THUNDERS GARAGE " TECH CORNER "
Included here are some time tested, useful ideas to aid you in building or maintaining your custom ride.
Here's what I have so far. Do you have some advise to share? E-Mail your tips to Blue Thunder.
Here's what I have so far. Do you have some advise to share? E-Mail your tips to Blue Thunder.
Performance Chips:
Automotive Upgrades for Improved Fuel Economy
September, 2011
By Arash Allaei
In the new age of ever-fluctuating gas prices and uncertainty in fuel markets overall, comfot can be taken in driving fuel efficient vehicles versus using giant gas guzzlers to get everywhere. If you drive a vehicle that's perceived to be a gas guzzler of sorts, such as a truck, van, or SUV, you may feel as though you're a hostage to gas price changes, but you're not. There are various aftermarket automotive upgrades available for use on larger vehicles that help to improve their fuel economy. Of them all, among the cheapest and easiest to install is a performance chip.
Performance computer chips can raise the fuel efficiency of a truck or van by basically 'tricking' the vehicle's sensors into reacting differently to information being fed to it. A standard performance chip add-on, depending on what other pieces of aftermarket parts you've installed, can provide you with 4-7 miles per gallon in fuel savings. After all, fuel savings depends on a streamlined process that starts with a spark igniting fuel in the engine and continues on with air intake into the engine and actual fuel expenditure. The more efficient the air-fuel-spark mixture is, the fewer the gallons of gasoline your truck or van will end up using.
Of all upgrade projects, performance chip installation is among the simplest. In under an hour, most people will be able to hook up the chip to the air intake sensor, and most modern car computer chips don't require manual reboots nowadays to operate with your car's current systems. You should only need basic tools to complete the installation, and as long as you follow directions carefully, installation should be done in no-time.
Performance chips, along with boosting a vehicle's fuel economy, also can raise horsepower output by up to 60HP, depending on the engine displacement. While that may seem under whelming compared to the potential 400 horsepower boost provided by a turbocharger, it's still quite significant at a fraction of the cost in parts or labor. With both power and fuel efficiency improvements in hand, this inexpensive add-on makes for a great early upgrade project for any van or truck owner.
For more information on performance chips, surf to: Performance Chips Direct.
Automotive Upgrades for Improved Fuel Economy
September, 2011
By Arash Allaei
In the new age of ever-fluctuating gas prices and uncertainty in fuel markets overall, comfot can be taken in driving fuel efficient vehicles versus using giant gas guzzlers to get everywhere. If you drive a vehicle that's perceived to be a gas guzzler of sorts, such as a truck, van, or SUV, you may feel as though you're a hostage to gas price changes, but you're not. There are various aftermarket automotive upgrades available for use on larger vehicles that help to improve their fuel economy. Of them all, among the cheapest and easiest to install is a performance chip.
Performance computer chips can raise the fuel efficiency of a truck or van by basically 'tricking' the vehicle's sensors into reacting differently to information being fed to it. A standard performance chip add-on, depending on what other pieces of aftermarket parts you've installed, can provide you with 4-7 miles per gallon in fuel savings. After all, fuel savings depends on a streamlined process that starts with a spark igniting fuel in the engine and continues on with air intake into the engine and actual fuel expenditure. The more efficient the air-fuel-spark mixture is, the fewer the gallons of gasoline your truck or van will end up using.
Of all upgrade projects, performance chip installation is among the simplest. In under an hour, most people will be able to hook up the chip to the air intake sensor, and most modern car computer chips don't require manual reboots nowadays to operate with your car's current systems. You should only need basic tools to complete the installation, and as long as you follow directions carefully, installation should be done in no-time.
Performance chips, along with boosting a vehicle's fuel economy, also can raise horsepower output by up to 60HP, depending on the engine displacement. While that may seem under whelming compared to the potential 400 horsepower boost provided by a turbocharger, it's still quite significant at a fraction of the cost in parts or labor. With both power and fuel efficiency improvements in hand, this inexpensive add-on makes for a great early upgrade project for any van or truck owner.
For more information on performance chips, surf to: Performance Chips Direct.
Ford Super Duty Death Wobble Cure
A Cure For The Super Duty Curse
December, 2009
By Rick Pewe
The dreaded death wobble has been a problem on 4x4s for ages. The warning sign is a shudder or shimmy in the front axle while on the road. This can develop into a violent shaking and near loss of control. While many factors contribute to death wobble, some are primary culprits from the get-go. Other than whacked-out tires and rims, the track bar on many vehicles with coil-spring front suspension is often worn out, at the wrong angle, or damaged. Add to this a lift kit, big tires and wheels, and a few hard miles, and you have a recipe for sure disaster.
To combat this issue on the '05-'09 Ford F-250-550 Super Duty trucks with coils, WC Motorsports of Walpole, Massachusetts, has devised a replacement track bar that cures the shakes and wobbles associated with a bad bar. Instead of the spindly factory bar with stock ball joint and bushing ends, the WC bar is made of 1/2-inch 0.25-wall DOM tubing with 7/8-inch chromoly ends that are Teflon lined. The bar bungs are CNC-milled out of 4130 stock, and the bar is powdercoated metallic gray. The mounting points allow the bar to be used in the stock location for up to 4-inch lifts, and on top of the axle mount for 6-inch and taller mounts. The new design is not only stronger, but because the mounting axis has been moved, the bar is parallel with the drag link, reducing bumpsteer and helping to prevent the death wobble. A few more tricks like an adjustable ball joint alignment shim and special alignment specs make this kit one nice addition to your Ford.
We went to Off Road Unlimited in Burbank, California, for the easy install. Owner Maurice Rozzo had us in and out in a couple hours while using a customer's lifted F-250. The customer had thought of selling his truck as the death wobble was just too intense, but after the new bar he even went and bought a boat to tow, since the truck was so stable! Follow along as we install the WC Motorsports bar and see how simple a fix this can be.
For more info and step-by-step photos, visit Peterson's 4 Wheel & Off-Road web site.
A Cure For The Super Duty Curse
December, 2009
By Rick Pewe
The dreaded death wobble has been a problem on 4x4s for ages. The warning sign is a shudder or shimmy in the front axle while on the road. This can develop into a violent shaking and near loss of control. While many factors contribute to death wobble, some are primary culprits from the get-go. Other than whacked-out tires and rims, the track bar on many vehicles with coil-spring front suspension is often worn out, at the wrong angle, or damaged. Add to this a lift kit, big tires and wheels, and a few hard miles, and you have a recipe for sure disaster.
To combat this issue on the '05-'09 Ford F-250-550 Super Duty trucks with coils, WC Motorsports of Walpole, Massachusetts, has devised a replacement track bar that cures the shakes and wobbles associated with a bad bar. Instead of the spindly factory bar with stock ball joint and bushing ends, the WC bar is made of 1/2-inch 0.25-wall DOM tubing with 7/8-inch chromoly ends that are Teflon lined. The bar bungs are CNC-milled out of 4130 stock, and the bar is powdercoated metallic gray. The mounting points allow the bar to be used in the stock location for up to 4-inch lifts, and on top of the axle mount for 6-inch and taller mounts. The new design is not only stronger, but because the mounting axis has been moved, the bar is parallel with the drag link, reducing bumpsteer and helping to prevent the death wobble. A few more tricks like an adjustable ball joint alignment shim and special alignment specs make this kit one nice addition to your Ford.
We went to Off Road Unlimited in Burbank, California, for the easy install. Owner Maurice Rozzo had us in and out in a couple hours while using a customer's lifted F-250. The customer had thought of selling his truck as the death wobble was just too intense, but after the new bar he even went and bought a boat to tow, since the truck was so stable! Follow along as we install the WC Motorsports bar and see how simple a fix this can be.
For more info and step-by-step photos, visit Peterson's 4 Wheel & Off-Road web site.
FIND YOUR TRUE GEARING...
The TOTALLY accurate way to tell your true overall gearing...is below.
Park on a slight downhill grade with some downhill room....tires properly inflated, vehicle loaded as it would be when in use, etc.
Make a chalk-mark on tire sidewall facing straight down, and one on the pavement...have a helper roll the van one rolling diameter downhill, so mark on tire is again straight down....make new mark on pavement. Meanwhile, you get under van and count how many driveshaft revs equal one true rolling diameter revolution - that's your baseline axle ratio.
Now...measure distance between marks on pavement in inches, and divide that into 63,360 (the number of inches in a mile). This gives you TRUE axle revs per mile, and, axle RPM at 60 MPH. This number times baseline axle ratio (from above) gives you TRUE driveshaft RPM at 60 MPH....which is also engine RPM when in 3rd gear lockup.
4th gear RPM at 60 MPH is above number times OD ratio...usually .7 or thereabouts.
Hope this is useful...
Thank Matt
The TOTALLY accurate way to tell your true overall gearing...is below.
Park on a slight downhill grade with some downhill room....tires properly inflated, vehicle loaded as it would be when in use, etc.
Make a chalk-mark on tire sidewall facing straight down, and one on the pavement...have a helper roll the van one rolling diameter downhill, so mark on tire is again straight down....make new mark on pavement. Meanwhile, you get under van and count how many driveshaft revs equal one true rolling diameter revolution - that's your baseline axle ratio.
Now...measure distance between marks on pavement in inches, and divide that into 63,360 (the number of inches in a mile). This gives you TRUE axle revs per mile, and, axle RPM at 60 MPH. This number times baseline axle ratio (from above) gives you TRUE driveshaft RPM at 60 MPH....which is also engine RPM when in 3rd gear lockup.
4th gear RPM at 60 MPH is above number times OD ratio...usually .7 or thereabouts.
Hope this is useful...
Thank Matt
OFF-ROAD TRAVEL CHECKLIST
Things To Take With You |
|
CHECK ALL YOUR RIDES FLUIDS | |
CHECK YOUR TIRE AIR PRESSURE | Drivers License |
Vehicle Instruction Manuel | |
Auto Registration | |
Proof of Insurance | |
Traveler's Checks | |
Flash Light & Batteries | |
First Aid Kit | |
Jack & Sand Platform | |
Tire Block | |
Puncture Repair Kit | |
Hand or 12v Battery Air Pump | |
Tire Gauge | |
Pressure Spare Tire | |
Spare Light Bulbs | |
Spare Fuses | |
Extra Fan Belts | |
Radiator Hose | |
Jumper Cables | |
Well Equiped Tool Box | |
Soap | |
Tow Rope, Chain and Shovel | |
What did I forget?
ASTRO VAN LOWERING KITS...
Belltech 95-02 Astro/Safari 2WD 2.5/3.5 Drop Lowering Kit 769
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