Car Hacks and Mods For Dummies

This is a must-have for anyone interested in achieving better performance through car modification!

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 cornering

Written 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 roadster

Whether 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.

Auteur
David Vespremi is the founder of Boost Communications, a PR and marketing agency for automotive tuning companies. He develops program segments on automotive high performance for TechTV.

Contenu

Foreword xxi

Introduction 1

About This Book 2

How This Book Is Organized 2

Part I: Owning a Performance Car 3

Part II: Safety 3

Part III: Rims and Rubber 3

Part IV: Stylin' 4

Part V: Slowing Down 4

Part VI: Corner Carver 4

Part VII: Let's Go! 4

Part VIII: Faster Thinking 5

Part IX: The Part of Tens 5

Icons Used in This Book 5

Part I: Owning a Performance Car 7

Chapter 1: Cool Car Basics 9

Keeping It Legal and Keeping the Warranty Intact 9

Federal regulations 10

Local regulations 11

Warranty requirements 13

Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act 13

Event participation 15

Setting Realistic Expectations 16

Making It Cool 18

Not All Platforms Are Created Equal 19

Chapter 2: Planning It Smart 21

Choosing a Car 21

Defining the Scope of the Project 23

Compromises 24

Contingency Plan/Exit Strategy 26

Delays 27

So long, farewell 28

Part II: Safety 29

Chapter 3: Balanced Performance 31

The Concept of Active Safety 31

Building a Balanced Car 32

Chapter 4: Safety Gear 37

Passive Safety Essentials 37

Roll Bars and Roll Cages 39

Materials 39

Design 41

Installation 46

Seats and Braces 47

Factory seats 47

Competition seats 48

Braces 50

Harnesses 51

Straps 51

Latches 54

Installation 55

Part III: Rims and Rubber 57

Chapter 5: Tires 59

Knowing When to Say When 59

Reading a Tire Sidewall 60

Tire Shopping 63

Tire Selection 64

How tires work 65

Street tires 69

Race tires 72

Dual-purpose tires 74

When There Isn't Any Air There 75

Pressure monitoring 76

Run-flat tires 77

Chapter 6: Wheels 79

Buying Right 79

Fit 79

Appearance 84

Performance 84

Materials 88

Forged wheels 88

Cast wheels 89

Semi-solid forged and modular wheels 89

Want to Super Size That? 90

The look 91

The life 91

Part IV: Stylin' 93

Chapter 7: Fashion Is a Fickle Thing 95

Mild to Wild 95

Graphics 98

Design 99

Custom cutting 100

Installation 100

Chapter 8: Vanity? Performance? A Little of Both? 103

Aero Add-ons 103

Rear-mounted spoilers and wings 103

Underbody diffusers 105

Front add-ons 106

Bodyside styling 108

Materials 109

Fiberglass 109

Carbon fiber 110

Polyurethane 112

Chapter 9: Detailing 101 113

Car Wash Basics 113

The Weekend Detail 115

Paint 116

Wheels 120

Tires 120

Windows and lenses 121

Trim 122

Convertible and fabric tops 123

Interior 123

Under the Hood 126

Part V: Slowing Down 127

Chapter 10: Slowing Down 129

Deciding Whether to Upgrade Your Car's Brakes 130

Brake Fluid 131

Specifications 131

Maintenance 135

Chapter 11: Basic Braking Bolt-Ons 137

Wheel Components 137

Pads 137

Rotors 138

Calipers 141 Cooling 143<...