astrosteve Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Without being rude or arrogant, is there any members on this forum who actually understand, the how's and why's of Performance car modification and how and why things actually work? Sure i drive a American Day van at the moment (six kids my choice) but i have raced single seaters and run the 1/4 mile,even time trialled and i have more than a basic knowledge of the how's and why's but reading through the posts i feel very alone! I dont mind if this makes me unpopular, but it makes me wonder! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 I think its a valid point, to which I would say that many people know what they have been told, and other understand the basic whys, but it all depends on level and involvement. For a lot of stuff people dont need to know why or how, but who. Myself, I grew up around cars and motorracing, my Grandads Brother was a engineer with Hesketh F1 team and other motorsport activities, my Dad worked with Lotus, MSD / Vauxhall motorsport, Aston Martin and other members of my family still work in production car racing like VW Racing and stuff like that. I had rebuilt my first engine before I was a teenager I guess, but never really fell into the motorsport groove and perhaps didnt learn as much as I could have done from the teachers I had available to me. Interested to see what responses you get.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrosteve Posted February 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Thats what i was thinking. It just struck me that this being a performance car community how many actually knew what they were talking about, ill be honest i know sod all about computers and i hold my hand up high (sayerbloke had to shrink my name pictures as i didnt know how) but im happy to declare this. The Egg advert puts it a nutshell for me where the guy lifts the bonnet and says "oh, no, no, no, no" and then goes on to say that he rips psople off and its their fault if they dont know what goes on under the bonnet! I have had similar experiences of this after taking a (cough, cough) Ford Capri ( i did rebuild it 3.1 triple webbers, coil overs etc ) to a local "kwik fall off" centre and was then told that the suspension was "shot" and the brand new exhausts were blowing! I asked the guy for a quote because i was obviously horrified! lol. When he came back i asked him if they worked on commission as all the suspension, exhausts etc were brand new and id fitted it all, needless to say he didnt make a sale, but ive found it invaliable to be able to hold my own. Hence the question. Here endeth the essay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Without being rude or arrogant, is there any members on this forum who actually understand, the how's and why's of Performance car modification and how and why things actually work? Sure i drive a American Day van at the moment (six kids my choice) but i have raced single seaters and run the 1/4 mile,even time trialled and i have more than a basic knowledge of the how's and why's but reading through the posts i feel very alone! I dont mind if this makes me unpopular, but it makes me wonder! [/ QUOTE ] "ZCHYBRID" is definately one member who knows exactly the ins and outs of car modding.He's worked for 2 rolling road tuning companies and built his super-quick Honda Civic last Summer from a shell.Using a block that shouldn't have been mated to the head and then wiring the V-tec ECU from scratch.I watched him do it,day in day out and told him that he'd never get it running properly.Well 13.6 sec quarter mile later he proved me completely wrong.And the car hasn't missed a beat! He also got 210bhp and 235lb/ft from my car when Superchips and alike can only get 180bhp and 200lb/ft.42,000 trouble-free miles later and I'm very happy Oh for that kind of mechanical knowhow...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrosteve Posted February 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 This is what IM talking about REAL mods. I bolted a Cosworth 16v head to a "normal" (not 205) 2.0 pinto block and then ran dcoe's and a bannana manifold after being told by Ford that it wouldnt work, were theres a will theres a way. Or runnning a low compression (van engine) 2.0 pinto then turbocharging it via a blow through carb! Wheelspins in every gear anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 [ QUOTE ] This is what IM talking about REAL mods. I bolted a Cosworth 16v head to a "normal" (not 205) 2.0 pinto block and then ran dcoe's and a bannana manifold after being told by Ford that it wouldnt work, were theres a will theres a way. Or runnning a low compression (van engine) 2.0 pinto then turbocharging it via a blow through carb! Wheelspins in every gear anyone? [/ QUOTE ] I think the trouble is nowadays that good old fashioned tuning like you're talking about has gone out of the window. In general the cars people drive are not very old and are only gonna be modded by ECU/exhaust/filter changes.Rather than learn how to do it themselves,people would rather just go and pay ££££'s to a tuning company and be done.Can't say I blame them to be honest 'cos I sure couldn't do it myself either. Would be interesting to see out of all the modded cars on TSN,how many have had /cam swaps/head work/bigger injectors etc.,bet it's not that many! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrosteve Posted February 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 I must agree with you, if id taken more notice of the lecturers and spent more time with the pc than spanners then i might have had a different outlook on this, but i thinmk its a shame that the only tuning people seem to be able to do nowadays ( to road cars anyway ) is changing the parameters of their ecu. Sign of the times? or am i just an old fart with too many kids. I must admit though i do enjoy bolting Turbo's onto cars that never had one in the first place and "street sleepers" are my favourite the look you get when youve just caned some blokes gttti 16v chipped chav in your old battered fiesta is worth a 1000 hp! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrosteve Posted February 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Would be interesting to see out of all the modded cars on TSN,how many have had /cam swaps/head work/bigger injectors etc.,bet it's not that many! [/ QUOTE ] Maybe a new thread? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I must agree with you, if id taken more notice of the lecturers and spent more time with the pc than spanners then i might have had a different outlook on this, but i thinmk its a shame that the only tuning people seem to be able to do nowadays ( to road cars anyway ) is changing the parameters of their ecu. Sign of the times? or am i just an old fart with too many kids. I must admit though i do enjoy bolting Turbo's onto cars that never had one in the first place and "street sleepers" are my favourite the look you get when youve just caned some blokes gttti 16v chipped chav in your old battered fiesta is worth a 1000 hp! [/ QUOTE ] That's the whole beauty of ZC's Civic.It's an old "D" plate and has no stickers or rubbish on it,just slightly bigger wheels and exhaust,and yet,it's as quick as a new M3! Not comfortable,not refined,but fun,fun,fun!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobes49 Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 I know nothing, but I will allways try! Performance tuning is a very personal thing, but there are set rules that get a engine/Whole car to work! My outlook on tuning is VERY different to most people, but that my way! Thats what makes ever tuner different. As for head/cam swap. Dont thing I own anything that standard! My old jetta I broke 3 cylinder heads porting them to much, but you have to go to far to find limits! Then had twin 40DCOE's PS is that your astro in the avatar? Hydo or bagged? has it been body dropped? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobes49 Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I must agree with you, if id taken more notice of the lecturers and spent more time with the pc than spanners then i might have had a different outlook on this, but i thinmk its a shame that the only tuning people seem to be able to do nowadays ( to road cars anyway ) is changing the parameters of their ecu. [/ QUOTE ] I'm allways the bolt turbo/superchargers to cars and use SU carbs type. But bolt on a turbo and use a ECU to map it is the way forward! But understand what you mean about the chip tunner types! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrosteve Posted February 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 Tobes 49, firstly no, the astro (green) isnt mine but it will look a bit like it, when ive finished. As for ecu's i agree they do make sense and i understand how and why they work i just dont get along with them. Nowadys for tuning you have to able to type as well as spin the spanners but its still interesting to see exactly what knowledge people have on this forum. Going back to my astro, im waiting for the summer to respray it ( warmer weather ) and i will be twirling spanners on it real soon, im just trying to source an ECU! from a 5.7 for the fuel injection, goes a bit against my point doesnt it, but never fear i WILL be doing all the spraying and mechanicals/ bodywork myself. Im in the process of retrimming the interior at the moment. As for computers i just seem to have an uncanny knack of "crashing" them i mean ive only rebooted this one 4 times in the last year! As for Su's, ive always used them for home made turbocharging as ive found them the most convienient (and best) option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobes49 Posted February 5, 2005 Report Share Posted February 5, 2005 The old SU with the adjustment underneath the chamber was a great carb. There are loads in scrap yards aswell! After using a Emerald ECU on my latest project I've got to say, i'm never going to mess around with bob-weights or Jets again, When it so easy to change things, and the software was very simple to use! Air-Bag the astro, My dad has a air-bagged Mazda pick-up and thats works really well! Pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrosteve Posted February 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2005 NIce mini truck ( thats what i would call it anyway ), im a hot rodder by nature and i must admit "air bags" are on the list of ideas but unfortunately its a daily driver at the moment so any mods have to be undertaken with this in mind, but i will get around to it all. Did you ever see the astro done by RAYVERN HYDRAULICS? He made a full custom chassis for it. But i do think that airbags give a better ride. So what do you drive? OR what projects do you have on the go at the moment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobes49 Posted February 6, 2005 Report Share Posted February 6, 2005 My cars are a Corrado G60, and a VW caddy that had a mid mounted 1.8 20valve turbo engine (rear wheel drive). But that engine being replaced with a 2.7 Biturbo audi S4 engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrosteve Posted February 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2005 Tobes if i didnt have so many kids then maybe my vehicle would be a bit different, but it does produce a healthy amount of torque so its not all doom and gloom! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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