Need Some Advice on my 02 SE-R Spec V?!?!?!

[Mike2]

So i am trying to find out what i should do that's cheap and gets me horsepower? Any suggestion anyone? and if i plan on getting a cool air intake for the car, does it make much of a difference compared to my stock intake?

Mike 2

[PacoBJuarez]

Yes, it makes a difference. Here are the first three steps to improving your spec-v:

1. Get a cold-air intake. I got an AEM CAI for my '02 Spec-V, and I love the sound. Other popular ones are Injen and Nismo. It's up to you what brand, but you need one.2. Get a cat-back exhaust system. Make sure it is stainless steel, and it has a resonator. There are tons of popular brands for this, but the best for your Spec-V are probably BRM, the GReddy Evo2, or Stromung. I am currently in the process of getting a BRM.3. Get a header. One of the two major defects of the '02 Spec-V comes from a pre-cat failure. Replacing the stock header with an aftermarket racing header removes the pre-cat and solves the problem, along with completing the three-step process on helping your engine breathe better (CAI, exhaust, header). Popular brands are DC Sports, AEBS, OBX, and SS Autochrome.

These should be your first three steps. You should be able to get the CAI for around $200, the headers vary but maybe from $300-400, and the exhaust for around $500-$600.

Other cheap mods: throttle-body spacer, goes for around $60. I used OBX. Also racing pulley... can be bought for around $130. I used Unorthodox Racing.

The first three are by far the most important and give you the most gain, as well as make everything else you put on your car even more effective.

[D3stro]

Yes, it makes a difference. Here are the first three steps to improving your spec-v:

1. Get a cold-air intake. I got an AEM CAI for my '02 Spec-V, and I love the sound. Other popular ones are Injen and Nismo. It's up to you what brand, but you need one.2. Get a cat-back exhaust system. Make sure it is stainless steel, and it has a resonator. There are tons of popular brands for this, but the best for your Spec-V are probably BRM, the GReddy Evo2, or Stromung. I am currently in the process of getting a BRM.3. Get a header. One of the two major defects of the '02 Spec-V comes from a pre-cat failure. Replacing the stock header with an aftermarket racing header removes the pre-cat and solves the problem, along with completing the three-step process on helping your engine breathe better (CAI, exhaust, header). Popular brands are DC Sports, AEBS, OBX, and SS Autochrome.

These should be your first three steps. You should be able to get the CAI for around $200, the headers vary but maybe from $300-400, and the exhaust for around $500-$600.

Other cheap mods: throttle-body spacer, goes for around $60. I used OBX. Also racing pulley... can be bought for around $130. I used Unorthodox Racing.

The first three are by far the most important and give you the most gain, as well as make everything else you put on your car even more effective.

A header should be first way before every other mods to keep the QR safe from that precat failure. It's a priority if you got the intention to drive it hard (track, 1/4miles, auto x ...whatever) or say goodbye to your QR for sure.For a SpecV with QR mods it should goes like this:

Header----------------> catback -> intake

[PacoBJuarez]

And don't forget to loctite your butterfly screws.

[D2theK]

headers. gives you about 10-15 hp at the wheels and it also eliminated the pre-cat problem the specs have. oh yea... and dont forget the butterfly screws

then just boost

[VMPhil]

i think the 10-15 whp is a little generous. most companies advertise this but tis not really the case. you can expect about 6-10 depending on other mods. IIRC this was dyno tested in sportcompact.

[Lazybeef]

When I looked on the NISMO parts site they had two headers: One with a catylitic converter and one without. If I get the one without will I have to deal with smog checks and what not?

[nametakennow]

Please search, there are at least two threads on the first page that explain precisely what causes smog issues and how to avoid them.

The short version is that yes, if you get the one without the cat, you will fail emissions testing, but the code caused by not having a precat is easily avoided.