Car Hacks and Mods For Dummies

by Vespremi, David

• ISBN13: 9780764571428
• ISBN10: 0764571427
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-10-15
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

So you want to turn your Yugo into a Viper? Sorry--you need a certified magician. But if you want to turn your sedate sedan into a mean machine or your used car lot deal into a powerful, purring set of wheels, you've come to the right place. Car Hacks & Mods for Dummies will get you turbo-charged up about modifying your car and guide you smoothly through: Choosing a car to mod Considering warranties, legal, and safety issues Hacking the ECU (Engine Control Unit) to adjust performance-enhancing factors like fuel injection, firing the spark plugs, controlling the cooling fan, and more Replacing your ECU with a plug and play system such as the APEXi Power FC or the AEM EMS system Putting on the brakes (the faster you go, the faster you'll need to stop) Setting up your car for better handling and corneringWritten by David Vespremi, automotive expert, frequent guest on national car-related TV shows, track driving instructor and self-proclaimed modder, Car Hacks & Mods for Dummies gets you into the ECU and under the hood and gives you the keys to: Choosing new wheels, including everything from the basics to dubs and spinners Putting your car on a diet, because lighter means faster Basic power bolt-ons and more expensive power adders Installing roll bars and cages to enhance safety Adding aero add-ons, including front "chin" spoilers, real spoilers, side skirts, and canards Detailing, down to the best cleaners and waxes and cleaning under the hood Using OBD (on-board diagnostics) for troubleshooting Getting advice from general Internet sites and specific message boards and forums for your car's make or model, whether it's a Chevy pick-up or an Alfa Romeo roadsterWhether you want to compete at drag strips or on road courses or simply accelerate faster on an interstate ramp, if you want to improve your car's performance, Car Hacks & Mods for Dummies is just the boost you need.

Author Biography

<b>David Vespremi</b> is an automotive expert and has appeared on national television programs and automotive print media for his unique insights into cutting edge import car technology.<br> An attorney by trade, David has spent the past few years living and breathing car modifications, and working closely with top engineers and tuners in the hub of California&#8217;s import car scene. A track driving instructor with various car clubs at Thunderhill Raceway in Northern California, David enjoys modding and driving his JDM Toyota MR2 Turbo (featured numerous times in <i>Sport Compact Car</i> magazine) and (having grown up on his share of Volkswagen Golfs, Jettas and GTIs) has recently acquired an E30 BMW that he has been tinkering with to get back in touch with his Euro roots.<br> For more on <i>Car Hacks &amp; Mods For Dummies</i>, visit www.carhacksandmods.com. David can be reached at [e-mail].

Table of Contents

Foreword	xxi
Introduction	1	(1)
About This Book	2	(1)
How This Book Is Organized	2	(3)
Part I: Owning a Performance Car	3	(1)
Part II: Safety	3	(1)
Part III: Rims and Rubber	3	(1)
Part IV: Stylin'	4	(1)
Part V: Slowing Down	4	(1)
Part VI: Corner Carver	4	(1)
Part VII: Let's Go!	4	(1)
Part VIII: Faster Thinking	5	(1)
Part IX: The Part of Tens	5	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	5	(2)
Part I: Owning a Performance Car	7	(22)
Cool Car Basics	9	(12)
Keeping It Legal and Keeping the Warranty Intact	9	(7)
Federal regulations	10	(1)
Local regulations	11	(2)
Warranty requirements	13	(1)
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act	13	(2)
Event participation	15	(1)
Setting Realistic Expectations	16	(2)
Making It Cool	18	(1)
Not All Platforms Are Created Equal	19	(2)
Planning It Smart	21	(8)
Choosing a Car	21	(2)
Defining the Scope of the Project	23	(1)
Compromises	24	(2)
Contingency Plan/Exit Strategy	26	(3)
Delays	27	(1)
So long, farewell	28	(1)
Part II: Safety	29	(28)
Balanced Performance	31	(6)
The Concept of Active Safety	31	(1)
Building a Balanced Car	32	(5)
Safety Gear	37	(20)
Passive Safety Essentials	37	(2)
Roll Bars and Roll Cages	39	(8)
Materials	39	(2)
Design	41	(5)
Installation	46	(1)
Seats and Braces	47	(4)
Factory seats	47	(1)
Competition seats	48	(2)
Braces	50	(1)
Harnesses	51	(6)
Straps	51	(3)
Latches	54	(1)
Installation	55	(2)
Part III: Rims and Rubber	57	(36)
Tires	59	(20)
Knowing When to Say When	59	(1)
Reading a Tire Sidewall	60	(3)
Tire Shopping	63	(1)
Tire Selection	64	(11)
How tires work	65	(4)
Street tires	69	(3)
Race tires	72	(2)
Dual-purpose tires	74	(1)
When There Isn't Any Air There	75	(4)
Pressure monitoring	76	(1)
Run-flat tires	77	(2)
Wheels	79	(14)
Buying Right	79	(9)
Fit	79	(5)
Appearance	84	(1)
Performance	84	(4)
Materials	88	(2)
Forged wheels	88	(1)
Cast wheels	89	(1)
Semi-solid forged and modular wheels	89	(1)
Want to Super Size That?	90	(3)
The look	91	(1)
The life	91	(2)
Part IV: Stylin'	93	(34)
Fashion Is a Fickle Thing	95	(8)
Mild to Wild	95	(3)
Graphics	98	(5)
Design	99	(1)
Custom cutting	100	(1)
Installation	100	(3)
Vanity? Performance? A Little of Both?	103	(10)
Aero Add-ons	103	(6)
Rear-mounted spoilers and wings	103	(2)
Underbody diffusers	105	(1)
Front add-ons	106	(2)
Bodyside styling	108	(1)
Materials	109	(4)
Fiberglass	109	(1)
Carbon fiber	110	(2)
Polyurethane	112	(1)
Detailing 101	113	(14)
Car Wash Basics	113	(2)
The Weekend Detail	115	(11)
Paint	116	(4)
Wheels	120	(1)
Tires	120	(1)
Windows and lenses	121	(1)
Trim	122	(1)
Convertible and fabric tops	123	(1)
Interior	123	(3)
Under the Hood	126	(1)
Part V: Slowing Down	127	(28)
Slowing Down	129	(8)
Deciding Whether to Upgrade Your Car's Brakes	130	(1)
Brake Fluid	131	(6)
Specifications	131	(4)
Maintenance	135	(2)
Basic Braking Bolt-Ons	137	(18)
Wheel Components	137	(11)
Pads	137	(1)
Rotors	138	(3)
Calipers	141	(2)
Cooling	143	(3)
Brake drums	146	(2)
Control Components	148	(4)
Master cylinder	148	(2)
Proportioning valves	150	(1)
Brake booster	150	(1)
ABS	151	(1)
Lines	152	(3)
Rubber	153	(1)
Stainless steel	153	(2)
Part VI: Corner Carver	155	(30)
I Just Want to Hang (Onto the Road)	157	(4)
Understeer	157	(1)
Oversteer	158	(1)
Controllability	159	(2)
Basic Handling Bolt-Ons	161	(14)
Wheel Control	161	(6)
Shocks	162	(1)
Springs	163	(2)
Coilovers	165	(2)
Suspension Components	167	(1)
Sway bars	167	(1)
End links	168	(1)
Chassis Reinforcement	168	(3)
Strut braces	168	(1)
Foam	169	(1)
Seam welding	170	(1)
Suspension links	170	(1)
Performance Differentials	171	(3)
Viscous (fluid type)	172	(1)
Clutch type	173	(1)
Gear type	174	(1)
Traction Control	174	(1)
Get on the Diet!	175	(10)
Dr. David's Four-Step Diet	176	(1)
Balancing the Scale	177	(8)
Rotating weight	178	(2)
Unsprung weight	180	(1)
Static weight	181	(4)
Part VII: Let's Go!	185	(78)
Basic Power Bolt-Ons	187	(30)
Combustion Theory	187	(2)
Air Intake	189	(11)
Drop-in performance air filters	191	(1)
Open-element air intake	191	(5)
Intake manifolds and throttle bodies	196	(2)
Camshafts	198	(2)
Exhausts	200	(13)
Header/exhaust manifold	204	(4)
Exhaust systems	208	(5)
Ignitions	213	(4)
Grounding kit	214	(1)
Amplifier	215	(1)
Spark plugs	215	(2)
Building a Strong Foundation	217	(12)
Engine Essentials	217	(3)
Basic maintenance	218	(1)
Testing	218	(2)
Fuel	220	(1)
Gauges	220	(1)
Driveline Upgrades	220	(9)
Clutches	221	(3)
Flywheels	224	(1)
Axles	225	(1)
Engine and transmission mounts	226	(3)
Thinking of Adding Boost	229	(24)
Do You Want Boost?	229	(20)
Forced induction	231	(1)
Turbochargers	231	(12)
Superchargers	243	(4)
Nitrous oxide	247	(2)
Supporting a Boosted Engine	249	(4)
Fuel systems	249	(1)
Timing	250	(1)
Cooling	250	(1)
Engine internals	251	(1)
Intake and exhaust	251	(1)
Gauges	252	(1)
Have Boost, Need More	253	(10)
Living with More Boost	254	(2)
Cams and Tuning	256	(1)
Intake Charge Cooling	257	(6)
Intercooler upgrades	257	(3)
Water injection	260	(3)
Part VIII: Faster Thinking	263	(48)
Scanning the Codes	265	(6)
On-Board Diagnostics (OBD)	265	(4)
OBDI scanners	266	(1)
OBDII scanners	267	(2)
Switching Generations	269	(2)
What's inside Your Car's Brain	271	(8)
What Is the ECU/ECM?	271	(2)
Deciding to Upgrade	273	(2)
Closed and Open Interface Systems	275	(1)
Closed interface	275	(1)
Open interface	276	(1)
Selecting an Upgrade	276	(3)
Reflashes and EPROM swaps	276	(1)
Black boxes	277	(1)
Piggybacks and standalones	277	(2)
Reflashes and EPROM Swaps	279	(6)
ECU Reprogramming	279	(6)
Should you reprogram?	280	(1)
Reprogramming factory ECUs	281	(4)
Black Boxes	285	(14)
Mixture Control	285	(1)
Air/Fuel Controllers	286	(2)
Auxiliary Injector Controllers	288	(2)
Ignition Timing Controllers	290	(1)
A'Pexi	290	(1)
MSD	291	(1)
Turbo Boost Controllers	291	(2)
Mechanical controllers	291	(1)
Electronic controllers	292	(1)
Manifold Air Pressure Sensors (Speed Density Systems)	293	(2)
Fuel and Speed Defencers	295	(4)
Fuel cut defencers	296	(1)
Speed cut defencers	296	(3)
Integrated Piggybacks	299	(4)
Piggyback Controller Functions	299	(1)
Controller Models	299	(4)
GReddy e-Manage	300	(1)
Chip Torque Xede	300	(1)
TurboXS UTEC	301	(2)
Full Standalone ECUs	303	(8)
Deciding on a Full Standalone ECU	304	(2)
Plug and Play	306	(2)
A'PEXi Power FC	307	(1)
AEM EMS	308	(1)
Some Assembly Required	308	(3)
Motec	309	(1)
Haltech	309	(1)
Autronic	310	(1)
Electromotive	310	(1)
MegaSquirt	310	(1)
Part IX: The Part of Tens	311	(26)
Ten Online Resources	313	(14)
Enthusiast Sites	314	(6)
Asian brands	315	(3)
European brands	318	(1)
American brands	319	(1)
General Information	320	(2)
Autospeed	320	(1)
How Stuff Works	320	(1)
Autopia	321	(1)
Babel Fish and Google	321	(1)
Grassroots Motorsports	322	(1)
Motorsport Sites	322	(2)
SCCA	322	(1)
NHRA	323	(1)
Drifting.com	323	(1)
Aftermarket Parts	324	(3)
Taka Kaira	324	(1)
SEMA	325	(2)
Ten Car Modding Problems	327	(10)
Budgeting Time	327	(1)
Budgeting Finances	328	(1)
Legal Concerns	329	(1)
Warranty Concerns	330	(1)
Resale Value	330	(1)
Free Advice	331	(1)
Knowing When to Stop	332	(1)
Selling Parts	332	(1)
Buying out of Desperation	333	(1)
Selling a Failed/Incomplete Project	334	(3)
Index	337