Hello everyone. I bought an 03 CL-S 6MT about 4-5 months ago. I have always had lifted trucks so as you can imagine I have many questions. I was on the "top ten" thread and got some good ideas but wanted to get some brand imput. I have already done a pspec shirt shifter, put on 06 TL wheels, tint, custom sub and amp rack enclosure with JL W6 and 500 amp, and small stuff liek pedals and shift knob. Now I am wanting to get into the bigger stuff...

SO with that being said here are the list of things I am going to do very soon so I need to get brand advice.

Brake rotors and pads
Lowering springs, would like to use stock shocks
Headers
Intake- was leaning toward comptech
Exhaust- comptech or magnaflow
Sway bars?
Pulley?

The help would be greatly appreciated.

 

When lowering the car take it from nearly all of us that coil overs are the only way to go. With shorter springs and stock (regular length) shocks the ride becomes bouncy and handling worse. With coil overs all those problems are solved and the car will look great and ride good, you'll want to put on an Ingalls adjustable camber kit in the rear to straighten up the rear tires, that keeps them square to the pavement and keeps your good handling. I think the front end goes lower OK but can be fixed by just a front end alignment. Other may want to chime in here......

 

nicely put.... i went with the ksport and im happy with the ride and the performance of the coils...

 

I thought the biggest difference between coilovers and springs/struts was the adjustability. I was planning to do Bilsteins and H&Rs very soon which is a pretty tried and true combo from my research on here. Am I wrong?

 

Welcome.

Get the Option Racing pulley off of eBay if you arent running a stereo over 600 watts. Its $25 and just as good as the Unorthadox pulley. You will obviously need smaller belts with it. If you have a stereo over 600watts then get the stock size lightweight Unorthadox pulley.

The Comptech rear sway bar is decent. I have it, but if I were to do it over again Id get the Progress sway bar. Its thicker and adjustable. Pick up some Moog end links too. The stock end links are shit and the Moogs are greasable.

I dont suggest dropping the car on just springs. Your struts wont last very long.

Headers are tough to find for us 6 speeders. XS used to make them, but they have since ceased production. If you can find a used set of Comptech headers, jump on it. They sell for over $1k new but used you can get them anywhere from $300-700 depending on condition.

The Comptech Icebox is a great intake for an otherwise stock motor. Its quiet and yields the most power (on a stock motor though).

Since youve already done the PSpec short shifter (good choice BTW), Id suggest the Corsport aluminum shift cable bushings to tighten up the shifter feel some more. If you have a bit of notchiness Id suggest picking up some GM synchromesh tranny fluid.

Theres DIYs all over the place here. Searching can be a bit difficult, so I usually just use Google ( type "what youre searching for""acurazine" and that will get you posts on this site - dont forget the quotes). If you have any other questions that cant be answered in the FAQ or by searching, dont be afraid to ask. Post up some pics when you get a chance.

 

From first hand experience, I've been dropped on h&r sports and stock shocks/struts for the last 2 years without any problems AT ALL. I promise you it doesn't handle worse than stock... So I say why not? If they should blow, i'll most likely replace them with another stock set for <$50 and ride them out for another few years (that's if I even have the car for that long). It is THE best cost option for people like me who don't want to invest the cash in a full suspension for basically a mild drop. It also gives me tons of time to save for coil overs should I decide to go that route in the future

 

I would rather do springs because of the money, but everyone on here has me worried. So im not sure what to do.

 

I've been on H&R springs and Tokico Illumina's for 6 yrs and 100k with no problems. Yes it rides worse than stock, but it handles a ton better. I have no first hand experience with coilovers, but I couldnt justify the price and didnt need the adjustability.

 

Im not saying dont get springs. What I am saying is dont mount them on the stock struts. Get some Tokicos like most are running.

If you are trying to slam the car, then get coilovers.

 

i've also been lowered on H&R sport springs on my stock struts for 5 years now and no problems and the struts are still good. i want to replace them now to coils, but that's only b/c i want to go lower now

 

So what set up would u suggest for me if I am not looking to "slam it". I just want it lowered a little and would like to get something close to factory ride. Im doing this more for appearence than anything.

 

get the falken springs on ebay. they are like 50-70 bucks and the accord guys rave about them. get some koni adjustables for the fronts because your rear will be flush and enjoy the perfection.

i got tiens tho

 

I have H&R 51858 and they dropped the car ~ 1.5", but the 50103 are a little better fitment as they are designed for the TL's. The 51858 tends to be a little lower in the back than in the front because they are designed for the Accord, and if you have a spoiler or subs then the trunk can be a little lower than the front.

 

Get some springs that range anywhere from 1.5"-1.8" drop. That is a decent drop and will make the car look great. If you stay within this range, roll on stock shocks. It takes like 3hrs tops to swap them out anyway SHOULD they blow (which if you are careful of how you drive, I don't think they will) and THEN will have to upgrade them. This is my daily driver, it rides, and looks great which is what I wanted. I'm not racing or auto-xing the car where I could justify the need for a more expensive setup (for now). If you're trying to save some money and this is you, I'd go that route.

 

i bought the 51858's before the 50103's came out and i wish i would've waited for the 50103's

 

What are the differences between the 51858 and 50103. I think I am going to order the 50103. They are on ebay for $197 Let me know what you think

 

the 51858's sag a bit in the rear which makes the front not seem low enough. def get the 50103's especially since you have subs

 

Last question before I order. Does anybody know anything about the neuspeed springs. Between the H&R and Neuspeed which would be better trying to stay as close as possible to factory ride.

 

neuspeeds drop it pretty low. definitely flush. u will probably blow ur stock struts.

im telling u that the tiens give the best of both worlds. i wouldnt order anything until u see pics

 

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

Trying to upload pics of the car I am asking all the questions about.

 

Not sure what happened to my pics. Now it will not let me delete or edit them

 

you have to host your pictures on a website like imageshack, then paste the URL link in your post. Click preview post so you can be sure that the pic works. Also you only have like 5 minutes to edit a post.

 

pics are huuuuge

 

i like ur pedals

 

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/6026/clssystem.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7599/car013.jpg


http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/2971/car014z.jpg

 

i love how clean your sub and amp are mounted. i should've done that

 

Thanks. I think I did pretty good for my first time working with fiberglass. I have always just done wood boxes but I wanted to change it up

 

Def get the 50103 versus the Neuspeed if ride quality is a concern. Neither is going to ride exactly like stock, but the Neuspeed drop is 1.8/1.7 and the H&R is ~ 1.5", IIRC.

 

I am looking for the Option Racing pulley, I can't find it anywhere (including ebay). Anyone have a link?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-02...ht_3333wt_1165

You'll also need new belts.

 

Thanks!! Any recomendation on belts? Are there any drawbacks to running an underdriven pulley compared to a light weight stock ratio pulley? I am only running the factory stereo.

 

If you keep the stereo under 600watts you should be fine.

Gates K040425
Gates K060441

 

Thanks civicdrivr, not only for the response, but also the many other informative posts I have read of yours on other threads!!!

 

decide on springs yet?

 

I do like the fiberglass work on the custom amp and sub mount! Any issues with overheating the amp after pushing it hard? Doesn't look like there's much air flow around the cooling fins.

 

i got teins too but the front is too high on them i thought that i can install koni yellow and givem 20mm lower. they are soft almost like stock ride quality but a bit lower i would go with a bit stiffer...

so phee you think these would fit ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FALKE...#ht_6342wt_939

 

Yea H&R. Just don't know yet what to do about shocks