The clutch is arguably one of the most important components to any manual transmission vehicle. It modulates the energy at the spinning flywheel and transfers it through the driveline to propel your car forward. For most vehicles, there are many clutch system upgrades. To select the most ideal clutch for […]
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Transmissions 101: Upgrades for Increased Torque Capacity and Optimized Performance
In the U.S., most enthusiasts don’t think about upgrading their vehicle’s transmission until it becomes absolutely necessary. By absolutely necessary, we mean the point at which the engine produces more torque than the transmission can handle. The end result is often broken shafts, bent forks and worn synchros. In Japan […]
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Test & Tune: 2001 Nissan Silvia S15 | More Airflow, More Boost, and + 36.3 WHP
In the first Test and Tune segment, our 2001 Nissan Silvia S15 illustrated how much of a difference quality aftermarket components would make to a turbocharged engine. The Tanabe Concept G Blue turbo-back exhaust system reduced exhaust restrictions and also increased boost pressure. The value of fuel tuning was clearly […]
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Turbocharger vs Supercharger – Forced Induction and Big Power Explained
More power. We all want it and there is usually more than one way to get it. Serious solutions will involve a “power adder” in the form of a supercharger, turbocharger or nitrous-oxide injection system. These power adders can add anywhere from 30-to-300-percent more power. Since the previous section was […]
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Test & Tune: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8
A normally-aspirated 6-cylinder engine making 300 horsepower deserves some praise. Until recently, 300-horsepower required a V8 or some form of forced-induction. Today, technology allows more horsepower-per-liter than ever before. Unfortunately, a well-tuned engine from the factory means that the aftermarket may struggle to find any additional horsepower. As the Hyundai […]
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Test & Tune: 2005 Mazda RX-8
Rotary versus Piston: The rivalry between rotary and piston owners has long been established before many of us were born. The rotary engine represents the epitome of small displacement engines that pack a heavy punch. The first 10A rotary engine was used in the Mazda Cosmo in 1965. With a […]
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Ignition 101: Understanding Ignition Systems for Maximum Performance
In the 4-stroke symphony performing in your engine bay, when a spark plug misses its cue and doesn’t fire, the results are definitely not harmonious. There is a loss of power and fuel is sent through the engine without ever extracting any of its energy. All of your attempts to […]
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Test & Tune: 2011 Mitsubishi EVO X GSR Part 2 | More Power Under the Curve, Same Boost Levels
In our last installment of the Mitsubishi EVO X Test & Tune, we added an intake system and a turbo-back exhaust upgrade and fine-tuned our way to a peak increase of 71 WHP. The addition of the COBB AccessPORT and Boost Pill allowed increased levels of boost pressure from the […]
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Nitrous Oxide 101: The Last Laugh
More power at the push of a button. We’ve all been in a situation where we wished we could just floor the throttle, hit a button and have an extra 50, 100 or 150 horsepower to break-off an opponent while our car accelerates quicker than ever before. What sounds like […]
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Test & Tune: Mazdaspeed3 | FWD Renegade
The import performance movement has always featured an ever-changing marketplace. During the ‘80s, the predominant weapons of choice were Mazdas, Datsuns or Toyotas. These lightweight RWD platforms made for perfect pocket rockets. In the ‘90s, the FWD import movement was spurred by turbocharged Honda Civics and Acura Integras tearing up […]
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ECU 101: Engine Management Systems Explained
In many modern vehicles, more and more systems are controlled by microprocessors. As technologically advanced sensors are able to measure various engine and driving conditions on- the-fly, the input from these sensors is collected, analyzed and submitted to a master computer. This master computer, the engine control unit (ECU) or […]
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Camshaft Showcase: 4G63 EVO Build
Mitsubishi’s 4G63 engine is arguably one of the best four-cylinder engines ever built. While the early variants set records powering DSMs, later versions of the engine propelled the EVO VIII and EVO IX. In terms of strength, power potential and ease of service, the 4G63 engine simply has no equal. […]
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Test & Tune: 2001 Nissan Silvia S15 | Uncorking the Silvia’s SR20DET Engine
Rare and different. Two words that epitomize the Nissan Silvia S15. It carries a mystique almost as captivating as Nissan’s Skyline GT-R. Nissan ceased production of the Silvia S14, known in the U.S. as a 240SX, at the end of 1998. America never received the Silvia S15. Like its Skyline […]
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Camshaft Tech 101
While performance camshafts are the most important component selection on an “All-Motor” build, many underplay the importance of proper camshaft selection on forced-induction applications. However, the reality is that a proper set of cams might easily add 100 horsepower or more at the wheels without changing boost pressure. With or […]
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FUEL SYSTEMS 101: Ensuring Your System is Well-Fed
Your car’s fuel system encompasses the following components; the gas tank (or fuel cell), the fuel pump(s), the fuel rail(s), and the injectors. There are two main types of fuel delivery found in modern engines: the return system and the non-return fuel system. In a return-type system, the fuel not […]
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