It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of maintenance variables that ensure the reliability and longevity of your vehicle. Fortunately, technological advances and engineering have stretched the service intervals of many wearable items. This in turn reduces the frequency of maintenance to reduce consumption and cost while simplifying the […]
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Car Paint Care | The Ultimate Guide to Performance Maintenance
If you’re reading this then you aren’t normal. In fact, you’re probably abnormal in the sense that you care about you car way more than the average person. But why wouldn’t you? You dedicate your time and money to getting the most from your car. Whether it’s horsepower or handling, […]
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Toyo Tires Proxes R888R Tire Evaluation
You can throw all the upgrades you want at any given car, but their effectiveness is limited by the rubber that holds the car to the ground. In the world of automotive performance and motorsports, tires are a sacred component. We wear through them quickly, we always want more, and […]
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Evapo-Rust | A Simple and Fast Solution for Safely Removing Oxidation
Some of the most famous and life-changing inventions were stumbled upon by accident. One such discovery, Evapo-Rust® Super Safe Rust Remover, is to the hands-on enthusiast as a Post-It Note is to the office worker. Like Post-It Notes, Penicillin, Super Glue and microwave ovens, Evapo-Rust was a discovery of happenstance, […]
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Bolt-On Basics | Performance Tuning 101
The Fundamentals of Automotive Performance Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve already modified your car, understanding the fundamentals of bolt-on performance is the first step to making power, increasing performance and getting the most from your setup. In this issue, we’ll cover everything from air intake systems to full-fledged […]
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Air Intake Systems – The Pathway To More Power | Bolt-On Basics
There’s a reason why enthusiasts choose aftermarket air intakes as one of the first performance modifications. Not only are most intake systems fairly straightforward to understand and easy to install, they typically yield substantial power gains as well. With that said, don’t let air intakes’ apparent simplicity fool you. Aftermarket […]
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ECU Tuning – Harnessing the Power of Technology | Bolt-On Basics
ECU tuning is the tie that binds an engine’s performance together. Gone are the days of jetting and synchronizing carburetors, replaced instead with modern handheld tuning devices and laptops. With numerous options available ranging from a simple reflash blackbox up to infinitely adjustable fuel and ignition mapping software, tuning solutions […]
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Fuel Systems – Quench Your Engine’s Thirst | Bolt-On Basics
Your average internal combustion engine may sound smooth and composed from the outside, yet the internals work constantly to generate a series of explosions that set metal components into motion at a high rate of speed. Sure, an engine must be tough in order to produce hundreds or even thousands […]
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Forced Induction – Boost for Max Power | Bolt-On Basics
When it comes to increasing your vehicle’s power output, forced-induction systems are the pinnacle of bolt-on performance. Out of all the bolt-on modifications available for today’s popular vehicles, forced-induction kits can offer the greatest gains in horsepower and torque. High-quality turbocharger or supercharger kits can bump power output by 40- […]
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Cooling Systems – Less Heat for Longer Life and More Power | Bolt-On Basics
Heat is a killer. It boils fluids, starts fires, melts and warps important components. There’s no sign of frictionless engines arriving any time soon, so until then, we’re stuck with the byproduct of friction that is heat. Given that cars are filled with moving parts, electrical currents and combusting materials, […]
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Suspension – Upgrades to Enhance Handling Performance | Bolt-On Basics
Racecar drivers that double as engineers will almost always excel in competition. However, the backseat-driver-equivalent of engineers that claim to be racecar drivers are the worst. These types that love to chase setup adjustments down to the molecular level, they treasure logged data and long debates about spring rates, chassis […]
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Brakes – The Science of Stopping | Bolt-On Basics
Making more horsepower and going fast is both fun and rewarding; however, there’s really no point to any of it if you cannot stop quickly and safely. While most factory braking systems prove adequate for the daily commute, going to the track or even spirited driving through the canyons could […]
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Wheels – Fashion and Function | Bolt-On Basics
Like eye-catching shoes, wheels make an automotive fashion statement with practical application when properly selected. Wheels are arguably the first thing that people notice about a car. They can be practical, sporty, casual or formal. The reality is wheels make more than a fashion statement, they can influence the acceleration, […]
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Tires – Get a Grip, Don’t Slip | Bolt-On Basics
It’s surprising how little is understood about tires. Just look at the number of cars with tires worn down to the belts lining up at your local tire shop when the first rain of the season begins to arrive. What’s worse is that some people think tires are just chunks […]
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Subaru EJ257 Bottom-end Breakdown
When Magnus Ohlaker (head machinist and engine assembler at Club DSPORT’s Engine Development Facility) was asked “what is your favorite aftermarket engine?”, we never expected Magnus to say the Subaru EJ257. Later, we learned it was because Magnus had assembled over 400 of these engines while working at Cosworth Engineering. […]
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