Most cost-effective set-up on a honda to “run v8’s” is going to be a turbo set-up on a stock motor. A stock swap (LS, B16, GSR, H22, K20, etc.) with a decent turbo kit ($1500-$2500) should be able to run low 13’s high 12’s incredibly reliably in your hatch as an everyday driver. Stock motors can handle more extreme boost but then you are pushing reliability.
A decent N/A set-up that would potentially run low 13’s is gonna need:
Cams/springs/retainers: $800+
Header: $250+
Bigger than stock TB: $100+
High comp. pistons: $300 (for oem’s such as p30’s or CTR’s)
Machining: $varies
Unless you’re ready to really dig in and learn a lot of shit go turbo, easier to go fast.
Either way i go i wanna do it rite i dont just wanna throw a turbo on go run it and then possibly blowing up a motor…im willing to put the money into it just wondering what the price diff is gonna be with staying n/a or going turbo? Is it worth it to put all that money into it?
Either Turbo or NA done the right way for making big power will require pretty much the same amount of money in the bottom end (pistons/rods/sleeves/etc.). The turbo set-up obviously has a lot of money in the turbo/exhaust mani/intercooler/piping/WG/BOV/etc, but the stock head and basically stock or cheap aftermarket intake will go a long long way as well as pretty much any tranny. On the other hand, the NA car to be truly fast will need headwork(port/polish/valve job)/cams & adj. cam gears/springs & retainers/ quality header/ intake mani/ ITR or B16 tranny/ etc. All that extra stuff can easily add up to the cost of a turbo kit. Personally I went NA because I liked the challenge and because there were already so many turbo cars only getting in the 13’s on street tires.