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First off, long time viewer but first time poster. I have been watching your videos for almost 2 years now and since I got my Acura Integra, your videos have been extra helpful!
I watched your video about how modifications to cars can cause more problems, but I noticed that you did mention that steel braided brake lines were radical. I was wondering if you could do a video on some other modifications that you and other technicians would approve?
As I work on my car more and more I notice how different “mini mods” as I call them make the car more enjoyable, but I don’t want to venture into something that could cause more problems than its worth.Thanks!
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[quote=”Fopeano” post=131995]You’re still missing the point that this guy might not be the average moron that uses a stack of non-engineered China junk bolted to a tired, old, neglected, and unmaintained economy car. 15 years ago, I was this kid. Showing humility and prudence in my modding adventures, I have been rewarded a very reliable economy car that goes around corners and brakes like a 911. Even though most do, not all will choose to fail in this respect Do you know who Carroll Smith or Henry Yunick are? I have a feeling you probably do, and you should appreciate when inquiring young minds are looking down the intelligent path. I’m sure the main reason he’s even asking about this here is that he’s already thinking about the bigger picture. OP are you still out there? Is that the case?
I will say that you are completely on point with your analogy, and the OP should take what you just said very seriously. It’s a great way of putting it, and I don’t mean to detract from the validity of your example. That is the main reason the car I mentioned earlier does not accelerate like a 911. It may have been upgraded from a Craftsman to a Dual 80, but I understand that it’s still a 1/4″.[/quote] Couldn’t have said it better myself. Also, with any vehicle this is always room for improvement. I could find a way to improve a McLaren F1, or a ratty old Chevy Vega.
As a technician I hate modified cars You just don’t know the quality of the work what may or may not have been done and how it will affect what you’re doing to the car.
As a car nut I modify all my cars Normal first steps really depend on the car in question and the results and budget you have.
For mine I started of with a remap 3″ turbo back Then a 30mm drop followed by Uprated brake kit and braided lines along with a RARB
For this car at least that’s all I’ll do because the engine has some known issues and getting more power is not financially economical, I may put a new ICE system in but That’s few pay checks off yet.
Do the research on your car and find it’s limits For mine a remap free’d up 55 bhp but to get another 55 would cost me over $6000
then decide a good budget and stick to it you wont see any of it back when you sell it so make sure it’s a car you want to keep before dropping a big amount on it.
For every qualified tuner there are 10 thousand wannabes. It not cheap either. Hours, or days on a dyno. Trial runs blown, broken parts, used up tyres, the list goes on. All well and good for a car intended for a competion of one sort or another with qualified drivers and owners needing to achieve a sporting goal of some sort, but quite another for a kid with a Celica driving to highschool thinking he is going to run 7.70s at 185 in the quarter mile with a wing and some underbody lights. Far as the LSX racing I do, my dyno guy and I would not trust nor rely on ANYBODY else to even touch our cars for ANYTHING, because they wouldn’t have any idea what we did. And no, NOT its daily driver stuff either. Having a car to race AND drive daily accomplishes neither well. Throwing a half modified hacked up zipped tied twine bound primered Acura with mismatched wheels and a weapon R intake to a regular tech who is used to fixing OEM stuff is just not fair to the tech. Thats what junkyards are for.
[quote=”andrewbutton442″ post=132150]For every qualified tuner there are 10 thousand wannabes. It not cheap either. Hours, or days on a dyno. Trial runs blown, broken parts, used up tyres, the list goes on. All well and good for a car intended for a competion of one sort or another with qualified drivers and owners needing to achieve a sporting goal of some sort, but quite another for a kid with a Celica driving to highschool thinking he is going to run 7.70s at 185 in the quarter mile with a wing and some underbody lights. Far as the LSX racing I do, my dyno guy and I would not trust nor rely on ANYBODY else to even touch our cars for ANYTHING, because they wouldn’t have any idea what we did. And no, NOT its daily driver stuff either. Having a car to race AND drive daily accomplishes neither well. Throwing a half modified hacked up zipped tied twine bound primered Acura with mismatched wheels and a weapon R intake to a regular tech who is used to fixing OEM stuff is just not fair to the tech. Thats what junkyards are for.[/quote] This is true I agree. Trial and error is a big part part of it. Also, when one component is strengthened, you expose the weak link(s). This can get expensive very fast. Noone can work on my truck but me because of how its done up. The engine, although it has stock block and heads(the heads are ported and polished however), is done up on the inside(bigger cam, forged pistons, performance intake manifold, etc), LS6 pan and HEI option as well as a carb from an 70′ olds 455. That’s just the engine. The brake system as I’ve mentioned, has a booster and master cylinder from a Chevelle(just like the oil pan was). The exhaust…ya, that’s completely not stock (Long tube headers and then some less restrictive mufflers). I also have an anti-theft system with multiple layers that of which I won’t disclose. Point being, only I know the intricacies of my truck, because I’m the one who works on it.
To the OP: As I’ve said above, once you get into modding, you really need to learn to work on the vehicle yourself. Many techs are not fond of non stock specs, although some of us enjoy the challenge.
Some techs enjoy the challenge of working on stuff like that. Bout the same number of people who hunt alligators. Yea, somebody out there is crazy enough to do it, but most would rather spend time productively.
[quote=”andrewbutton442″ post=132208]Some techs enjoy the challenge of working on stuff like that. Bout the same number of people who hunt alligators. Yea, somebody out there is crazy enough to do it, but most would rather spend time productively.[/quote] Call me an alligator hunter then lol. On occasion, I like an oddball thrown my way. Keeps me on my toes.
The Ballad Of Gator Mcklusky
Jerry ReedHe was raised in the swamp
In the back of a slough
He grew up eatin’ rattlesnake meat
And drinkin’ homemade brew
Now folks here about call him Gator
And everybody knows him well
Meanest man ever to hit the swamp
Folks swear he come straight outta hellWell Gator McKlusky sittin’ on a stump
Hammer pulled back on a twelve gauge pump
Watchin’ that swamp lookin’ out for the law
While he make the best corn liquor you ever saw(Rock gut whiskey…)
While he’s makin’ that mash he watches and he looks
Old Gator he knows that swamp like a book
Somethin’ out there movin’ Gator whaddaya see
Ain’t nothin’ but the snakes and the gators and meEverything’s okey-dokey in the Okefenokee
That sheriff ain’t snoopin’ around
So cook that moonshine down
‘Til it’s good and clear
Everything’s okey-dokey in the Okefenokee
That sheriff he’d soon mess around with the devil
Than to get his self long messin’ around in hereOne day he was cookin’ some mash he was almost done
When they spotted the law and they had to run
So he headed for the swamp and they followed him in
But the law might as well been a-chasin’ the wind(Look out for that snake, sheriff…)
Well they chased on back through the muck and the slime
To the back of that swamp where the sun don’t shine
But the law won’t never catch Gator my friend
‘Cause he knows that swamp like the back of his handWatch out boys old smokey’s in the Okefenokee
The sheriff’s out there snoopin’ around
So shut that business down
And let’s disappear
Look out boys old smokey’s in the Okefenokee
But that sheriff he’s really gonna catch the devil
If he keeps on snoopin’ around in here(Gator’s in the swamp, sheriff…)
(Go get him…)
(If you can…)(Careful, sheriff…)
(Don’t let that gator bite you on your gonads…)[quote=”andrewbutton442″ post=131815]My thoughts are this. If you want a better handling car, buy one already set up from a manufacturer that way. Modifications always have a downside and generally ruin the value of almost any car they end up on. Back in the 70s and 80s we modified cars because we had to, everything from the manufacturers was slow and drove like junk. That is not the case now you can buy a great handling car with as much hp as you can handle.. Unless you and your after market parts manufacturer have done as much research and development as the factory has, then you are never going to get factory reliability. I will use my neighbor as an example. He has an acura integra of some year, its got aftermarker this and the other thing. Its quite obviously in a terrible state of tune, but does have a big muffler. From the sound of his motor, I have no doubt in my mind that my 100 percent stock Civic D1500 would beat him in a race. People modding that Acura car made it worse than factory, which is more often the case with aftermarket crap.[/quote]
Did your neighbor actually do anything to his car other than lower it and put on a fart can from autozone? The thing is most people don’t understand that modifying vehicles is a feat of engineering. For example, you turbo charge your car? You better have a really good intercooler, an engine with forged internals (depending on boost and the engine) and you better have a GREAT tune in your car. On the newer cars a good TUNE is everything, and very expensive. My experience with modifications is they can be done well and be reliable (even major things), but they can also be done horribly. I tend to see the later rather than the former, and the former is VERY expensive.You actually have one of the easiest modern cars to modify. It is ridiculous how easy it is to find aftermarket parts, both new and used. Swap an engine? Hell ya, almost any Honda 4-banger will fit in it, they’re pretty much modular in every sense of the word.
Basically if you’re going to modify your car, first do research, then some more and maybe a bit more. Then you do it, The ability to read and process information is more important than the ability to turn a wrench. Second, accept the fact that when something starts going funky you’re going to be the one fixing it.
As far as actual mods, yes there’s the obvious choices but if you’re interested in really spicing it up look into getting it tuned by a professional.
Two things:
I have the privilege of owning a car with one of the better handling suspensions and I’ve owned it long enough to try a lot of different tires. I’ve had tires on this car that make it sparkle and tires that make it a drag to drive. There are huge differences in tires. Even if you are going with the stock size you can made a huge change in how your car handles by selecting the right tire.
I’ve noticed that Japanese made vehicles tend to skimp on sway bars. My wife’s WRX is king of rock and roll. If I had to drive this thing everyday I’d have sway bars on order. Even where Japanese cars have a heavy suspension they tend to go more for stout springs and the sway bars stay small. So, here is often a place where a modification can do some real good.
Aftermarket sway bars need to be installed in pairs. Especially in the front, this can be a difficult task, sometimes involving the dropping of the subframe. So, before you decide to spend your money for sway bars look things over. Also, aftermarket sway bars often come with plastic bushings. These provide better stability but they can squeak. I usually modify them to accept grease fittings. In other words, a modification to a modification. So, be aware that your abilities might be tested here.
I’m actually a really big fan of removing or disconnecting the front sway bar as far as sway bar modding goes. It makes the car less stable (which can take some getting used to, even for a good driver), but the overall front wheel traction is increased substantially. I’ve done it to many FWD cars as well as a BMW, almost every car I’ve ever had. It is better to do if the suspension is modified to be a bit stiffer, because the stock springs are really soft to make bumps more tolerable and allow tons of body roll without the intended sway bar there to supplement.
I actually had a car with two front sway bars. I don’t think anyone is going to break that record with three.
The thing about sway bars is unless you buy from a reputable maker and do both front and rear you can be changing the moderate understeer built into all modern vehicles. A set of good bars won’t change this. Now, I think Fopeano is wanting to change this and knows what to expect. But, in the hands of not very trained drivers this can be dangerous.
I once owned a car with neutral steer. That is heaven.
Wow, did not think this thread would blow up the way it did, or that Eric would make a video about it!
But to stay on topic, I really appreciate all the replies and I think that we can all agree that when you modify your car, you should research like mad. I think Eric got it right when it comes to these things, I researched like mad when I put in my first mod (basically a better flowing air box that mostly looks stock). And now, with the system I’m using to lower my car, I again researched like crazy for literally months before I bought things because why waste time and effort and especially money on making a slow car fast. I want to make my “ok” car a little peppier than when I bought it. But there’s no point in doing things that would almost re-engineer the car, that my friends is stupid. That is, unless you’re an engineer and building a race car hahaha.
I think Eric got this video right. I particularly found it true when him mentioning a Civic Dx, because thats exactly that kind of car kids modify with no idea what they are doing. I have viewed many threads about modificiations, and some the questions are so stupid, its almost mind blowing. One example is this, some of the very serious tuners have put Powerglide 2 speed transmissions in modified Supras because that particular transmission is one that is used alot in a racing circles and can be built to handle over a thousand hp at the rear wheel and the likes…but I find a question about somebody wanting to put a Powerglide in a FWD Honda, without knowing, for one, that Supras, and Powerglides and for rear wheel drive application, and two, Hondas even though Asian, are not Supras, and have no more similarity with a Supra, than say a Corvette. My other favorite dumb thing I see is that a guy will take a CRX, which is featherlight, and will put a force induction on a B motor which has tons of aftermarket stuff and trailer it a track and run 110 octane with 30lbs of boost for a short time before it fails, and so the next guy with a daily driven Accord which doesn’t have, never has had, never will have any racing following, wants to make his Accord fast. A CRX gutted weighs less than half what an accord does, oh but they are both Hondas…..another stupid comparision by kids. What it comes down to is that the slow crap cars are the low hanging fruit knucklehead kids buy, and only because of a name, they think they can buy some fart can muffler and make it fast when in reality, they are just making themselves look stupid. I am old enough to remember what happend when young senseless kids of an earlier generation of kids could afford the used up and worn out musle cars of the 60s and more often than not, they didn’t even need to buy any after market parts to run that particular car off the road and into say, a pole or tree. We used to hear of this all the time till the faster cars for cheaper money became used up.
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