Ask the Car People.SM


"Friends Don't Let Friends Modify Cars"

32 messages,  Last post on Nov 01, 2007 at 8:33 PM

You are in the Speed Shop Tuning and Modification Forum.

What is this discussion about? Performance Mods

Messages Page 3 of 4

#13 of 32 Interesting by denali856

Apr 27, 2005 (12:14 pm)

This is a newly interesting topic since I just got my first car for which there's a sizable 'tuning community' (a Mazda 6). I think that, just like most things, there's a right way and a wrong way to go about it. For example, I think that many things people do are just stupid at best (e.g., a big whale-tail bolt-on spoiler on an '04 Elantra with a top speed of *maybe* 100) or in some cases can actually dangerous/deleterious to the car's safety/performance (e.g., improper rim/tire fitments, 'smoked' headlight lens covers--is there *anything* more stupid than INTENTIONALLY DARKENING YOUR HEADLIGHTS?)
 
Then there are poorly thought-out things, e.g., putting some sort of forced induction on a vehicle to tremendously increase engine output without beefing up the rest of the driveline and suspension to handle it.
 
But on the other hand, there ARE mods that have been extensively tried out by the aftermarket/modding community and which have tremendous positive benefit for a vehicle. For example, on my Mazda 6 (s sedan/5-speed AT), there's a known tendency for the transmission to run a bit hotter than it should, so a lot of owners add in-line transmission coolers. There's also a CAI/MAF map customizer package that's relatively easy to install, has apparently very good support from the manufacturer, has apparently solved the problem with engine faults being generated due to the way CAIs alter the fuel/air ratios, and now has several hundred installs in the field over the last couple of years with no apparent problems.
 
In short, I guess I'd say that there will always be experimentalists, and there will thus always be failed experiments; and, too, there will always be the thoughtless and the stupid, so there will always be people doing mods to their cars that make no sense whatsoever. But in this day and age, there are so many people modding cars, and so much shared information, that for many cars there's a huge number of mods one can do with great confidence that he will be enhancing his vehicle's performance.

#14 of 32 Well.... by badtoy

Apr 27, 2005 (8:11 pm)

I've never owned a car I didn't modify in some way, even it was only wheels and tires. Drift's advice about sticking to common, reliable platforms is right on, and that's what I've done over the years (with the exception of a couple Alfas and a Lotus).
 
For those who don't like to modify, I say enjoy your car and be well -- but some of us just get bored seeing ourselves coming down the road, and most of us like something to go a little better, stop a little better and handle a little better. Moderation is always key, at least for a daily driver. But for a Sunday ride, the sky's the limit. Just think what hotrod shows would be like without any hotrods! (Or SEMA, or Hot Import Nights, or the local drive-through).
 
Passion about cars is what drives these forums, and most of what comes straight out of the factory ain't passionate. Even Mercedes has AMG....

#15 of 32 title of this thread by only1harry

May 02, 2005 (2:16 pm)

should be:
 
"Friends should advise friends how to properly mod their cars".
 
I personally think it's time for this thread to be transferred to the infamous archives!

#16 of 32 Re: title of this thread [only1harry] by steve_ HOST

May 03, 2005 (8:45 pm)

Replying to: only1harry (May 02, 2005 2:16 pm)
Well, yeah, but then we'd have to get Jack Lanier to rewrite his story (linked in post #2 here).
 
Steve, Host

#17 of 32 Rule #1? by steve_ HOST

Aug 22, 2005 (5:07 pm)

"1. I have made a mistake. I will sell the car to another enthusiast, preferably in another state, far away.
 
Little Ferrari Lost (Inside Line)
 
Steve, Host

#18 of 32 Technology wins by mcmotors

Oct 20, 2005 (6:01 pm)

I could not agree more. Working my way through college (Mechanical Engineering degree) I improved my share of cars. With today's technology and the use of computers, they are next to impossible to improve. Most of the "hot rod" tricked I used are all incorporated in the average production car.

#19 of 32 I beg to differ by only1harry

Nov 27, 2005 (8:05 pm)

Next to impossible? What kind of cars are we talking about? You mean impossible NOT to improve.
Many of the new cars are in desperate need of a larger exhaust, better header, free-flow CAT, etc. You 'll see considerable power gains with just those simple bolt-ons as well as a cold air intake and such. The reason the new manufacturers are conservative with those is because they want to get good gas mileage and have the car be relatively quiet. A bigger exhaust and better header would make the car louder (and reduce sales). A cold air intake alone makes the car much louder at WOT. My car gained 12.4hp at the wheels with only a cold air intake and 7.5lb-ft of torque. I had it dynoed before & after at the same shop (the same day). Then 2yrs later the header added another 5.8whp. There is also a plethora of aftermarket electronics and computer programs out there to load new fuel maps and other things to your computer to gain horsepower. This of course affects your gas mileage which is why it's not done by the manufacturer. There is ALWAYS mods to be done to improve the power of your car, unless you are talking about F1 or something that cost $1.3M to make. I bet even those can be modified even more but the rules don't allow it.
My friend had his '04 S2000 ECU reprogrammed and got 13hp out of it. He also installed the same 2.5" exhaust I have on my Integra (but made for his car), and got 11.8hp at the wheels with it. Subaru WRX and STI easily get 30whp with an intake, header & exhaust (or I/H/E as we call them).
 
Aftermarket parts companies make hundreds of millions $$ year after year. Do you think it's all because none of their parts improve performance?

#20 of 32 Press request by KarenS HOST

Jun 05, 2006 (12:26 pm)

A national news magazine is looking to interview college students who has “pimped” out his/her ride Have you tricked out your car with big rims, outrageous stereos, wild paint jobs, spoilers, ground effects, neon lights, nitrous, the works . Please send an e-mail to ctalatiedmunds.com no later than Friday, June 9, 2006 by 5:00 PM PT/8:00 PM ET containing your daytime contact information and the make and model of the car you’ve “pimped” out.
    
Thanks,
Chintan Talati

#21 of 32 mods by mr_two

Jun 19, 2006 (9:25 am)

research and there are mods that do help on any car. if he motor is weak, swap it (if the platform allows). example, you own a 97 cavalier. the motor won't make a whole lot of power reliably, but the motor mounts and tranny are the same as a cobalt (may or may not be, but that's why you research). save and when the motor needs replaced, put the cobalt motor in (with ecu, etc..). it all depends on what you know, how much money you have, and whether the car is worth putting money into it.
 
also, some stock parts are made for luxury and noise reduction. meaning you can eliminate some things and add others because they wanted to please everyone with their car.

Messages Page 3 of 4

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement