Upgrading a Honda Civic: Installing Air Conditioning and Boosting Horsepower

In the latest episode of Donut, the team takes on the challenge of transforming their humble $500 Honda Civic into a beastly machine. They've already poured a staggering $45,000 into this project, upgrading everything from the brakes to the suspension to the engine. However, despite all the modifications, they find themselves with a car that doesn't run, is slower than a Civic Type R, and is about as comfortable as sitting on a bed of nails.

But fear not, dear viewers, for the team is determined to crank up the creature comforts. They start by addressing some loose ends from the previous episode, such as replacing the power steering system with an electric one. With the hood open, they dive into the installation of an air conditioning system. They explain the inner workings of an AC system, from the compressor to the condenser to the evaporator, and proceed to bolt on the AC compressor to the engine.

Of course, no project is without its challenges. They encounter fitment issues due to previous damage to the car's core support, but with some creative fabrication, they manage to overcome the obstacles. The team also tackles the installation of a lightweight battery, which not only saves weight but also requires some modifications to the terminals.

With the major components installed, the team is in the home stretch. They button up the remaining details, such as securing the fans and connecting the vacuum lines. Finally, the moment of truth arrives as they fire up the engine. Despite some initial hiccups, the car roars to life, ready to be loaded onto the trailer and taken to the dyno.

And what are the results, you ask? A whopping 230 wheel horsepower! The team is ecstatic with the power gains and eagerly anticipates taking their modified Civic to the track to see if it can outperform its Type R sibling. With air conditioning, improved power steering, and a significant boost in horsepower, this once humble Civic is now a force to be reckoned with.

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Viewer Reactions for We Dumped $50,000 into our $500 Civic

The Civic is Donut's highest paid employee.
Need a good platform and a direction for your build.
Impressed with the level of polishing a turd.
Questioning how they got an eg hatch for $500.
Recommendation to get a hood with a sick ass scoop for ram air.
Explanation of the refrigeration process was digestible.
Recommendation to upgrade factory grounds and alternator positives.
$50k into a Civic and it still doesn't run right.
Appreciation for the AC animation.
Suggestion to add a scoop over the filter.
Love for the series and excitement.
Project creep and why projects cost more than expected.
Opportunity to put a hood scoop to good use.
Appreciation for going to Willow Springs/Streets of Willow for comparison.
Props to the editors for explaining the HVAC system.
Suggestion to do a long how-to video.
Love for the build and the team.
Misunderstanding of how refrigeration works during the pandemic.
Amusement at explaining the need for a filter in the desert.
Recommendation to use a circuit breaker for audio systems.
Correction about the A/C evaporator and the process of removing heat.
Suggestion for a heavier-duty alternator.
Amusement at the evaporator fan rotating in the wrong direction.
Criticism of the build and suggestion for better options.
Wondering about the color of the Civic.
Suggestion to put a scoop over the cutout on the hood.
Suggestion for AWD.
Comment about the resemblance to a McPoyle brother.
Mentioning other users.
Comparison to a Ford Mustang.
Frustration when a hand-built car wants to die during the day.
Mention of Donut cutting their hoods.
Shock at what happened to the car.
Dislike for ITBs on a K series.
Suggestion for an air scoop.
Request for help with another Civic.
Disappointment with the power for the cost.
Question about the fluid to install in the steering pump.
Reconsidering building a Civic like this.
Positive experience with Keeps.
Mention of a Peugeot with the same power steering pump.