Car tuning
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Car tuning is both an industry and a popular hobby, in which a car is modified in order to improve its performance and handling and better suit the owners driving style. As most cars leave the factory set up for average driver expectations and average conditions, tuning has become a way to personalize the characteristics of the vehicle to the owners preference. For example cars may be altered to provide better fuel economy, produce more power at high RPM or the ride comfort may be sacrificed to provide better handling.
Car tuning is related to auto racing, although most performance cars never compete. Rather they are built for the pleasure of owning and driving such a vehicle. Another major facet of tuning includes performance modification the car exterior. This includes changing the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle via side skirts, front and rear bumpers, adding spoilers, splitters, air vents and light weight wheels.
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[edit] Areas of modification
[edit] Engine tuning
Engine tuning involves modifications designed to increase the power of the engine. These modifications can range from a simple chip tuning, to adding nitrous injection, to a complete engine swap.
"Tuning an engine" has many different meanings today. Traditionally, to actually tune an engine meant adjusting the timing and the air/fuel ratios. Today, many people consider tuning to be adding cold air intakes, exhaust systems, turbochargers, or any other part that could conceivably make more horsepower. It is important to note that the two different meanings behind the word "tuning" refer to two completely different methods of making a car faster.
Adjusting engine timing and air/fuel ratios generally improves power and reliability of an engine without any further modifications. On the other hand, performance tuning an engine becomes increasingly beneficial after already modifying the engine with upgrades like a low restriction intake filter, injectors, forced induction, nitrous, headers, exhaust piping, cams, pistons, etc...
Adding parts to increase horsepower and torque is mechanical performance tuning, but adding body kit or/and modify interior is optical tuning.
[edit] Suspension tuning
Suspension tuning involves modifying the springs, shock absorbers, swaybars, and other related components of a vehicle. Shorter springs offer an improved lowered look and a lower center of gravity. The stiffer shock absorbers improve the dynamic weight shifting during high speed cornering. The stiffer sway bars reduce body roll during cornering improving a car's high speed turning grip. Other components that are sometimes added are strut tower braces. These improve the body stiffness and better maintains the proper suspension geometry during high speed cornering.
For offroad vehicles, the emphasis is on lengthening the suspension travel and larger tires to increase ground clearance.
Lowriders with hydraulic/pneumatic suspensions are another unique kind of suspension tuning.
[edit] Body tuning
Body tuning involves adding or modifying spoilers and a body kit. Sometimes this is done to improve the aerodynamic performance of a vehicle, as in the case of some wings or bumper canards. More often, these modifications are done mainly to improve a vehicle's appearance, as in the case of non-functioning scoops, wide arches and the like. Very rarely does an after market body kit improve performance, the majority add weight and make the car handle worse.
Another common body modification is called "shaving". This involves removing door handles, removing bumpers, removing emblems, chrome trim pieces, and key locks. The reason for this is to make the appearance of the car look smoother and cleaner with less disruptions on the body lines. The doors and trunk are alternately opened with keyless remote.
Another popular body modification is to alter the way that the doors open. One method is called "Lamborghini Doors" and the other is called "Suicide Doors". Lambo doors open outwards a bit and then swing upwards. Suicide doors open on the front side of the car instead of the back like a normal car. Most of these modifications are done with aftremarket kits that are availlable. Sometimes the hood and trunk are also modified to open differently.
[edit] Interior modifications
Interior modifications often call for a change or upgrade from factory-installed equipment. Seats may be upgraded for performance or styling reasons. Shifter knobs, stainless steel pedals, upolstery, gauges, steering wheel, door panels, nitrous bottles, roll cages, and carpets are other interior modifications. Some car modifiers add such products as lava lamps or electric balls to make the car look classy or different from other modified cars.
The most common type of interior modification is the addition of multimedia devices, for example audio amplifiers, speakers and subwoofers, DVD players, and LCD televisions.
[edit] Exterior modifications
Exterior modifications could include body kits, spoilers, HID( High Intensity Discharge) Xenon & Neon head lights, Alloy Wheels, and carbon fiber body components. A car's body kit is usually made from reinforced plastic, and sometimes contains a mainframe.
Whether external modifications offer any actual advantages in aerodynamic performance is highly debated. However, it stands to reason that the addition of a rear mounted wing on a front wheel drive vehicle will not adversely affect the vehicle's performance, even if the wing provides any significant downforce at all.
[edit] Terms
"Pimped" cars are usually referenced to classic cars.
"Streeted" or "Tuner" cars are Japanese imports, such as a Toyota Supra or Lancer Evolution series, these cars are most commonly modified with the more expensive mods available. The most popular modifications include neon lights and vinyl stickers.
[edit] "Tasteless" car modifications
Cars are often modified in a manner that is considered to be "tasteless or unsightly", an example of this being bright colors and low-cost exterior/interior modifications. Tasteless car modifications are one of the components of the British stereotype of the "chav". Note that the crucial aspects of car modding associated with this stereotype is its superfical nature (Bean can tail pipes, cheap "blow-over" paint jobs, redundant spoilers etc.) and garish visual effect. Other British subcultures engage in car modding, with the focus on "under the hood" modifications (customised engines, brakes etc.), without incurring the same criticism or condescension. British car show Top Gear has a "Carbage" section on their website featuring numerous photos of tackily modded vehicles.
[edit] Legal Requirements
Many countries have legal requirements in regard to what car owners can and can't do in relation to vehicle modifications. For example, all vehicles in Victoria, Australia, must conform to construction standards to ensure vehicles provide drivers and passengers with a maximum level of safety. The construction standards are contained in the Vehicle Standards Information Bulletins. There are also High Powered Vehicle Restrictions for P Plate drivers which can prevent young drivers from driving modified vehicles.
[edit] Sanctioning organizations
Many organizations involved in competitive motorsports establish safety guidelines that far exceed legal requirements when viewed in terms safety. The NHRA, IHRA and SOLO programs all require that vehicles pass inspection to ensure that all regulations are being complied with.
