Browsing: The Tech

Driving Tech | Improving Lap Times with the AEM AQ-1 OBD II Data Logger

What’s the point in upgrading your car if you don’t know how to drive it? There are countless options in improving your performance on track, yet improving the driver is one of the most commonly overlooked. It can be a tough task, as it requires you to set your ego aside and learn how to do something you may think you’re already good at. It doesn’t sound as sexy as a bigger turbo or a shiny new set of coilovers, but once driving techniques start to click in your mind and become second nature, you’ll discover an entirely new element…

RB26DETT Building Blocks | Which Block is Right For You?

No one would argue that the RB26DETT is one of the best inline six-cylinder engines to come out of Japan. Depending on the qualities that you prioritize in an engine, some could make a valid argument that it is even superior to Toyota’s 2JZ-GTE. The engine’s success in motorsports and the records it has set in the tuning world have put it in the upper echelon of performance engines. While it is one of the most expensive engines to build, it does offer some options unavailable in other platforms. In fact, it is the only Japanese performance engine where the…

2000 Honda S2000 | McLeod Street Tuner Clutch Installation

2000 Honda S2000 Clutch Install Our project Honda S2000 clocks in with 366,000 miles on the odometer, with only two clutch changes in its whole life. As put together plans to bring the car back up to snuff, a new clutch was added to the list. Given that the car will likely see some mild power upgrades and track time in the future, we opted for some more capable hardware, McLeod’s Street Tuner clutch. Scroll down and learn some of the essentials in swapping a clutch on the Honda S2000. Text and Photos by Cameron Parsons A lift isn’t a…

2000 Honda S2000 | Energy Suspension Polyurethane Bushings Installation

2000 Honda S2000 Polyurethane Bushings Install In Issue #170 of DSPORT Magazine, we upgraded our project 2016 Mazda MX-5 from factory rubber suspension bushings to Energy Suspension’s Hyper-Flex polyurethane bushings. Although the car was new and the stock bushings were in perfect condition, we still discovered significantly improved lap times along with better driving characteristics. These benefits are only exaggerated when upgrading heavily aged cars to polyurethane bushings. Our D’Garage project S2000 had stacked up 366,000 miles on the chassis, still running on the factory rubber. As a result, the car inhibited unwanted driving characteristics and even a level of…

Quick Test: BLOX Racing B-Series Headers

While you can always turn up the boost on a forced induction application to mask a poor parts selection, an All-Motor combination relies upon the proper matching of camshafts, header, cylinder head and intake manifold. Among these four components, headers usually represent one of the first upgrades for any All-Motor build. The relative low cost and ease of installation leads to its popularity. When it comes to the Honda B-series engine, the number of header choices is overwhelming. BLOX Racing recently introduced titanium versions of its Hi-Flow and Max-Flo 4-2-1 headers and we decided it was time for a quick…

COBB Tuning SS 3 Inch Cat-Back Exhaust | 2017 Subaru WRX STI Exhaust Shootout

COBB Tuning Subaru SS 3-inch Cat-Back Exhaust P/N – 515132 Cobb Tuning’s Subaru SS 3-inch Cat-Back Exhaust for the 2015+ WRX and STI features a TIG-welded 304 stainless-steel construction with one resonator and two mufflers. The exhaust employs a stamped flange at the down-pipe and laser-cut flanges at the Y-pipe, allowing for simple installation and precise fitment. This application is one of the few we tested that utilizes a resonator in the mid-pipe, helping bring sound levels down further without interrupting air flow. This configuration produced a very clean and pleasing exhaust note without being too loud, reaching only…

Test & Tune: 2017 Subaru WRX STI | Part:1 Intake and Tune Beefs Up the EJ257

Nearly every auto enthusiast can appreciate a car with the performance to shine on track, yet the utility and comfort to haul the kids and groceries home after work. It’s tough to have the best of both worlds in one vehicle, no matter how you build it. DSPORT staff member Al Rhee, however, thinks that he has it figured out. His once daily-driven Scion FR-S is leaving his garage to make room for the 2017 Subaru WRX STI with its four doors, five seats and 305 horsepower. With his rich car history that included a C6 Corvette, a Dodge Viper…

Quick Tech : BendPak’s Quick Jack | A Portable Hydraulic Lift for the Home Garage

This article just might save your life. Many of us forget that when we crawl under a car to perform any sort of repair or upgrade, we’re trusting a lift, jack stands or a simple hydraulic jack to support thousands of pounds of metal from falling on us. It’s a scary thought. Without these tools, wheel and tire changes, transmission swaps and other jobs that take place around and underneath the car would be impossible. The task of enabling these types of jobs without you getting crushed makes lifting equipment one of the most important types of tools you’ll ever…

Quick Tech : Benefits of Lowering Crankcase Pressure | Part 1

It’s no secret that higher boost pressure translates into higher torque and power outputs. Crank up the boost pressure, get more power. While many understand the merits of increasing the pressure of the air going into the cylinders, fewer understand the virtues of decreasing the pressure within the crankcase. While many high-end classes of racing from Formula One to Pro Stock rely upon dry sump oiling systems that run the crankcase at negative pressure (vacuum), few entry-level racecars and even fewer street cars benefit from the negative crankcase pressures of a dry sump oiling system. The cost and complexity of…

Quick Tech: HIDs the Right Way

WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO ASSOCIATE BLUE AND purple headlights with the tuning market, the truth remains that many enthusiasts resort to plug-and-play high-intensity discharge (HID) light kits to increase headlight output. While some enthusiasts have begun to realize the shortcomings of dropping in these cheaply made HID kits, others simply don’t know where else to turn for proper, effective lighting solutions. OEM manufacturers spend hundreds of thousands of dollars researching, developing and testing new ways to improve headlight output without blinding traffic. While most of us may not be able to afford a brand-new luxury vehicle equipped with…

Quick Tech: A’PEXi SMART Accel Controller

We’ve entered a new age of technology in modern cars which in some ways is for the better and other ways for the worse. In terms of feel and response, electric power steering systems are efficient, but remove the level of detailed feedback that manual and hydraulic-assisted steering systems provide. We find the same problem in modern throttle by wire systems, where a series of sensors and an electric motor replace a simple physical cable to the throttle body. In driving environments like canyon runs or track days, accurate throttle inputs and feedback are essential for consistent performance and confidence…

Quick Tech: AUTO-BLiP Intelligent Downshifts Removes the Need for Heel-and-Toe Shifting

Manual transmission elitists need to get with the times. Driving an H-pattern gearbox is fun and makes you feel connected to the car, but it doesn’t hurt to leave some of the work to automated systems. This rings especially true if your main goal is improved performance, such as a sequential gearbox and its ability to change gears in only a few milliseconds. Manual transmissions require more input from the driver, which also results in more room for error with grinding gears, lengthy shift times and poor rev matching. Not everyone can afford a dual clutch transmission, and not everyone…

How to Select the Right Roll Cage Protection | Race Safety Tech

Back in 2012, driver Jeremy Foley and co-driver Yuri Kouznetsov found themselves flying off the edge of a mountain during their run up the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The 550whp Mitsubishi Evo 8 took flight from the infamous “Devil’s Playground” corner at 70 MPH as the EVO glided into a 45-degree slope covered in boulders that rolled the chassis more than 10 times. After throwing body panels and various parts in all directions, the car finally came to rest, exposing a mostly bare roll cage and the vehicle occupants inside. Despite the harsh and violent nature of this crash,…

2017 Roll Cage Speed Shop

Choosing the best rollover protection is a daunting task. There are many different types of roll cage sbuilt for different levels of competition and performance. The first item to consider is whether or not you must meet the requirements of a sanctioning body and receive their stamp of approval. Then, factor in the safety and performance benefits, how these items align with your goals, and finally your budget. If you have any specific questions, send us a message at: inbox@hardmediainc.com. AGI Roll Cages AGI Precision Roll Cages builds and engineers its roll cages to stringent quality standards to meet with…

HKS Legamax Premium | 2017 Subaru WRX STI Exhaust Shootout

HKS Legamax Premium P/N – 31021-BF01 HKS’ Legamax Premium Exhaust System for the 2015+ Subaru WRX STI features a polished finish and TIG-welded construction with 304 stainless-steel. This exhaust provides a simple installation, excellent fitment and clearances, and high quality construction all around. The components bolt together via stamped stainless steel flanges, while the mid-pipe and two mufflers utilize all five available hangers to stay in place. The mid-pipe carries a unique design that utilizes an in-line silencer as well as a branched off Helmholtz chamber to reduce harsh sound frequencies without interrupting airflow. This adds up with the two…

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