With my mod setup, would a good thermostat and fan switch make a big difference? Do they help alot? Are they worth getting? What about performance wise?

 

They do help to keep the car cooler, they will pretty much eliminate your heat soak issues. You won't get any "more" power out of them, but they will make sure that you're making more of your full power potential when the car is hot, especially in stop-and-go driving in hot weather like OC.

 

So true. The cooler an engine is running, at optimum temperature, the more power you can extract from it, also increasing engine longevity and reliability.

 

are these a bitch to install or not too bad?

 

One is, the other is not. I don't remember which (it's like 3am and I'm drunk) but it doesn't matter, you have to get both done @ same time.

 

The switch is a breeze. The thermostat is more challenging. As a testimate to Honda primarily making FWD cars...our thermostat sits on the side of the head under the intake manifold...a place that would confuse most engineers designing a RWD car.

Unless you are removing the intake manifold to install a Hondata IMG (a worthwhile mod IMO), you have to reach the thermostat from under the car.

 

That thermostat is a bee-otch to do. I had to replace my intake manifold this past Spring due to cracking off the bleeder port when replacing my I.M. gasket with Hondata's part. So if you're swapping out your thermostat, its highly recommended to replace your intake manifold gasket as well. Its a worthwhile mod and you will feel the difference in the temperature between the manifold and the valve cover.

Best of luck, its not easy if you do it yourself, but you learn alot from it.