Can't quite decide on what to get... I really want to go for the Mugen intake but it's so expensive. Thought about the AEM short ram + Hondata Gasket but I'm not too wild about the loudness of the short ram intake. Didn't really want to go CAI because I didn't want to worry about driving through puddles.

These are what I thought I should be choosing from:
Mugen intake
or
Mugen Sports Suspension kit
or
Comptech exhaust
or
comptech header
or
comptech suspension (springs, sway bar, camber adjuster)

I wish I had $3500 because I would probably go for the Mugen intake, Comptech exhaust,header and suspension.

So, what would you do if you had $1K?

 

Save it toward the down payment on an RL.

 

I saw one on the road 3 days ago. I wonder how long that would stay on my wish list before it shows up on my garage. It will probably be a while... The wife wants an MDX.

 

RLs are hot. OldMan, my first mod would be the bodykit and wheels but that's just me.

 

I have the Acura body kit. My dream wheels are the Volks Racing SE37K rims and that's over $1K too. I think they're $2100 without the tires.
Thanks for your input jojo77.

 

what do you want to accomplish w/ your upgrades, I think you need to determine that to use $1000 in the right place.

Of all the mods to stay near $1000, you could do

CAI $200
Hondata $60
Rear Sway $110
A-Spec Suspension $600

That's right under $1000.

 

that's a good list of mods right there

 

if you want comptech, just let me know.

maybe if you wait a few weeks, you'll see why

 

That's my plan (except for the Hondata). Get short shifter instead.

 

Can someone tell an absolute cartard (me) what the benefits of these four installs are?

 

a bunch of crack

 

CAI $200 - increase cool air to the motor = 10-15 hp to the wheel, might suck up water and blow your motor.
Hondata $60 - intake manifold gasket - adds 5% increase in power, but i heard it restricts coolant flowing into the intake?! not sure, so dont quote me on that
Rear Sway $110 - tightens up the suspension in the rear, it connects the two struts on the bottom in the rear
A-Spec Suspension $600 - lowers your car, which lowers your center of gravity - allowing for better cornering and less suspension travel under hard turning. the drop is subtle, and a camber kit is pretty much optional.

That's right under $1000.

i personally don't like the a spec suspension, and i think hardly any of our members will use the rear sway bar to it's potential unless you autocross hardcore

 

well I never heard anyone say they don't like their comptech rear sway, so I think its a good mod even if you aren't . AFAIK the Hondata doesn't restrict anything, its the exact same shape as the stock one, just thicker.

and that idea of a short shifter is good, you can get one for $50

 

$50 Hondata gasket (every saved degree under the hood helps)
$150 Comptech Icebox (A little cheaper than the Injen, but good too)
$100 Comptech rear sway bar (I've got it and highly recommend it)
$200 Eibach Prokit or Comptech springs (either are fine)
$500 Yokohama Avid V4S or ES100 tires (I've had them both)

If you feel like dropping a little bit more, you can get yourself the Comptech short shift adapter for $50 more and get a set of shifter bushings for another $20. I'd do both all over again.

Some may not agree that these are the best parts for the $$$, but it's a good setup for around a grand for everything. With this current setup, one would be very happy with their TSX.

 

Excellent recommendations everyone... Thanks and keep it coming! I probably won't make a move until this weekend.

 

Im getting the FUJI exhaust with my grand, can someone tell me what the Aspec suspension is like, is it just springs? or is it a fullsetup...

 

While we love that exhaust, I think he's trying to see what the most is that he can accomplish for a grand. Not just one part. Unless that part is a much-awaited K-PRO.

 

If I had 1k I'd save it towards the new comptech supercharger...

 

I have a quote for the following:
Comptech Springs
Comptech Rear Sway Bars
Comptech Ice Box
Hondata Gasket
Installation and Tax
Total Cost: $900

What do you guys think?

 

pretty nifty, id do it!, btw, where are you getting the heat gasket installed?

 

its I figure its about $425-475 in parts and the rest is installation, but if you can't install it yourself, that's not a bad deal. get the comptech short shifter too

 

Good deal provided it is an installation done by a REAL professional (like an Acura dealer).

 

It would be for the intake manifold.

 

The shop recommended the comptech short shifter too. I've heard somewhere a long time ago that in the long run, a short shifter can mess something up in your transmission though. Is this a valid concern?

 

It is a shop, specifically, a mechanic that my nephew and his friends/partners trust a lot. By the way, my nephew is one of the founders of a small company called ReflexMedia based here in Chicago.

 

I know where it goes, i was asking where you were getting it installed, but you answered that already..

Do acura dealership's have any connections with hondata....? The only place i can think of for installing a heat gasket would be my dealership.

 

Hmmmmm....let me know how it goes.... I might get some stuff too

 

Will certainly do.
Thanks everyone.

 

Now if only someone buys my Honda H1011S Riding Mower , I just might be able to spend a little more towards my car.

 

Save it for the kids education.

 

I think my conscience just posted a message for me.

 

Aside for the kid's education (I don't have one yet), here would be my list:

Comptech Icebox
Hondata heashield/TB coolant bypass mod
Second hand OEM rims, milled for lightweightness

and, if budget is still not bad,

Lightweight flywheel/clutch combo (given there is one available for the K24A2)

 

Probably not what you guys had in mind though...

 

I would reccomend new light weight wheels and tires. You will see improvement in accerlation, handling and breaking all at the same time

Cheap lightish wheels:
kosei k1 ts 17x7(13.x lbs) ~ 700 dollars
rota subzeros 17x7.5 (15lbs) ~ 500 dollars(if you can find them)

Light Tires:

Toyo t1-s 225/45/17 (21lbs) ~ 550 dollars
falken zx 512s 215/50/17(21lbs) ~ 350 dollars (all season so won't grip as well as toyos)

 

Update:
I've enlisted TopSetup to do my installs.
I will keep everyone updated.
Thanks again for everyone's input.

 

I had $1K to spend this fall and I bought a whole other car for a winter beater. Kinda thinking I shoulda bought those skis though... They look pretty sweet.

 

where is topsetup, and what do they specialize in?

oh and i got the rota subzero 17x 7.5+48 in steel/gray with yokohama avs es100. i payed $1075 (tires already mounted) and if anyone is interested PM about details from where.
i don't think this should be the first mods, or the best if you have a stock car, but if you have an extra 1K i seriously recommend the rims/tires because i was stck with injen and just the tires made the car handel better and it felt like the lowend was better (due to lightweight rims).

 

Comptech makes a flywheel for the K24 that is 5 lbs lighter than stock

 

I agree with Tinky. No mod will improve acceleration, handling, and braking as well for the money as light wheels+good tires.

 

I'll tell you what I'd do.

Two chicks at the same time.