28 Mar 00
Sometimes fast just isn't fast enough. Manufacturers might think that their humble little shopper is the ultimate driving machine, but some owners would disagree. Zero to 60 mph acceleration that can be measured with an egg-timer, and a top speed barely higher than your shoe size, might be fine for cat-food-run OAPs, but younger motorists will be forced to find ways to make their cheap and cheerful motor really get a move on. This means bolting bits on to make the cars go faster, stop quicker and handle better, and it's called tuning. Often considered a baffling black art, the principles of tuning are simple. Simple enough, in fact, for us to provide this mug's guide.
Anchors away
Boosting your brakes is an essential prerequisite to an engine tune. Fitting ventilated disc brakes with matching high-performance pads is the usual route. Sometimes larger-diameter discs can also be installed. You will definitely stop quicker as a result.
Airy fairy
A free-flow air filter will help the engine breath better while keeping out harmful dirt. This is probably the cheapest and simplest way of giving an engine a couple of extra bhp.
Head case
Extra power mostly comes from the cylinder head. Without getting boringly technical, the head can be modified to improve airflow by removing manufacturing imperfections such as casting lines and machined edges. It can also be gas-flowed. The result is more efficient running and higher power output. Also, to overcome the power-throttling effects of catalytic converters, a sports camshaft can be slotted into the cylinder head.
Chips with everything
As well as oily bits, modern cars also have a lot of computer technology. The ECU Electronic Control Unit is controlled by chips. A reprogrammed chip can optimise a standard engine's performance, increasing power by 8-10 bhp - 30 bhp in diesel and high-performance engines - although the real gain is in driveability, giving smoother acceleration. Don't be tempted to buy a chip and install it yourself, however, or you could cause your engine to self-destruct. Get an expert to set it up properly.
Wheely good
On the purely cosmetic level, a set of low-profile tyres surrounding an alloy wheel will improve the looks of your car: the arches look fuller and the car sexier. The dynamic pay-off is improved handling and grip. A larger wheel may even expose the brakes, improving airflow and making for stronger, more efficient brakes. Get it wrong, though, and the wheels could foul the arches over bumps or under a heavy load, and the ride may suffer. Expert help is essential to find the right combination for your car.
Suspended animation
Ride and handling are always a compromise. Ideally you don't want to roll around corners, or bungee-jump along a bumpy road. But set the suspension too hard and it all becomes jittery and uncomfortable. There are lots of spring and damper sets on the market, some of which are adjustable to suit the conditions. Other improvements include the replacement of rubber suspension bushes with polyurethane ones to cut down road noise and locate the suspension more accurately.
Brace yourself
For the seriously enthusiastic driver, stressbars are the way to stop a car flexing when it is driven hard. Modern one-piece bodyshells, especially hatchbacks, are less rigid than saloons and can benefit from a strut, brace or bar fitted to the tops of the suspension towers or underneath, attached to the suspension wishbones. The result is more positive steering and assured behaviour when cornering.
Exhausting work
Getting gases out of an engine is crucial to getting power out of it. That is why a good manifold (bolted to the engine) attached to a free-flow sports exhaust is the answer. It will maximise the engine's power delivery, and tease out a few extra bhp in the process.
Transplant surgery
The most expensive tuning option is enlarging the engine by boring out the block to increase its size. Ultimately you could fit a turbocharger, but simplest of all would be to fit a bigger engine.
At your service
Finally, you could have your car tuned as the factory intended by simply getting it serviced by a dealer or specialist. It's amazing how well a standard car in good fettle can run.
