Friends don't let friends modify Cars

[Der Alta]

One of the worst TV shows on cable TV is Tuner Transformations. I see them doing all sorts of really stupid mods. Like putting 13 inch front rotors on a mid-late '90s Honda Civic with 17" wheels saying this will improve the handling a stopping power of the car. Yeah, sure it will. Adding a solid steel rotor that size with a 17" wheel would destroy the handling of a car like that.

The whole idea of replacing a properly running part on your car is to reduce the weight. There ain't much difference between stock parts and racing parts, other then price, and the overall weight. They're often made from stronger metals because they're made smaller, thinner or lighter and a stronger metal is therefore needed. Reducing weight, especially in a part that moves, rotates or spins, will reduce mass and more of the power the engine is producing will be used at the tire. Changing a lot of parts will reduce a lot of weight from the car, which will make it accelerate and stop quicker. That's the whole idea of making a race car.

When somebody adds a 13" rotor to a Civic, they're going completely ass-backwards for the reason of replacing the original brake rotors in the first place. True, the car will stop maybe 10 feet sooner at say from a 100MPH stop. But, how often will a street car need to do that? Does that justify the destruction of handling, which is a constant thing? No.

Right now the show is on, and there swithing turbos on a car. The turbo is a lot bigger and a lot heavier. But, it'll give us 20 more HP at the top end. So? How often do we get to the TOP END? Almost never. How much more strain will that heavier turbo add to the engine? I bet more then what that 20 extra HP will give us!

I'm 95% certain that it was Colin Chapman that said "To make it go faster you will have to add lightness. "

Of course, he also said "Any car which holds together for a whole race is too heavy."

and this little Gem, which applies in modding cars "...make the suspension adjustable and they will adjust it wrong -- look what they can do to a Weber carburetor in just a few moments of stupidity with a screwdriver."

AO

 

[Joey D]

Honestly I think raised trucks can be worst that real bad rice. Not only do they look wierd, they obstruct my view when I'm pullen out and are more likely to tip over. How often do they need another 8 inches of suspension travel? Almost never. Lowered trucks can be done real well, I saw a nice ford f100 a while back.

I would only lift a truck if I actually was going to off road, they are dangerous if you just drive them around the street.

 

[miata13B]

Well it is hard to say here. Factory does do a nice job in creating daily drivers. Currently at school the cultured car lovers here have their own groups. We got Ricers, Truck boys, Push-rod heads, Euro-trash (Like me : ) ). It is funny though, you would think in an Automotive Mechanic School people would know more about cars and have at least a little background or love for them. What I am finding out here is that maybe 15 - 25% of us know cars, and of the 15 - 25% maybe a good 5 - 10% know how to modifiy a car properly for track only, Weekly driver / Weekend Warrior, and Trailer queen. Of the 5 - 10% of us it takes a multitude of laps and hours and busting knuckles to even get close to what we want the car to do and how to handle. That is still only the first of a huge list of things that must be done. Those that are mechanically inept, I believe should not have the privilege of building a monsterous street car that will do 0 - Oh My God, My Underwear Is Now Soiled! If you are not willing to sacrifice time and learn how to do something, versus just digging into that Weber Carbuerator, you don't need a wreck in your hand.

As for the article, This guy does have some valid points, and it does sound like he has a little experience behind his belt. He does have very creditable arguements. Now, I do have a problem with what this guy is saying though. He had taken a few cars to Tuner shops, Now are we talking something serious like Vishnu, Hondata, Bravarian, BMP, etc. or is he taken these to a local shop where the guys learn something new about a car everytime they do a new thing to the automobile are certainly are not the guys you want working on your brakes and steering because tomorrow morning you have to take your son or daughter to school. Most of the times things happen ie. Caliper busting on you, did you check the slide pins before you decided to bog the car at the track? Did you see in the mounting bracket was properly torque to a specification intially desgined for what ever factory or after market part you have on your car? This guy definately has some weak points to. How are you going to rely on someone else to do all the work for you and not have the knowledge to at least look at things and see if they are properly maintained and working? Now I know I am being a tunnel-visioned person by saying this because my guess is that 98 to 99% of people out would not know anything more then what some Dealer told them was worng with their car. Things are going to break mind you, it is Murphy's law.

Now would this guy shoot me down in public because I want to kill the weight in my Bimmer and stiffen the suspension along with my stabilizers while getting aftermarket components from the A-frame to the Strut mounts? Once it is dialed in, the car to me would be a pleasure to drive even though I have sacrificed my ride quality, but to me, if the ride is too smooth I am uncomfortable driving it. I don't feel that I have full control over it.

Purpose-built parts for cars are the way to go if you even think about modifiying your car. Don't be some dumb smuck out there that cuts his springs on his Honda because it will lower the center of gravity. You just went ahead and reduce the strength the springs maintain to be able to carry the sprung weight in your car.

In Conclusion, I do have my own ideas of what will make a car faster and what will make it slower. I also know where to run the car faster and where to run it slower. I feel that a number of these aftermarket companies do a wonderful service to those that can utilize their technologies and what they bring to a table. Who am I to say they can't do this, or They have no right in giving people developmental calipers. All I ask is to educate yourself if you decide you want a car to move in ways other then factory has intended it to do.

 

[Goomba]

I'm still confused on what to think of this article.

I agree with him to an extent. A lot of modifications out there aren't very effective, especially when you factor the cost into the equation. I also learned from experience that I was faster with my stock WRX than it was with a rear sway bar. I had too much oversteer for what the stock RE92s could handle. Then enter Falken Azenis.

I looked over the indexed results from my last race. I beat four other STis as well as an Evo VIII (You don't know how happy I am). Also, this was only my second time racing the WRX, 5th autocrossing event, and the previous one was more than a couple months before that. While I know this has a lot to do with my awesome driving skills (ha) I know I couldn't of been quite that fast without the modifications.

I always carefully plan where my money goes in my car. So far, I've spent roughly $2200 worth of suspension modifications and I believe every penny has been worth it. However, while I'm happy with these purchases, I find myself thinking very long and hard about selling the modifications and buying an STi.

 

[dbartucci]

Earlier today I saw a dark green, early model Dodge Neon, a Nissan GT-R badge on the trunk, a big aluminum wing (very similar to the one on the Sunfire in the pic above) and a 4" tip.

I wish I was kidding.