I went to school in Michigan, he moved to Florida, and we lost touch. I'd heard through mutual friends he was moving up the ranks in professional racing but that's about all I knew. Then, my wife and I moved to Atlanta, and I lost touch with the mutual friends, so I was really clueless about contacting him. Work, kids, and other things made a lot of time pass before I thought about contacting him again. On a whim I did a Yahoo search on his name and low and behold I found his name and email address on a racing website. I dropped him a line and he wrote back saying "holy $hit, where the hell have you been?" We've been doing a lot a catching up since then, and I've been amazed and impressed to learn how successful he's been in racing. And this is where it gets cool because he has mucho experience racing ITRs. In 1998, he nearly won the Speedvision World Challenge touring class driving a DC Sports-sponsored ITR. From there he went to the Motorola Cup driving another ITR and had good success. Then his team decided develop an Audi S4 for racing and they abandoned the ITR, and so that's what he's doing part time in the Grand Am Cup. I told him I was autocrossing my GSR and he immediately started asking me all these questions about what's allowed within the rules, etc. I'm like, "slow down, man! I'm new to this autocrossing stuff again and I don't have the same kind of budget you're used to in prepping race cars!!" Needless to say, we're having a good time getting caught up on lost time. I'll likely get to see him when he's competing in the Petit Le Mans this October in Road Atlanta. Nothing like having a good friend with the right connections to get some tickets and pit passes!!

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