* Owner: Joseph Santos
* Dyno & Facility: K&N Chassis Dynamometer
* Installation: Nestor Cabrera & Scott Tsuneishi
1990 Honda CRX Si
Pros:
The second-generation Honda CRX became a cult classic among the import drag scene in the early '90s, once drag racing legends like Dave Shih and his Silver Bullet CRX first broke the 10-second barrier with a 10.87 at 136 mph. The CRX continues to be a favorite among the tuner market for its lightweight chassis, economical sticker price and plethora of aftermarket parts.
Cons:
It's one thing to own a CRX these days, but another to have one that's in good running condition. After all, it's been 21 years since the Honda's debut; your odds of winning the lotto are better than finding an unmolested CRX.
Notes:
After a colleague of ours offered his CRX SI to test in power pages, the 160K-mile car was given a freshening up with an oil change, plugs and plug wires before dynoing. We should also note that prior to baseline testing, the factory muffler had already been swapped out with an aftermarket unit, but still retained the factory exhaust piping.
K&N Cold Air Intake
Pros:
The K&N cold air intake system utilizes a filter that improves airflow characteristics, along with ABS plastic tubing that keeps inlet temperatures to a minimum, for increased power. We like the fact that this intake is CARB legal and includes a sticker to place in your engine bay as proof, if ever you should be harassed by cops.
Cons:
The K&N intake retains the factory Honda intake tubing off the throttle body, which we found unappealing in both appearance and in theory. However, K&N representative Nestor Cabrera reassured us that the intake was designed to keep costs to a minimum, but still offer a significant gain in power and torque.
Parts:
Intake, filter, brackets, nuts and bolts, clamps, CARB sticker, instructions
Tools:
-10mm, -12mm socket, ratchet, extension, screwdriver
Installation Time:
20 minutes
Notes:
A quick spin on the dyno revealed a peak gain of 4.4 hp and 5.2 lb-ft torque over our baseline numbers. The new cold air intake system increased both horsepower and torque throughout the power band as the CRX saw a consistent gain of 5 hp from 5,000 rpm to 6,000 rpm and 5 lb-ft torque from 4,500 rpm to 5,700 rpm.
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