In this section performance improvements will be covered starting with the simple bolt on items and will cover the more intense and complicated at the end. When you decide you want more power and understand the cost including the loss of gas mileage and more noise you will decide what parts to start with. Bolt-ons are simple modifications that are simple to install with out a major hassle or complicate tools. This is a good starting point for the beginner that wants more power with out having to jump into the internal workings of the power plant. The gains noted in all applications here are not actually based on 1g Civic but rather D & B engines and are only to be used as a guide to give you some kind of idea of what's out there.

Air Filters

The fastest way to get more power is to get more air into the motor and more exhaust out,. A high-flowing low restriction air filter setup is the way to start. Use of the K@N filters, Ramflo  or similar types as well as the use of Ram Air setup's will also do the trick. With a ram air set up you will have to do some custom fabricating to fit one. Horsepower gains will be a little as 1-3% depending on the application used. For every 10 degrees you can make the air cooler you can get 1% more power (4-6hp) 

See a Custom Ram Air setup: Darren's Custom 

Exhaust Systems

The stock exhaust system is a source of great air flow restriction. By replacing the exhaust system you will discover dramatic increase in power. The most popular method is to install  a high flow muffler or resonators at the back. Oblivious the size of the exhaust pipe will have to be increased to a size that suits your application, typically 2". Larger sizes may be required for Turbo or NOS, keep in mind the decision to do this upgrade will also increase the in car noise. 

You will most likely be visiting a shop to have your system fabricated from aluminized/ galvanized. steel or from stainless steel, the later one giving you the most durability and most expensive. This upgrade can add up to 2-5 hp depending on the type of system used.

Headers can be difficult to find but some group buys from the manufactures such as S&S have been done in the recent past. Another good source it to keep a close eye on EBay and related discussion forums for these hard to come by items. Quality might not be an option when trying to find these but some things to consider are :

Material thickness 18-14 gauge tubing, material can be mild steel with either ceramic or high-temperature  paint, 100% Stainless coating is by far the best coating to prevent rust but is the most expensive option.

When used with free flow muffler and resonators can have a substantial increase in horsepower.

Ignition systems are another source of added power and fuel economy, 

Pertronics Igniter will eliminate the points and improve starting and drivability as delivers twice the voltage to the spark plugs, increasing horsepower, fuel economy and plug life. It is easily installed and once the timing is set you can just forget it as no further adjustment will be necessary. The Pertronix module replaces the points and condenser only,  it is a direct drop in, the conversion only takes about 1/2 hour maximum to do. There are no moving parts to wear out and  the dwell will stay constant throughout it's life. If you don't blow anything, there is no need to ever open up the distributor except to change the rotor and cap.

Use of the Pertronics Coil to boost voltage and gives a better spark. It improves to 40,000 volts, the higher voltage allows larger spark plug gaps for added power, smoother response and better fuel economy. Delivers an average of 15% more spark energy and voltage. It's just a regular 1.5 ohm coil with built-in ballast resistor to a total of 3 ohms, or stick with the stock 1.5 ohms coil and keep the ballast resistor.

Igniter and Coils are available from Retro Rockets

Spark plug wires deliver all of the energy that the ignition system can produce from the coil  to the spark plug. Spark plug wires cannot, in and of itself produce additional energy. They are merely the conduit for the energy already produced. The difficulty in delivering all of the energy under all conditions without causing problems due to Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) and Electro-mechanical Interference (EMI) is what differentiates one type or brand of spark plug wire from another. Bigger spark plug wires will deliver more spark to the plugs with less resistance. 8-10mm wires work well.

When a spark plug fires, it creates a great deal of radio frequency interference (RFI).  Uncontrolled, this can show up as static in the radio or other electronic devices. This interference with EFI  can cause "cross talk"  between wiring harnesses resulting in poor running, misfiring and decreased performance.

These can only be determined by your type application. (10mm) cable has a thicker insulating jacket, designed for extreme heat situations or where extra insulation is needed for extreme-output ignition systems. Most street and modified production engines don't really need a cable size larger than 8.5mm.

The 6AL delivers everything the 6A does with the addition of a built-in Soft Touch Rev Control. This feature allows you to set an rpm limit to protect the engine from over-rev damage caused by driveline failure or missed shifts. MSD 6AL with  the built in rev limiter & the Pertronix trigger is a good combination , or a  Crane ignition box can be a worth while add on and both can boost performance. MSD 6A does not have rev control built in. 

Blaster 2 Coils boosts voltage and gives a better spark. It improves to 45,000 volts, the higher voltage allows larger spark plug gaps for added power, smoother response and better fuel economy. 

Some spark plugs can improve performance, while others offer long life. Some can make your car easier to start, while others resist fouling and there are horsepower and mileage improvements available from many different spark plugs.           

Cross Reference for : NGK # BPR6ES

Weber 32/36 DGV down draft series of 2 barrel carburetors are available with various throttle bore sizes, and manual or automatic chokes. These will give that quick throttle response you are looking for, they also have larger barrels and venturi than the stock Honda carburetor that allows the engine to produce greater power at a higher RPM. Weber kits can be found here: Carbs Unlimited

Side draft carburetors are also a very good choice for those requiring a bit more, use of twin two barrel carburetors, one barrel per cylinder. Some makes to look for are Weber, Dell'Orto, Mikuni, SK, Keihin  or Solex. 40mm are a common size in these but kits can be found 35mm applications.

A lightened flywheel will not increase power but in fact give you quicker acceleration. Some pitfalls to consider if you are planning for street use are rough idling and pulling away uphill a greater strain; but will sharpen your throttle response.

This is one minor gain to shave off the band for the air conditioning if it is not installed or required. This will also add to acceleration too.