wow, he's really going to town with this tune. Usually when you're the guinea pig on tunes (i.e. the first car he has tuned with those mods), he does an insane amount of work. I remember I had 15+ revisions on my civic, lol

 

I told him he didn't have to.
From a marketing stand point it makes him look better when I say my ILX make XXX.XXwhp and Vit tuned for me.
From a functional standpoint, I am sure he can use the tune he gives me on other ILXs with similar mods as a basemap. It makes sense I guess.

Hopefully we get to tuning at redline in the next week.. I am really wanting to drive my car like I stole it!

Should I go ahead and reorder the Borla catback you think?

 

Def, get the exhaust. I want to see how you handle the tip...also, I think you'll like the car more with a proper exhaust than the stock catback.

 

I have sketched up probably 3 different templates.. One with a U shape, one with about 1/3rd of an oval, and one with the shape of the shield behind the bumper.. The oval is definitely the winner. I am going to put some masking tape on the bumper today and make some more measurements.. If all goes well I will save the template plus measurements, and sell it to everyone who wants it for $1,000.

My friend with the Accord is doing a custom catback and he chose the same tips that come with the Civic catback.. so that will give me more to measure and sketch.

If I pull the trigger on the exhaust tonight I'll order some trim-gaurd and black vinyl. I am a perfectionist when it comes to this stuff.. So it'll be a bit before you see results haha

I can email you my preliminary sketches if you want


**BTW, I am assuming it has to do with tuning.. my last 3rd gear WOT pull for Vit.. my car sounded monsterous after 4,000. Like nothing my car had produced before.. I mean it just sounded so deep and angry haha

 

Yea, I'm going to go with the rounded tip. Like the one you get on the Invidia exhaust. The oval may look better, but I have a black bumper so I won't run into the issue of the tip looking diminutive. So are you going to black out the rear part of your bumper as I photoshopped?

 

I like the idea of a rounded tip, but I am going to make the cut-out oval regardless. More like the stock Si exit. I thought you're getting the Invidia catback.

The tip can always be swapped around too so I am not overly stuck on it but I like that the Borla one is like the stock Si cause it allows me to do a better proportional oval sketch. We'll have to see! I have a hard time envisioning it all finished.


Those are your photoshop skillz?

As soon as I saw his and where the OEM lip kit cuts off I immediately thought of how I could black that out.. problem is the bumper without the OEM lip kit doesn't have a defined cut at the bottom on the right and left.. I am still working that part out.

 

Probably reduced the vtec point and adjusted the cam angles.

 

Must be cam angles, VTEC is still 5,800! Redline 7,600 doe I can't use it...

 

Although others say 7600 is safe, I don't trust revving the k24 that high...I've seen the k24a blow when revving to 8k and that's will built internals and a free-er flowing head.

 

Not all K24s are equal!

 

definitely...I actually trust this motor the least...haha

but, just to be clear, I have no scientific evidence proving my point, I'm just a skeptic

 

Just went to 7,500 rpm for the first time.. VTEC is actually a noticeable thing now.

 

wewt...can't wait for my mods.

 

Lower VTEC window is now 3500

 

it'll probabaly go even lower once you slap on the sc

 

I am definitely excited to see how it pulls with the S/C

 

You should do an acceleration video after your tune is done.

 

trent, did you cut any plastic when installing the intake?

 

My iPhone doesn't pick up ANY of the audio.

The instructions say to for the Si but I didn't.. I am not sure that we have the same plastic piece they do.. The only piece that's there is the air ducts in the bumper that force air over the radiator.

I considered cutting a small hole, maybe a 2" by 2" square and slip some wire mesh behind it to keep debris out. Just to let more air get in there. But, it's obviously running fine.. the IATs are perfect.

 

wtf? how does your phone not pick up sound

thanks for the advice on the install.

 

It picks up sound but it doesn't really sound anything like the car actually sounds. I will post a video and show you. It sounds like my blinker and turning are 10x louder than the motor/exhaust.. and that's like the opposite haha

No probz, ** it also helps to have someone there to help you push the intake towards the battery, to get a nice snug fit.

 

http://www.heeltoeauto.com/fastline-...roductid=64883

I think this would look dope with the CT-E engine cover.. any thoughts?

 

I was thinking of getting that and painting my valve cover.

 

Hmm, could look good. I don't like the idea of how they powder coat them.. Too many horror stories!

 

I've never seen anything go wrong when the civic guys do their thing. Only thing to be aware of is not painting on certain parts of the cover or else you'll get leaks, etc.

 

What color are you going to do?

 

still on the fence...not sure if I'm willing to deal with the cost when I'm more concerned about getting the car faster.

 

Yeah.. it's a nice touch but how many car shows and meets do you goto that you'd want your engine bay to look uber dope?

I don't even put the stickers on any of the stuff like everyone seems to do.

 

Faster first, pretty later.

 

 

So, the way the car is running now.. is incredible.

That being said.. wheel hop and torque steer are now apparent.

 

lol, I need to check out this progress thread

 

I am second guessing myself and thinking maybe around 200whp is plenty.. The SC might be overkill for my driving habits anymore.

Trying to put a lot of thought into this.. I would just regret it if I backed out now.

 

As a long time fwd, honda modifier, you get used to the power and you always want to go faster. It's going to feel plenty quick now, but after a month or two, you'll be like "wtf...must go fastaarrrr"...not to mention that the sc guys are barely losing mpg over stock.

 

Yeah.. I pretty much want a supercharger on every car I have ever bought/will buy. I am going through with it. If I hate it I can always sell it, I doubt I'll hate it though.

I think I am just getting used to FWD cars in general and it's difficult to become accustomed to the hopping and torque steer.

 

I launched the ilx from a dig -- revved to 2500ish rpm and dropped the clutch...had some slight hop, noticeable torque steer, and moderate wheel spin. I feel like an lsd on my car would fix the torque steer a little.

 

can we get an update? Curious to know power figures, etc.

 

Nothing new on my end. Still in the tuning process.

Still no idea when the S/C will be in. It's ETA is mid to late May shipped then maybe here in June. But, they're not sure.

 

Yea, CT is taking some time pumping them out...it doesn't help that procivic took the first batch of 10, lol

 

Luckily I am not in a rush. I will still probably baby my car after it's on. Vit is on tune 3.0 which makes it closer to 20 revisions now. I think right now he is working on the knock level. It has like 80% around 3000-4000 then it declines after that.. which from what I understood it's supposed to be normal for it to slightly go up as you go up in RPM. I dunno though.. I wont pretend to understand haha