Shock Tuning 101: Dyno your Dampers for Optimized Handling

Like the elegantly simple yet intriguingly complex rubik’s cube, setting up automotive suspension is a bit of a mystery that’s difficult to decipher. When analyzing an original 3x3x3 Rubik’s cube, there are a daunting 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 combinations in which you can orient the little squares. Even with over 43 quintillion combinations, […]

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Quick Tech: Staged Filter Tech

EVERY YEAR, WE TAKE OUR 36-FOOT SPORTFISHER named “No Deadlines” to seek out bluefin and yellowfin tuna. Traveling 120 miles south from Huntington Harbour, California, we end up in Mexican waters more than 70 miles away from land. The last thing we want is a problem with the engines. While […]

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MAX OUT: E85 VS C85

SO YOU’VE ALREADY MADE the conversion from pump gas to E85 on your forced induction car and you love it. For less than the price of pump gas, E85 allows you to run race gas levels of boost for maximum performance. On top of that, turbo response and midrange torque […]

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Quick Tech: NX Nitrous Plate FR-S/BRZ

ACCORDING TO ONE FRIEND, “SHE’S SMART, SEXY AND LOW-MAINTENANCE.” According to another, “She’s evil. She’ll break your heart and your bank account.” Ask a group of performance enthusiasts about their opinion on nitrous-oxide injection and you’re likely to hear two very different stories. Some opinions can easily be dismissed as […]

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A Stiffer Chassis? Vehicle Torsional Rigidity Explained

When a new generation of a vehicle is released you will always hear “The new chassis is XX-percent stiffer.” Instead of saying “That’s impressive,” the more common response is to simply think “So what?” While 99-percent of automotive buyers understand the advantage of more power, nearly the same percentage wouldn’t […]

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How to Properly Tune your ECU for Power, Efficiency, and Reliability

Before the advent of plug-and-play engine management systems, affordable UEGO sensors, and open-source reflash programs, the number of engine management “tuners” were limited. Before plug-and-play, a stand-alone system required hours for proper installation of the flying-lead harness. The complexity of the install deterred many from learning the skills necessary for […]

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Clearing Up Your Headlight Restoration Concerns

Cloudy and hazy headlight lenses make your car look like it’s suffering from a terrible case of cataracts. Not only do they look weathered, they also reduce the amount of light being projected and potentially impede the ability to see as well at night. This was hardly an issue prior […]

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Headlight Restoration Product Showcase

In order to fairly evaluate these headlight restoration products, we’ve sourced headlights from our Local Pick Your Part salvage yard to serve as test samples. These headlights are from 1994-1997 Honda Accords and feature similar wear, pitting, oxidation and UV damage. Each product will be tested on a portion of […]

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Fuel 101: Race Gas, Octane, and Alternative Fuels Explained

What you feed your engine determines it’s ultimate performance. The nutritional performance needs of an engine are influenced by a number of factors. Some of the most important factors include compression ratio, rpm potential and boost pressure (on forced induction applications). Engines that run higher compression ratios (above 10:1), operate […]

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Monitoring Engine Vitals 101: Are You in the Data Loop?

Every vehicle on the road has gauges. From entry-level compact cars to ultra high performance vehicles, monitoring the most basic to the most complex engine and chassis vitals is essential. Typical gauges cover basic information such as fuel level, coolant temperature range, and engine and vehicle speed. High-performance vehicles go […]

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Engine Cooling System 101: Keepin it Cool

Enthusiasts purchase aftermarket performance products for two main reasons: 1) to make the vehicle perform better and/or 2) to improve the vehicle’s toughness and reliability. For some enthusiasts, it’s all about performance; for others, reliability is the key. However, the vast majority of tuners address both performance and reliability in […]

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Engine Lubrication 101: Controlling the Flow

The human body can’t live without blood. Blood delivers oxygen, nutrients and other essential substances to the body and its organs. Similarly, oil serves an essential role in the performance and operation of the engine. Oil is responsible for lubricating, cooling and removing contaminants for nearly all moving parts. However, […]

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Wraps, Coatings & Treatments | Getting the Extra Edge

Sometimes using the best parts made of the highest quality materials isn’t enough. Fortunately, specialized coatings and treatments can be used to increase performance and reliability from your engine and the components it contains. These new technologies not only allow additional power and torque to be produced but also increase […]

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