RevCivic's Shadow "Chaos" Sonic

[RevCivic]

Name inspired from the famous hedgehog.

It is an Automatic 1.4LTZ

So far -
- Looks -
-Plastidipped 17"s
- Blacked out front emblem Changed my mind, Carbon Fiber Vinyl on the emblem now
- Carbon Fiber Vinyl Mustache
- Stock Heatshield painted red
- Stock Coil Cover painted red
- Removed Front License Plate holder
- VG Shark Fin Antenna
- DDMWroks Turbo Shield
- Red Calipers, Brake Drums, and Lugs

- Entertainment -
- Swapped all four factory speakers for 180w Polks
- Added a pass-thru amplifier (by Sony) to keep the stock head unit with a boosted sound (plus adds line-out)
- Hifonics 1200w monoblock
- RF 12" R2 Shallow sub

- Performance - (although I know it's useless without a tune)
- Half-assed intake by Spectre

- Functionality
- Window Visors off Ebay A great deal, I recommend them.
- Hood Guard/Bug Deflector


Ordered -
-None ATM

In cart - (going to slowly purchase as I have extra money)

- DDM Cart -
- Sonic Coil Cover, 1.4L
Color Options:RED
- Sonic Cold Air Intake, 1.4L
- Sonic Turbo Bypass Block off plate 1.4L
Color Options: Red
- Sonic 1.4L Silicone, full kit
Color Options: Red
- Eibach PRO-KIT for Chevy Sonic

- BNR Cart -
- Prem. Trifecta Tune
- Forge MS Atmospheric BPV

There is another Item on my priority list (Trifecta being first, intake second, and this next one third...)

Exhaust, I am having a really tough time choosing between the ZZP and the DDM, I definately want to delete the second CAT, since it is holding the car back, but I cannot decide which sound I like better, performance-wise and just from experience, what do you guys recommend (noting the mods I listed above)

Secondly, I really am curious about the Injectors and the E85 tune for the Sonic, What gains have been seen from this? Is it more fuel mileage, more power, or both? and Would I need to run a different Fuel?

I'm hoping that over time this car can be a fun little fuel efficient car. and maybe one day when my Civic has outlived itself on the track and I decide to sell, I'll turn this sonic into a sports car.

 

[sonic007]

Man i need those 17s lol. Car looks great! I have the 1.8 so cant help u much there lol. Keep the pics updated as you mod!

 

[Preloader]

If you're are into fuel efficiency, e85 is not the way to go. I went from 38mpg to 24. And you can't really utilize the power gains without upgrading your clutch.....expensive.

 

[Macehammer]

If you're are into fuel efficiency, e85 is not the way to go. I went from 38mpg to 24. And you can't really utilize the power gains without upgrading your clutch.....expensive.

Not seeing if you are a Mannie or an Auto. As far as everything I have seen/read, you only need to upgrade the clutch in the Manual if you decide to run the red pill tune, the Automatic can handle the load...

If you install an alcohol sensor, you don't need to pick one type of fuel, so you could run a tank of e85 for power then switch to 87 91 93 for mpg without reflashing the tune, or running the tank out of gas. You'll get better power from e85 but crap mpg. Laborsmith has a detailed thread on this somewhere...

The upgraded e85 tune and #42 injectors really seems the smart way to go if you have an automatic, dollar per dollar.

 

[RevCivic]

I updated my info to show that it's auto.

So you're saying Injectors combined with an alcohol sensor will let me select-a-fuel? Thats nice, I run Prem. in it now all the time because I read that Turbo Cars generally recommend it.

I'll Definitely look into giving it a shot.

I see a lot of people doing work to their Autos on here, are their trannies really built that well or is it more about the tune?

 

[Eric Smit]

auto is stronger than the manual.

 

[Macehammer]

It is significantly easier/cheaper to do the E85 transition on an auto.

No clutch change.

$300 injectors
~$60-$70 parts for alcohol sensor/fuel lines
+ whatever an upgraded tune for E85 would cost. What's the upgrade cost?

Compare that to all of the above PLUS:
~$500-$600 clutch upgrade
+labor if your not crazy

 

[Eric Smit]

85 bucks for E85 upgrade.

 

[Macehammer]

So $440-450 for Auto
A cool $1k for Mannies

Eric, any idea what the avg increase in HP is from the E85 upgrade?

 

[Eric Smit]

190HP/240TQ vs. 170HP/190TQ is what's advertised by trifecta for E85 vs. 91.

 

[RevCivic]

Has anyone done a cold air intake, vs the short rams that are all over the place, or better yet something to get more outside air into the little bay that the DDM intake creates? I doubt the power would differ much but just curious. Every CAI I've ever run has left the engine bay in one way or another. I did like the modding of the stock airbox with hard piping. I was thinking of furthering DDMs design and welding a little more to their heat shield to box the Intake in more.

With a CAI the obvious concern is heat, I've see it done where the intake is fiberglassed to create a one way path for air (so that it only pulls from an outside location, without actually leaving the engine bay. It would be an interesting idea to apply to the sonic and I'm definately going to look into it, I just don't want to change the look of cleanliness under the hood yet lol.

and for those of you who drive the turbos with no BOV, do you generally hear the turbo spooling through the intake? and then when the back-pressure is released I get a "whoosh" sound from the intake, similar to the whoosh of a BOV, just curious if anyone has experienced this or if maybe my piping is just too short.

 

[Eric Smit]

Has anyone done a cold air intake, vs the short rams that are all over the place, or better yet something to get more outside air into the little bay that the DDM intake creates? I doubt the power would differ much but just curious. Every CAI I've ever run has left the engine bay in one way or another. I did like the modding of the stock airbox with hard piping. I was thinking of furthering DDMs design and welding a little more to their heat shield to box the Intake in more.

With a CAI the obvious concern is heat, I've see it done where the intake is fiberglassed to create a one way path for air (so that it only pulls from an outside location, without actually leaving the engine bay. It would be an interesting idea to apply to the sonic and I'm definately going to look into it, I just don't want to change the look of cleanliness under the hood yet lol.

and for those of you who drive the turbos with no BOV, do you generally hear the turbo spooling through the intake? and then when the back-pressure is released I get a "whoosh" sound from the intake, similar to the whoosh of a BOV, just curious if anyone has experienced this or if maybe my piping is just too short.

A few people have run tubing to the fog light insert to get cold air. There is a thread about that.

It's normal to hear the turbo and blow off through your intake.

 

[RevCivic]

Carbon fiber-ed the Mustache and front emblem, gonna do rear and steering wheel emblem if weather permits today, also considering doing the rear stache

EDIT: Does anyone know what parts on a site like GMPARTSDIRECT.COM to get to cover up the nasty spots drilling out those Rivets leaves, or just link me to a good plastic button on lowes or some hardware store, much appreciated.

 

[RevCivic]

190HP/240TQ vs. 170HP/190TQ is what's advertised by trifecta for E85 vs. 91.

Is this assuming that Intake/Exhaust were already factored in? or is this strictly E85 gain?

I know deletion of the secondary cat will give a little gain due to being less restrictive, and an intake pulling in nice cool air will usually give a 10hp benefit (or something close 7-10hp)

Is the possibility of having over 200hp there with E85 without having any engine upgrades such as cams and whatnot (which I havent seen any information about folks replacing cams anyway)?

 

[Eric Smit]

Is this assuming that Intake/Exhaust were already factored in? or is this strictly E85 gain?

I know deletion of the secondary cat will give a little gain due to being less restrictive, and an intake pulling in nice cool air will usually give a 10hp benefit (or something close 7-10hp)

Is the possibility of having over 200hp there with E85 without having any engine upgrades such as cams and whatnot (which I havent seen any information about folks replacing cams anyway)?

A) Just a tune. no additional mods.
B) You don't need a cam. You need valve springs.

What is everyone's fascination with HP? does nobody care about torque?

 

[RoXXXanne13]

A) Just a tune. no additional mods.
B) You don't need a cam. You need valve springs.

What is everyone's fascination with HP? does nobody care about torque?

I enjoy the torque lol wat u mean u don't need a cam u got valve springs?

 

[Eric Smit]

I enjoy the torque lol wat u mean u don't need a cam u got valve springs?

I don't know if you need a cam, I'm talking 1.4.

 

[RevCivic]

Well speaking from a perspective from someone who has an experience with light cars, torque can work against you. I'm not interested in sitting around and burning through tires. I know people are probably tired of hearing about Hondas and Vtecs lol but if you examine their method of power gain, it is strictly through RPMs, even their non-Vtec engines are as such. When you reach a certain RPM in Vtec, its almost like getting an extra valve, and as the Lobe opens up, your timing is also advanced on the fly. GM has tried to achieve a similar goal with Ecotec, as have other companies. It's one of the reason's fuel mileage has increased.

I don't know about you guys, but when I'm talking about a fast car, I'm talking 0-60 in 3 seconds from the take off. Not a half minute burnout to gain traction, then a 0-60 run. Torque (past a certain point) is for show. And unless this could be made AWD, i would rather have the horsepower.

Torque is only the power behind turning the wheels, horsepower is the rate at which that power can be applied, so to achieve speed, the ideal thing would be more horsepower than torque (given that there is enough torque to get the car moving)

 

[jetta]

That's sweet! Gee, wish we have the LTZ here in indonesia..

 

[RevCivic]

Got a turbo shield, just waiting on some powder coating then gonna bolt it on.

Also, i got some 3/16" spacers... to be honest, they are pretty much worthless because they don't really improve fitment at all lol
If anyone is interested let me know.

Has anyone removed Valve-cover yet?

Curious about the plastic valve cover, thickness and whatnot. I know my Uncle made his own valve cover for his H22, wasn't the prettiest sight but it was steel instead of aluminum. just a thought.