Paint your wheels

Painted wheels are always cool, aren’t they?

Since wheels can make or unmake a vehicle, you must make sure that they remain attractive whether in a closer look or from a distance. When talking about wheels, you can name several styling options and among the most effective one is painting.
Why should you paint them? Well why not! A lot of manufacturers today start to produce wheels having colour options so why not customize your own? One of the most popular designs is the black wheel having red highlighting along the inside faces.

There are lots of alloy wheel cleaning solutions that are more than any concentrated acid. You can use these solutions in stripping the dirt and grime of your wheels in preparation for paint. More radically making the wheels clean through thorough scrubbing with a firm brush is a great help in attaining attractive appeal to a vehicle. As you do this on your own wheels, make sure that even the smallest layer of lacquer or polish must be removed, or else the paint will not adhere properly.

Your wheels are exposed to lots of several detrimental elements so there is always a big possibility of having them damaged with rust. Always grab the opportunity to repair the corrosion and impact damage on the rims otherwise, they will affect the overall appeal of your vehicle. Minor damage and abrasions can be sanded out fairly easily, but deeper damage is often repaired by specialists.

You must use a quality metal primer and have it built up in a number of thin layers that aid adhesion of the paint. When the primer has dried, mask off any areas which will have second color applied to them then switch the mask to the newly applied color so that there will be an underlap once you paint on the highlight color.

Build up the paint in multiple layers. Avoid getting the paint in the inside area of the wheel, right at the contact with the tire. Some car owners paint the entire wheel and leave it to the tire fitter to insure good fit between the tire and the rim. On the other hand, some people insist that there should be no paint on this inner side of the wheel.

The color of wheels set up attitude to your vehicle. Sometimes, it even flares up emotions, to the amaze of some. Most wheels are color-coded so that they will match or contrast the car. The powder coated alloy wheels may also be painted but it is preferable to strip the wheel back to bare metal.

You might hesitate to paint your wheels because of fear in getting damage from the kerb. Nonetheless, damage is more easily repaired through little more than a touch up pen. The layer of paint can easily kept clean as the smooth finish will repel brake dust road and grime, much easier than many alloy wheels that become corroded.

Whether you are an enthusiast or an ordinary car owner, you can always bring out the best look of your vehicle through your wheels. If you don’t want to have the hub caps or wheel covers, colorful paint will always make your day. Nevertheless, make sure that proper painting is done since it can affect the so much on the appeal of your ride.

There are manufacturers that produce rims with a detachable facing edge, which can make painting a lot easier. Furthermore, they can also lessen the difficulty in removal.

Always make sure that you will plan it out well before you strike the first stroke of paint on your wheels. If you are not confident in doing the painting job yourself, then make sure that you will look for a reliable personnel who can successfully do the task for you.

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Is wing really a spoiler?

NO. Spoiler and wing are two different aerodynamic features of a vehicle. Spoilers are generally closer to the body of a vehicle and it helps diffuse air. Wings, on the other hand, are mounted much higher up and create downforce that provides more aerodynamic effects. Wings almost work like an upside down air plane wing.

In the simplest form fast moving air creates pull if the other side of an object is exposed to slower moving air. If you want to test the theory, you can take 2 sheets of paper then hold them between your thumbs and little fingers, in such a way that there is a gap between the sheets of about an inch. Blow between the 2 sheets and you will notice that they pull together, which is not what you expect to happen. The fast moving air generates low pressure region in between the paper will cause them to pull together.

So as to create lift or down force, you will need air that will move faster on one side of the aerofoil than on the other creating a pull towards the fast moving air stream. We can use a simple 2 deck deflection in creating the down force required.

Deflection will have a bearing on the amount of downforce created and the larger the angle, the more downforce there will be. However, you will pay the price with an increased drag. Most wings contain a two-angled surface having a two stage deflection that force air over the wing, taking a shorter route than the air going under the spoiler.

Looking at the typical shape of a car, you will notice that air will travel further and faster over the top of the car, than it dows underneath. This will create lift then. If you open the sunroof at speed, problem with aerodynamics will be induced.

Imagine you car as a see-saw. When you press down on the rear, the front will be lifted slightly. As you fit the spoiler to the rear, the front of the car will be lifted even higher at high speeds. This will be undesirable in a front wheel drive car. And in a rear wheel drive vehicle, you will need the front wheels to steer even if traction is enhanced a degree of lift at the front is adverse.

To counter the front lift, splitters can be used. Also, front and rear skirts can be fitted to create downforce at the front of the car so that the amount of air rushing under the car is controlled. As you start redirecting the air rushing over the car, an amount of drag will be generated to rob your speed and fuel economy. There will therefore be a line between an efficient spoiler and wing design and inefficient ones.

The best wings are usually adjustable so that the driver can set his preferences to track conditions. You can find such advanced features on most sports cars today such as the Ferrari models.

Indeed, spoilers and wings are great for enhancing the aerodynamics of your car. If you want to enjoy a really smooth and seamless downforce and air redirection, then you need to have your spoilers and wings properly installed on your car. This may seem simple but if you try to figure it out, it is such a complicated task. Better yet, if you are not confident of your own skills, look for a qualified technician who can have your spoiler and wings installed successfully.

Even so, make sure that you will choose the right spoiler and wing for your ride. A lot of non-standard spoilers and wings are available in the market, so beware. If you happen to get such non-standard parts, your vehicle’s aerodynamics will be affected significantly. Remember that these aerodynamic parts must not reduce fuel economy. Be wise in selecting your new spoilers and wings then.

imgs from here and here

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Blow that…
Lose weight

Is you engine balanced?

Balance matters a lot when speaking about vehicles. This is especially true with your engine, which is subjected to extreme pressure and heat during combustion. Moreover, with all the rotational speeds that induce vibrations to parts, a balanced engine is surely needed to maintain efficiency and reliability.

No engine can however be perfectly balanced because of the amount of subtle factors, though we can improve upon the balance of a mss produced engine. You can do something to maximize the power delivery of the engine, by carrying out some modifications. Nonetheless, you must not overlook the benefits of balancing the engine to sustain higher engine speeds.

If you want to attain balance in your engine, you must focus on 2 main areas. First are the components inside the engine whose weight and features needs to be assessed properly. Second are the forces created within the combustion.

Balancing engine components involves a lot of processes. One is blueprinting, which refers to the matching and machining of components as a set with a unique engine. Like a tyre installer has a special machine to balance your wheels a machine shop have a dedicated engine balancing machine onto which the components fit and rotate.

The main engine components in an engine to be considered for balance are the bearings, flywheel, piston roads, piston and rings, crank, and pins. Weight is removed from the heavier side of each component so that balance is achieved. This factor incrementally increase the imbalance so lighter components are used to get more stability in the engine, though we still have to consider that some light components are weak.

Pistons and rods are usually machined as a matching pair so the weight and dimensions of each is closely matched, making it well on the way to having balanced engine. On the other hand, the crank usually has a metal cut away and sometime weld to adjust the weight.

The crank at the bottom of your engine has a hard task, which includes conversion of the vertical motion of pistons into rotational forces. Crankshafts are forged from steel thorugh they can also be cast from iron. A machined crank from steel can be a lot stronger as the metal has not been subjected to heating and cooling cycles of casting.

After balancing the engine components, you will need to balance the dynamics. If the compression ratio is out between cylinders, there will be imbalance and vibration since the engine turns over. Such ratio can be affected by a large number of factors, hence, the cylinder wall can get damaged later on. Furthermore, weaker gaskets, poor valve seating, and bad spark plug will also come out. It is surely favorable to take compression readings from each cylinder at regular intervals and check that everything is open within an acceptable tolerance. Also check the camshaft since uneven wearing can lead to stuck open valves and imbalanced cylinders.

If each cylinder compression matches, you will need to balance the fueling. The injectors should be matched and must deliver the same amount of fuel to the cylinders. The fuel/air ratio also need to match.

Once the engine is balanced, you will hear a purr as it ticks over. You should get used of the sound of the engine exhaust note on tick over. Once you lose the regular throbbing purr, you must be alarmed about the possibility of imbalance in the engine.

The engine is indeed the most important system in your vehicle. Once perfect balance is lost, other auto systems will soon fail too. To tone down expensive repairs and replacements, make sure that you will sustain the balance in your engine system. You can do it yourself by following simple procedures that are rampantly available in the internet. If you are not so confident in doing so, you can always look for a reliable auto technician.

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New look
Vent your vehicle’s dullness
Is your car perfectly tuned?
Upgrade your interior
Have a more powerful clutch!
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Paint your wheels
Is wing really a spoiler?
Is your engine balanced?
Blow that…
Lose weight

Blow that....

The exhaust is not just about how good your vehicle sounds. It is also about the overall performance of your ride. Furthermore, exhausts importantly deal with the management of fumes and poisonous gases. Well then, how much time would you allot for maintaining and repairing bad exhaust parts? Better think about it right now.

Getting rid of the exhaust fumes while reducing pressure is what you surely need to attain higher BHP. One way of working on this is by polishing the inside of the exhaust, which can allow fast exit of gases.

Cars with 1.6l engine, according to Torquecars.com, should be provided with a maximum of 1.5 to 2 inch pipe .While 2.5l engines should go with 2-2.5 inches then over this go with a 3 inch exhaust. The bore size applies all over the length of the exhaust up to the back box.

The back box and exit pipe can be a little wider however, it won’t give more power, instead, it will just give deeper sound. Gases will flow better from a large pipe to a small pipe. Steps will cause turbulence and this can interfere with the airflow. Later on, this will contribute on the quality of performance.

The shape of exhaust manifold can also be critical. If you think that your exhaust parts are simple auto parts, then consider the complicated calculations made by experts so that all features are proportioned and perfect for handling pressure and gases. Consider aftermarket performance exhaust headers when replacing the original.

If you still want to improve your exhaust, smoothing out the inside using grinding wheel on a drill can help. You can also get a purpose built stainless steel unit that will perfectly fit into your car.

Some of the best systems are called 4-2-1 (means that they go from 4 pipes into 2 pipes and then into 1 within 3-step process). Other standard exhausts are 4-1, where the pipes are merfed at one point lower down the manifold. A larger diameter of exhaust signifies that as the pressure needed to expel air is lower, the whole process will get quicker with a lower push needed. Cats suck power by slowing up the airflow. Nonetheless, the catalysts (which is made standard for all exhausts) can reduce efficiency.

You might have heard about the catback. High flow sports cat can give improvement on most applications. This benefit however will be minimal on smaller engined vehicles.

Most standard exhausts are cast and are composed of many imperfections on internal suface. Ridges on joints are often seen on these parts. When there is grinding inside the exhaust. Smooth airflow and more improved performance are possibly attained.

Hood temperature is one of the biggest jinxes found in your vehicle. Wrapping the exhaust manifold with a heat resistant wrap can result to a dramatic temperature reduction. It will help the cat reach operating temperature quicker. This can also ensure longer life and efficiency.

So whenever you want to blow clean exhaust, while improving the performance of your car, then start upgrading your exhaust now. Make sure that the next time you drive down the road. Your exhaust will not bring you into troubles. Also ensure that proper care and replacement are provided upon discovering exhaust problems. You can check your manufacturer’s manual if you want to know the basics in maintaining your exhaust. If not, you can surf the internet for countless options in enhancing your vehicle exhaust. When looking for high-quality replacement, demand for the best-quality one since the exhaust system always need to be precise. You can also ask for the opinions of your dad, brothers, family relatives, or experienced friends.

Loose weight!

A lighter car runs faster. It also ensures better handling, performance, and gas mileage. Hence, it is advisable to take things out of your car to achieve the ideal weight.

Apparently, you can eliminate the seats, seat belts, carpet, radio, air conditioning, and headlining to take away a significant figure of weight. But this is too impractical isn’t it? Nonetheless, there are still lots of ways to reduce weight.

Spare wheels add weight so it will be necessary to remove them. Removing these wheels will be a fairly easy weight reduction modification with lots of modern run flat tyres that you can limp home without air in the tyres, so that the spare will become obsolete. Speaking of wheels, the alloy ones can help further reduce weight. The rotational forces of lighter wheels can provide better handling especially when changing direction. The alloy magnesium wheels can improve airflow to the brakes, so better try such kind of wheels.

Serious weight removal of glass windows and replacement with perspect can also help you save a fair chunk of weight. On the other hand, the addition of a light weight racing seat can further reduce weight.

Some companies offer replacement body panels in aluminum and GRP fiberglass so that maximum weight reduction and best strength are obtained. You can know how heavy panels are when you lift up the bonnet. The weight of such panels is lost once they are stripped out from your vehicle.

Carbon fiber bonnets/hoods look great however, you should make sure that when you buy one, you will get the good quality fit since some panels are not perfectly built. Always try the hood/bonnet for the size before drilling and adding fasteners.

A roll cage can add a little weight that you have saved. Nonetheless, it can provide safety while improving handling and rigidity of your vehicle. Roll cage can let you strip out a lot more metal from your ride, including side impact beams and cut away inner arches and panels , while not removing any parts of your car.

Other metal parts can be stripped off or lightened by drilling holes. That is, if you will know the proper procedures in doing so. You start with the small metal parts like the door hinges and locks. These are small but they often contribute on the weight of your car. They can be removed if the doors are welded shut. Such welding will also help add more strength to the body shell. And so, whenever you are fitting new parts, you should weigh them and choose the lighter ones. The same must be applied with other metal parts like brake discs.

On the other hand, huge and heavy components like alternators, fly wheels, water pumps, and pistons should be considered too. Look for these lighter engine components.

These are just some pointers on how to reduce weight on your vehicle. So if you think you have spare time to do some of these, never hesitate to do so. These will be favorable on your pursuit to attain better performance, handling, and gas mileage.

More articles…..

New look
Vent your vehicle’s dullness
Is your car perfectly tuned?
Upgrade your interior
Have a more powerful clutch!
Bored with your doors?
Paint your wheels
Is wing really a spoiler?
Is your engine balanced?
Blow that…
Lose weight

Ferrari California

Are you sports minded car enthusiast? If so, Ferrari is probably not new for you. And the legendary Ferrari California return is such a big deal to you.

The Ferrari California is more beautiful than before. One look at the 2-seat convertible would be enough to tell you that this thing is destined to be a classic, just like the Ferrari California of yore. This ride features a folding hard top, making it look prettier with the top up. Nonetheless, the same elegance shows even with the top down. In the interior, you will get surrounded by high-grade leather and a dashboard layout this is undoubtedly Ferrari.

A 4.3-liter V-8, located just at the front axle, powers the soon-to-be-released Prancing Horse. This comes with the 7-speed double-clutch transaxle, allowing you to choose gears manually or cruise in full automatic mode. The 460 bhp on tap moves you to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds, according to Ferrari.

The new multilink suspension system at the rear so the car's handling and ride quality should be extraordinary. Not only that, you can also locate the company's F-1 Trac traction-control system, also on the 599 GTB Fiorano, which tickle your sport-mindedness. Managing speed is not a problem at all as Brembo brakes at all four corners will ensure excellent stopping power.
In terms of sporty design, innovation, and versatility, Ferrari makes such a big name. Ferrari California will make its official debut at the Paris Auto Show in the fall. The price is not yet set but you got to watch out.

Modify your brakes

Brakes can be modified. Since they are part of going fast, you must always ensure that they are able to stop as fast. Your brakes work with a friction pad that press agains a disc. Such friction converts the momentum of the car into heat which is then dissipated over the brake disc, resulting to slowing down of your car. Heat is one of the big factors for heavy braking especially on race cars, which must be prepped to cope with the high heat demands on the braking system.

As you step down the brake pedal, engine power is used to amplify the pressure of your foot, which decreases the effort needed. Such pressure is transferred to the friction pads through a brake fluid inside the tube. The brake pad end is subjected to high temperatures that’s why the fluid itself can get very hot. Such fluid cannot be simply pressurized, meaning, the effect of braking just passes along the tube almost instantly. A cable stretches a little and needs constant adjusting, as most handbrakes use a cable system that are more susceptible to the effects of stretching and heat.

The problem with brake fluids is about reducing the effectiveness of the transference process that is also at high temperatures. Under such condition, they can boil and so bubbles are produced in the brake fluid, creating spongy effect at least or at worst can completely prevent the brake from having any effect. The dissipated heat from the brake pad makes the disc vented. This disc has a ventral channel that increases the surface to air ratio of the disc. This create better and faster cooling then. The drilled discs can also increase the air ratio and along with grooves, help to prevent a gas build up between the pad and the disc, keeping the pads clean and sharp. Bigger discs can provide better cooling but they may require a different design of alloy wheel.

When selecting a brake pad, you should be wise and careful of certain factors. The higher the friction, the better. Most racing pads have special construction, which involves high firction compound that works at much higher temperatures. A true racing pad can effectively work when it gets hot, since it renders race spec pads useless for the road where braking most often happens on cold pads. Fast road pads are great compromise as some performance pads have the added benefit of producing nearly zero brake dust, which can even last longer than the standard pads.

If you are into upgrading your brakes, you need to do a lot of preparation. Key areas for attention include fitting of bigger discs. Larger disc will provide bigger friction area and will therefore dissipate more heat. You will notice more feel that is easier to detect the point of lock up with a large disc conversion kit. Brake calipers and pistons must be given much attention. More pistons equal a greater clamping force and allow the use of larger pads.

Before getting into the road, you must also prepare your brakes into particular conditions like driving along flood.. Under such situation, applying brakes is surely hard. You should apply brakes to dissipate the water and grease that get on them, which will dramatically improve the chances of stopping during emergency.

The brake fluid must also be checked more frequently. It must be changed bi-annually or annually, depending on your driving style and the recommended service interval. Such fluid must be properly checked by an expert for its boiling point. This will give an idea of degradation. Synthetic brake fluids are not hygroscopic, as they have high boiling points.

Keep on improving your brakes otherwise, you will suffer from inconvenience. Nonetheless, make sure that you will observe proper procedures when doing so. If you are not confident enough on doing it, make sure that you will have the task done by a qualified auto mechanic.