Performance Modifications for Your Diesel-Powered Vehicle

Are you looking to increase horsepower and performance for your diesel-powered vehicle?  There are several things you can do fairly easily yourself with a little time, a little money, and a few simple hand tools to boost the power and performance of your vehicle.

Turbo Charger

One thing that can be done to increase the power and performance of your diesel -powered vehicle is to replace the factory turbo charger with a bigger one.  A larger turbo charger with a billet compressor wheel is capable of gains of 75 horsepower along with the proper tuning and fuel.  In addition to a big power and performance gain, exhaust gas temperatures will drop tremendously, which is better for the longevity of your diesel engine under the hood.  In essence, a larger turbo charger will deliver more air, and cooler air to boost the power and performance of your vehicle.  A turbo charger replacement usually runs about $1,200.00 give or take depending on your make and model of vehicle.

Diesel Engine Injector

The replacement of the factory fuel injectors in your diesel-powered vehicle is also a good way to boost engine power and performance.  Aftermarket 8 hole injector nozzles will most-likely give you the horsepower increase that you have been looking for by better fuel-flow design while keeping atomization high.  Performance fuel injectors provide a quicker throttle response, stronger mid-range engine power, and more total engine power.  Precisely balanced aftermarket fuel injectors can provide anywhere from 60 to 250 HP gain by the size and type of fuel injector selected, and cost about $650.00 to $850.00 each to replace depending on your make and model of vehicle.

EGR Delete Kit

An excellent thing to do to older Fords with the 6.0L diesel engine, and any other diesel-powered Ford with an EGR system, is to delete the EGR system entirely.  The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system circulates unburned fuel deposited into the exhaust system from the engine combustion process, and places it back into the intake system of the engine to be re-burned again.  This process robs your diesel-powered engine of needed power and performance, and lowers your fuel economy.  It also clogs-up the air intake system with carbon deposits that can eventually make the vehicle inoperable.  An EGR delete kit solves all of these issues by the removal of the EGR Cooler from the engine, and blocking-off the factory connections.  Coolant temperature is even lowered by removing the EGR system, which allows for better engine cooling while pulling heavy loads up steep grades for example.  The factory EGR valve which is visible, can also be re-used with the special EGR delete kit by sawing-off the bottom of the valve and fastening it directly on top of the special blocking plate, and snapping-off the electrical pins inside the plug on the valve where the factory wiring harness plugs into the top of the valve.  A custom power and performance tuner must be used with the EGR delete kit to trick the vehicle’s computer to not turn-on the check engine light when it notices the EGR valve is no longer connected to the vehicle.   EGR delete kits cost $400.00 to $600.00 depending on the vehicle application.

A power programmer or computer chip added to your vehicles’ engine control module (ECM) or the “brain” can greatly boost the engines’ power and performance.  Power programmers are able to boost engine power and performance levels by essentially reprogramming the vehicles’ factory ECM settings that were designed to inhibit the full potential of the engine under your hood.  With the factory settings in the ECM changed by a power programmer, your diesel-powered vehicle can have instant added power and increased fuel mileage by simply plugging a programmer into the connector under the dash on the drivers’ side of the vehicle, and following some simple directions from the programming device.  For $300.00 to $400.00 roughly, you too can reprogram the ECM in your vehicle.

Having the properly-sized exhaust system on your vehicle is extremely important.  Most vehicles produced today do not have exhaust systems large enough to realize the engines’ full potential.  Replacing your diesel-powered vehicles’ exhaust system is guaranteed to boost fuel economy, power, and performance with a properly sized performance exhaust system.  Replacement exhaust systems are fairly easy to install yourself if the correct system is purchased for your vehicle.  I highly recommend purchasing an exhaust replacement kit for your vehicle that has a direct-fit, bolt-on style installation procedure that does not require any welding or fabrication of any kind if you want to the installation to be easy as possible, and hassle-free.  I also recommend spraying any kind of penetrating oil onto the fasteners of your exhaust system that must be removed for installation of a new exhaust system, at least one day prior to doing the work, which will help dissolve rust and corrosion, and aides in lubricating fasteners for removal.

DPF Delete Kit

In addition, if your diesel-powered vehicle has a diesel particulate filter (DPF) on your exhaust system, you need to get rid of that as well, to increase the longevity of your engine, increase fuel mileage, and to also increase the power and performance of your vehicle.  A large bore performance DPF delete kit will reduce restriction, and keeps exhaust gasses flowing smoothly.  DPF filters become quickly plugged with ash from the regeneration process.  This process was designed to reduce emissions, but by using fuel and heat to have an internal reaction in the DPF to turn the carbon and soot created from the diesel engine combustion process into ash, greatly reduces fuel economy, power, performance, and longevity of your diesel engine.  I highly suggest getting-rid of this system design if you have one, and will cost you around $500.00 to get the job done.

Finally, be sure to change-out the factory air intake system in your diesel-powered vehicle.  The air intake systems in most vehicles are too compact, not large enough, and don’t allow the engine to receive enough cool-air which minimizes performance.  These systems house the air filter element for the vehicle that filters the air suction of the engine, which can contain harmful dust, dirt, and debris.  It is very important to have a good air filtration system for your vehicle that is both large enough for optimal performance, and properly cleans the air ingested into the engine.  These kits noticeably boost engine performance, and lowers fuel consumption because the engine can ingest air easier.  A decent air intake kit will set you back by about $300.00 depending on the vehicle you are buying it for.

For more information on diesel power & performance products click here.  I prefer to buy nearly all my diesel performance products at Rudy’s because they offer good deals and they know what they are talking about when it comes to buying performance modifications parts for your vehicle.

Drive-By Wire Technology for Newer Cars

Electronic Throttle

Vehicles today no-longer have a throttle cable connected to the accelerator pedal from inside your car, to the engine under the hood.  Current technology has largely replaced the old way of using mechanical cables to push and pull devices to get them to perform an important function of controlling a mechanism because they often fail or wear-out much quicker than the alternative.  When it comes to modern vehicles, they are all mostly computer controlled to increase fuel economy, power, and performance, in an effort of minimizing driver error.

The accelerator pedal in any newer vehicle is more than likely using a spring-loaded electronic sensor that is connected by electrical wires to the throttle actuator on the engine, but first goes though a computer processor that monitors and controls most operations of the vehicle.

Electronic Throttle Body

The throttle actuator on the engine is an electronic servo that manually opens and closes a large butterfly valve to control the air intake into the engine for smooth operation.  At the same time, the electrical signal also tells the fuel injectors of each cylinder to either increase or decrease the amount of fuel injected into that cylinder, which will either increase or decrease the power and performance of the vehicle.

These engine controls work together in unison as part of a completely electronically controlled vehicle system to gain better efficiency, performance, and to correct driver error.  These systems also play into other vehicle systems such as assisted steering and assisted braking for example.

As with most systems in a vehicle, if there is a problem in the throttle system, an accelerator warning light will become illuminated on the instrument cluster.  When this happens, you should take your vehicle to a reliable service repair shop to have the system inspected and repaired as soon as possible.  A faulty throttle control system can make your vehicle operate erratically, or not at all if not corrected soon enough.

Drive-By Wire Technology is the wave of current technology for never cars.  Not only does in help your car run more efficiently, but provides for optimal performance, including added fuel economy.

For more information on Drive-By Wire Technology in today’s vehicles click here.

ABS Brake Systems: Something You Should Know About Your Vehicle

Beginning in the early 1970’s, Ford and Chrysler started putting their version of Anti-Lock Brake Systems (ABS) in some of their models on a limited scale.  Today, all vehicle manufacturers are required to have ABS braking systems installed in all their models for sale within the US market because of the added safety that an Anti-Lock Braking System provides drivers when it comes to safely stopping a vehicle during various road conditions.

Instrument Cluster ABS Light

Anti-lock brake systems in vehicles today provide drivers with better braking abilities because electronic and mechanical controls use monitored data from both the vehicle itself, and from driver inputs to prevent the wheels from locking-up and avoiding uncontrolled skidding.  Vehicles equipped with ABS do not have to have the brakes continually pumped by the driver to slow down and avoid a collision during inclement weather driving conditions as they did in many vehicles before ABS systems were installed.  ABS systems use various sensors, inputs, and controls that are monitored by a computer system within the vehicle to control vehicle braking to keep the vehicle safely onto the road and to help avoid a crash.

With the use of ABS, stopping distances are generally reduced, and work with other vehicle safety systems such as Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control System, Emergency Brake Assist, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to maintain vehicle control during emergency driving maneuvers.

ABS System

These systems have greatly reduced vehicle crashes, especially vehicle crashes that involve vehicles running off of the roadway.  However, the Anti-Lock Brake system will not work when there is a problem with the braking system.  When this happens, the vehicle will revert to old-school type braking, where the driver would have to manually pump the brakes in the vehicle to avoid a skid and slow the vehicle down.  Where there is a problem with the Anti-Lock Braking System in a vehicle, the ABS warning light will be illuminated on the instrument cluster.

If you are experiencing this problem in your vehicle, have your vehicle inspected and repaired at a qualified repair shop to correct the problem.  Remember with an ABS system that is operating correctly allows vehicles to better maintain control, and can greatly reduce stopping distances during inclement weather driving conditions, and has been proven to save lives.

Make sure the Anti-Lock Braking System is working correctly in your vehicle, and consult your owners’ manual for information on how the Anti-Lock Braking System works in your particular vehicle, and for proper braking procedures.  If you do not currently have ABS in your vehicle, be sure to purchase a vehicle that is equipped with modern braking technology when you have the opportunity to buy a newer one.

For more information on Anti-Lock Braking Systems – click here.

Air Filter Maintenance: Important for Your Car

Maintaining the air filter in the engine compartment is important to ensure longevity and smooth operation of your vehicles’ engine.  Air filter service is a cheap way to make sure the oil inside your engine stays clean, and also provides better fuel economy for your vehicle because your engine can work much easier when it is able to ingest air though a clean air filter housed in the air intake system.

Air Filter

I recommend servicing the air filter in your vehicle every 12,000 – 15,000 miles for optimal performance.

Standard air filters usually range anywhere from $18 – $30 depending on the vehicle make and model.

Washable Air Filter

Aftermarket washable cloth filters are about $50 and can save money in the long run after repeated cleaning and reuse in your vehicle.  These filters generally flow air better than a standard air filter that contains a paper media to filter debris from the air.  Because of this, washable cloth filter manufacturers often claim added horsepower and fuel economy for your vehicle with their use.

A clean air filter removes dirt and debris from the air that is ingested into your engine during normal driving.  Vehicles that are operated in abnormally dusty or dirty conditions should have their air filter serviced more-often to avoid harm to internal engine components, and to improve general longevity of the engine.  It is easy to see when a vehicle is operated with a dirty air filter because the engine oil will quickly turn from a light brown color to a thick black color from dirt entering the air intake system.

Remember that maintaining the air filter in your vehicle can improve the power and performance of the engine and help make it last longer, while providing better fuel economy.  Air filter maintenance is a cheap and easy way to ensure that your vehicles’ engine is protected from ingesting harmful dirt and debris, and should be changed-out periodically.  Be sure to check the owners’ manual for your vehicle to see how to service your air filter, and how often.

For more information on general air filter maintenance click here.

Cabin Air Filter Maintenance: Important for Breathing Inside Your Car

Did you know that most newer vehicles have a cabin air filter that filters-out the incoming air that is supplied to the interior of your car though the heating and air conditioning ventilation system?

People who suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems should highly consider changing their cabin air filter in their vehicle frequently to breathe cleaner and better while driving.

Dirty Cabin Air Filter

Cabin air filters can quickly fill with dirt, dust, pollen, leaves, lint, and many other types of debris that can make it more difficult for you to breathe.  Having a clean cabin air filter installed into your vehicle will also help your heating and air conditioning ventilation system inside your car perform better because the positive pressure blower motor can push air though a clean filter much easier than a dirty filter, which will allow the interior of your car to heat-up or cool-down  that much quicker.

I personally recommend changing your cabin air filter every-other engine oil change to ensure that you are breathing cleaner air, or at least the best as possible while driving your car.  Most cabin air filter are serviced inside the glove box / storage compartment by flipping down the entire door assembly, or from under the dashboard assembly at the cabin filter access point.  Most times a few simple screws and a filter access door has to be removed or opened to access the cabin air filter for your vehicle.

Always consult the owners’ manual for your particular vehicle to discover if you actually have a cabin air filter to service inside your car, and where it is located.  Most owners’ manuals will even tell you how to change it out so read-up on this one folks.

Remember that changing the cabin air filter inside your vehicle can help your breathe easier and better while driving, and can also help your heating and air conditioning ventilation system perform better.  Cabin air filters should be checked periodically, and are not that expensive to replace when needed to do so.

For more information on cabin air filters click here.

Brakes: Important for Your Safety.

When it comes to your vehicle, it is very important to make sure that the brakes are in good working order.  Just know that your vehicles’ braking system is the most critical safety system, and that your life, and the lives of others greatly depend on their working ability to stop or slow the vehicle while traveling down the road.

Periodic inspection of your vehicles’ braking system should be done at least annually, if not at every engine oil change.   They should also be checked immediately if any problems are suspected, especially if the brake light or the ABS light on the instrument panel becomes illuminated, or you hear a harsh metallic noise when applying the brakes to slow down the vehicle. A properly operating brake system will help ensure safe vehicle operation and control under various road conditions that we encounter throughout the year.

Disc Brake Assembly

Disc Brakes:  Most modern vehicles have disc brakes on each wheel, with a special caliper at the rear wheels that are incorporated with a parking brake assembly.  The parking brake assembly squeezes the brake disc when the parking brake is applied, and should not allow the vehicle to move.  The brake pads are housed into a brake caliper assembly and squeeze the brake rotor as it turns to slow the vehicle down when the driver depresses the brake pedal inside the vehicle.  In each brake caliper, hydraulic pressure should be applied evenly on both brake pads that squeeze the rotating brake disc.  Upon inspection, if you notice that one brake pad is thinner than the other in the brake assembly, a brake service should be performed to free the seized or defective brake caliper assembly.  In addition, brake pad thickness should be greater than 1/8” of braking material.  If your brake pads are becoming thin, they should be replaced immediately to ensure optimal braking performance.  Vehicles that use disc brakes have better and proven stopping abilities than vehicles that are equipped with drum brakes.

Drum Brake Assembly

Drum Brakes:  Older vehicles and some late model vehicles have drum brakes.  Drum brakes were the original brake design for automobiles in earlier times.  Vehicles today have mostly advanced to the use of disc brakes in various models.  Drum brakes began to be phased-out of production in most vehicle models because they don’t work as well as disc brakes does when they become wet or frozen, and often need internal adjustment to ensure braking ability.  Drum brakes work by evenly pushing apart two brake shoes that are comprised of a semi-circle cutout design of brake material to contact a rotating drum, which slows the vehicle when the brakes are applied.  A parking brake mechanism inside the brake drum manually forces the brake shoes against the brake drum to apply the parking brake when needed.  Be aware that brake shoes are normally much thinner than brake pads, even when they are new.  If you see that your brake shoes are about 1/16” in brake material thickness, it is time for them to be replaced.

In case of a brake failure in the hydraulic portion of the braking system in your vehicle, know that your parking brake can most-likely be used to slow-down your vehicle, and eventually make it come to a complete stop.  Never attempt to drive a motor vehicle with faulty brakes.  This can be very dangerous, and could cause severe injury to you and others, and often includes considerable property damage.

Things to look for in potential brake system problems:

•Vehicle pulls to one side during braking.

•The brake pedal pulsates when the brakes are applied.

•The brake pedal feels “mushy” when depressed.

•Noise is heard when the brakes are applied.

•Repeatedly adding brake fluid to the master cylinder.

All of these symptoms of problems in a vehicles’ braking system can become serious issues, and can lead to injury and property damage if not quickly inspected and serviced.  Just know that the brakes in your vehicle need service and maintenance from daily wear and tear, meaning that they’re a normal wear item for any vehicle, and will eventually need replacement.

Some factors that affect brake wear include:

•Personal driving habits.

•Vehicle operating conditions.

•Vehicle type and design.

•Brake lining material quality and design.

Remember that the entire brake system in your car should be checked every year, which should include brake linings, rotors, and brake drums – if equipped.  Avoid letting your brakes go to the “metal-to-metal” point, which often means that unnecessary, and expensive rotor or drum replacement will have to be done to your vehicle to correct a faulty braking issue.  Brakes are the most critical safety system in your vehicle, and that your life and the lives of others greatly depend on their working ability.  Good brakes provide you and your passengers with added safety on the road, and can save you both time and money when they are properly maintained.

For more information, check-out this brake safety guide.

Suspension Maintenance: Important for Your Vehicle

Preventative maintenance is important for your car in order to keep it safe and functioning correctly.  Most drivers know that they should check under the hood and walk around it every once in a while to make sure everything is OK, but the suspension components underneath the vehicle can be equally important.

Vehicles have steering components like center links, tie rods, and tie rod ends that need occasional alignment; bushings and joints that need to be replaced after a few years of service, and grease fittings that need to be greased every time the vehicle is due for an oil change.

Vehicle Undercarraige

Suspension components on vehicles need periodic inspection and lubrication, mainly when the vehicle is due for service.  Components such as A-arms, shocks, struts, leaf springs, stabilizers, bushings, body mounts, and even the vehicles’ frame should have periodic inspection and maintenance.  It is very common for a vehicle’s bushings that support the suspension system and body mounting to wear-out after several years of service, and need to be replaced.  A vehicle’s shocks and struts should be replaced anywhere from 80,000 – 100,000 miles on the average vehicle, and anytime during an inspection where they are found to be leaking oil.  Shocks and struts that are leaking oil from their housing are weak and defective, and need to be replaced.  Grease fittings are also on many different suspension components, pivot points especially.

Many tire service shops, auto repair shops, and suspension shops specialize in vehicle suspension service and repair.  Oftentimes these are great places to get a front-end vehicle alignment for your vehicle when you notice it is pulling to either direction, or when you notice your tires beginning to wear-out unevenly across the tread surface.  In addition, suspension repairs can amount to hundreds, if not thousands of dollars if not done correctly, and as needed.  It is always a good idea to have the suspension system checked and serviced on your vehicle when you get an oil change for the engine.  Be sure your vehicle service center is greasing the required suspension components when your vehicle is due for service.

Periodic inspection and maintenance of your vehicles’ suspension components will help your vehicle continue to be safe, and have a useful life for many years if done correctly, and as needed.  Always check your vehicles’ owners’ manual when it comes to proper maintenance.

For more information on suspension maintenance of your vehicle, please check out this undercar guide.

Suspension Kits for Your Vehicle

If you are looking to either lift or lower your vehicle and fit some nice wheels and tires underneath it, there are a few things you should know.  Suspension modifications can make a vehicle look really good, they can be very costly, time consuming and in-depth, and can change the way a vehicle handles on the road.

Depending on what style of vehicle that you like, either lifting or lowering them can give a vehicle the potential to look really good.  Body kits and fender flares can be added to the vehicle to provide for both functionality and looks.  They can keep mud and debris off-of the side of the vehicle, or provide the vehicle with a nice and defined streamlined look.

Lowered vehicles can look cool because when they are moving down the road, they are sitting really low to the ground.  They are usually within inches from contacting the pavement, and appear to by gliding across the surface.

Lifted vehicles are also equally neat because they can be really tall and high-up off of the ground.  Some of these trucks are like mini monster trucks.

No matter if a vehicle is lifted or lowered, there are some really neat ones out on the road, and ones that are not so neat.  Take a look at a few of these vehicles for ideas on modifications for your vehicle.

Suspension modifications can not only look really good, but they can be very costly.  Lifted trucks usually have a lot of suspension work done to them to lift a vehicle high-up off of the ground to put huge wheels and tires underneath them.  Lifted vehicles usually have special shocks, sway bars, torsion bars, A-arms, leaf springs, coil springs, support blocks, and U-bolts just to name a few.  These parts are of usually high-quality, and are pricey.  They sky is the limit when it comes to purchasing a suspension kit for your vehicle.  At Summit Racing, suspension kits can range from $200.00 – $4,500.00 depending on what you are in the market for.

Lift Kit

Suspension Lowering Kit

As you can imagine, some suspension kits for vehicles can be very time consuming and in-depth.  Depending on the type and brand of suspension kit that you want to buy for your vehicle, you will need some special tools and shop equipment to get the job done.  Some kits require cutting metal components out of the existing suspension, or welding new components onto the suspension.  Some parts need to be compressed or bent to make them work.  It is always a good idea to have a vehicle lift to easily get the vehicle up off of the ground to do some suspension work to it.  Some suspension kits contain many intricate components.  Great care should be used when installing these components in order to do it correctly and safely.  Always follow the directions provided by the manufacturer when installing suspension kits into a vehicle.

Installing a suspension kit into your vehicle can change the way it handles on the road – forever.  This can be either good or bad.  Lifted vehicles can become really squirrely and very easy to rollover because they have a higher center of gravity than before, because they are further from the ground.  They also often have a stiff ride from all of the suspension modifications that makes them become very rigid for stability purposes.  When lifted vehicles are driven off-road, they usually have optimal ground clearance, and can usually go in more places than a standard type of vehicle can.  Lowered vehicles usually handle extremely well at high speeds, around corners, and just cruising down the street because they have a low center of gravity.  Lowered vehicles often have airbag suspension components that make them ride smoothly.  Some are outfitted with actual racing-style suspension components that make them second to none when it comes to handling tight corners at high speeds.

No matter what type of suspension kit you are in the market for to lower or lift your vehicle, be prepared for a mini adventure in finding the one that is right for your vehicle, and your wallet.  Make sure to do some research as always on some different kits that you are interested in, and shop around to find the best price before making a huge commitment.  Be prepared to let go of some piles of cash when it comes to suspension upgrades for your vehicle.  Know that modifications to the suspension will change your vehicle forever.  Be patient and do a good job when putting on a suspension kit; for in the end, it will most likely look really good.

New Wheels for Your Ride

Are you tired of the wheels that you currently have on your vehicle?  Are your current wheels damaged from hitting things like rocks, curbs, ditches, etc. and you need some new ones?  If you are, you need some different wheels for your ride.  Before running out the door to go buy some new ones, do a little research and decide what kind of wheels that you want to buy that will work best for both your vehicle, and your wallet.

One of the first things you should consider when buying new wheels for your vehicle is how much money you are willing to spend.  Wheels can be really expensive if you don’t know where to buy them, or if you want super-high quality wheels for your ride.  Depending on where you find replacement wheels for your vehicle, you can expect to spend anywhere from $25.00 – $250.00 per wheel.

The next best decision to make when it comes to purchasing wheels for you vehicle is to decide whether you are going to buy either new or used.  While new wheels are always nice to have, they can also be the most expensive.  I highly recommend to shop around to get the best deal before springing a bunch of cash on a set of wheels that you can get much cheaper somewhere else for the exact same wheels.

If you are in the market to buy new wheels, I think that Summit Racing in Sparks is a great place to start your search for some nice wheels at a great price.  Discount Tire is another place that I recommend for buying new wheels as well.

If you are not into buying brand-new wheels for your vehicle because you simply cannot afford it, then buying some used wheels for your vehicle is a perfect solution.  You would be surprised of how many nice sets of used wheels that you could find at local garage sales in your area that would fit your vehicle.  If you have the time, cruise around your neighborhood to check-out some garage sales for some killer deals on some used wheels.  Another great place to check-out online for some good used wheels in your area is Craigslist.  People often sale their lightly used wheels on Craigslist that they have recently removed from their new vehicle to put on aftermarket ones.  These wheels are often very inexpensive to buy, and can sometimes be a perfect fit for both your car, and your wallet.  If you are in the Carson City area, I highly recommend checking-out Carson Used Tire & Wheel.  These guys offer direct replacement wheels for your vehicle if you are looking for just one wheel to match your vehicle that you previously damaged or for all new good-used wheels for your vehicle.  All of which are usually at great prices.  They also offer both new and used tires for excellent prices as well.  If you are in the Reno area and are looking for some used wheels, you can check-out Mr. Hubcap & Wheel as well, and see what they have to offer.

Note:  When buying used wheels from someone, do yourself and your car a favor, and thoroughly check the wheels for any dents, cracks, and damage.  Some people out there will knowingly try to sell you defective wheels for you vehicle to make money, and get rid-of their junk.  Be careful in buying used wheels for your car.

Besides wheel material, color, and style, there are a few other things to consider when buying different wheels for your vehicle:

Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems:  New cars have tire pressure monitoring systems in each wheel that that actually measures individual tire pressure, and alert the driver when a tire has low air pressure on the vehicle, with both a sound and a warning light.  Be sure that these sensors will work with the replacement wheels that you want, and that they get installed onto the new wheels for both your safety, and to avoid annoying lights and sounds coming from your dashboard that has to do with your wheels and tires.

Wheel Size:  Be sure to purchase wheels that will physically fit under your vehicle in relation to height.  It is always a good idea to buy the same size of wheels that are currently on your vehicle to avoid any suspension of body modifications that can be really expensive.

Wheel Bolt Pattern:  Choose a replacement wheel for you vehicle that has the correct bolt pattern.  It is always a good idea to count how many lug nuts that are currently on your vehicle, and measure between the two farthest lug nuts that are from one another to determine what kind of lug nut pattern that you will need when buying different wheels.

Wheel Width & Offset:  These concepts can be tricky.  Try to buy replacement wheels for your vehicle that have the same offset and width as the wheels that you currently have.  To get the wheel width, you will have to measure how wide your wheels are from across the tire bead mounting area on the wheel.  To get the offset value of your wheel, you will have to measure from where the wheel bolts onto the hub from the center of the wheel itself, to the outer side of the wheels’ edge, on the side of the wheel that directly faces the vehicle.  Get that? Wheeew!  – This all can be difficult, so good luck!  Just know you are going to have to buy some wheels that are wide enough for the tires that you want, and wheels with an offset that will not make the wheels rub the inside of your vehicles’ wheel well, or ones that won’t stick out of the side of your vehicle too far – which is hard on your vehicle anyway.

Remember that there are many choices when it comes to buying either new or used wheels for you vehicle.  Educate yourself when making these choices, and make the right ones.  New wheels for your vehicle will make your wallet a little lighter, but they can also make your car both ride and look better.  Happy wheel hunting!

Smart and Easy Performance Upgrades for Your Car

Ever think about putting a little time and money into your car to make it run a little better, have more power, and even get better fuel economy?  There are a few things you can do relatively easy and fairly inexpensive to boost the power and performance of your vehicle.  Check out these ideas and do a little research on them to see if they might work for you and your vehicle.

Cold-Air Intake Kit:  The air intake systems in most vehicles are too compact, not large enough, and don’t allow the engine to receive enough cool-air which minimizes performance.  These systems house the air filter element for the vehicle that filters the air suction of the engine, which can contain harmful dust, dirt, and debris.  It is very important to have a good air filtration system for your vehicle that is both large enough for optimal performance, and properly cleans the air ingested into the engine.  These kits noticeably boost engine performance, and lowers fuel consumption because the engine can ingest air easier.

These kits can be picked-up anywhere from $150.00 to     $300.00 depending on your make and model.

Air Intake Kits

Power Programmer:  A power programmer or computer chip added to your vehicles’ engine control module (ECM) or the “brain” can greatly boost the engines’ power and performance.  Power programmers are able to boost engine power and performance levels by essentially reprogramming the vehicles’ factory ECM settings that were designed to inhibit the full potential of the engine under your hood.  With the factory settings in the ECM changed by a power programmer, your car can have instant added power and increased fuel mileage by simply plugging one into the connector under the dash on the drivers’ side of the vehicle, and following some simple directions from the programming device.

Power Programmers can be purchased for your vehicle     anywhere from $300.00 – $600.00 depending on the type of programmer you     want.

Power Programmers

Exhaust System:  Having the properly-sized exhaust system on your vehicle is extremely important.  Most vehicles produced today do not have exhaust systems large enough to realize the engines’ full potential.  Replacing your vehicles’ exhaust system is guaranteed to boost fuel economy, power, and performance with a properly sized performance exhaust system.  These replacement systems are fairly easy to install yourself if the correct system is purchased for your vehicle.  I highly recommend purchasing an exhaust replacement kit for your vehicle that has a direct-fit, bolt-on style installation procedure that does not require any welding or fabrication of any kind if you want to the installation to be easy as possible, and hassle-free.  I also recommend spraying any kind of penetrating oil onto the fasteners on your exhaust system that must be removed for installation of a new exhaust system at least one day prior to doing the work that dissolves rust and corrosion, and aides in lubricating fasteners for removal.

Replacement Exhaust Systems can be purchased for your     vehicle anywhere from $200.00 – $500.00 depending on the make and model of     your vehicle.

Replacement Exhaust Systems

These are just a few of the easier and cheaper upgrades you can do to your car to boost power, performance, and fuel economy.   Do a little research and see what would work best for you if you have a little time and money to spend on your vehicle.  Here are some more helpful tips in helping you decide on what and how to do performance upgrades on your vehicle:  Get-it done.