Downforce Testing
I have been thinking of buying a Magnehelic pressure gauge to measure
downforce - or the lack of - on a car body. Do you think this would work and
would it make a good article? I sure would like to read one!
Your custom airbox article (Building and Testing an Airbox)
was great – you’ve got the best site on the web!
Jeff Short
USA
The Magnehelic gauge could certainly
be used as a guide to the aerodynamic pressures acting on various points on
the body. You can also measure vehicle ride
height – see Real World Spoiler Development
Turbo Tips
I am emailing to ask if you could let me know what I need to install a turbo
to my engine?
Timothy Fowler
Australia
Check out Turbo Kits Explained
- that’s the best place to start.
Dearth of Deltas
I just saw your
Devilish Deltas article. I was just wondering how
many Lancia Deltas are in Australia, because I know my Dad and I brought two
into the country - how many others do you think there are?
Chris Horsley
Australia
We’re not sure. However, having spent
time in most Australian cities, we can safely say there are very, very
few!
Suzuki Hit Up
How about hitting up Suzuki for some new car tests?
There is an updated version of the Liana out now - would be interesting to
see if it has improved on your last review New Car Test - Suzuki Liana. I recall that you said the
engine was lacking, the sound system was poor at high volume and the
digi-display was susceptible to glare. The new one has a 1.8 litre VVT engine,
normal gauges and a seven speaker stereo including sub-woofer. I wonder if the
changes were brought about by your article!
Would love to see how the Ignis Sport rates in the hot hatch segment. On
paper it looks better than most everything out there.
Cam
Australia
Stay tuned – we have both of these
cars freshly scheduled for testing!
Couple of Fixer-Upers
After purchasing all five years of AutoSpeed I’ve noticed a few errors, but
nothing major really - except for Sunkist...
"Simon tracked down a VP Series 2 Commodore engine/box/loom/airflow
meter/computer pack in good, original condition.”
Now, owning a Series 1 VP V6, I can tell you for sure that they did not come
with an airflow meter - they use a MAP sensor. The airflow meter came in with
the Ecotec motor.
Also, in the Herrod Hot Up article...
"Herrod Motorsport, located in Thomastown (Victoria), now offers AN package
that'll please current Ford ute".
I don’t mean to nitpick but I like AutoSpeed and would like to contribute in
any way possible.
Ian Armstrong
Australia
Our mistake – as you said, the VP
Series 2 V6 doesn’t run off an airflow meter. The article is now fixed. And so
is the typo in the Herrod article. Thanks.
Intake Length?
Could you answer a question for me? I have a 2.5 litre Subaru
Libertyand my wife has a 2.5
Impreza. I have just purchased a pair of K&N pod filters and plan on making
3-inch stainless cold air intakes for both of them. My question is should the
tubing hold 2.5 litres between the manifold and the filter? I think there is a
formula - can you help?
Vic Jenkins
Australia
Your safest bet is to keep the
induction pipe length the same as factory – this will help maintain some of the
existing intake tuning. See Pipe Dreams
as an example. Dyno and/or on-road testing is better than theory.
Sometime in the Future...
An article idea for you - analysis of what’s left of the world’s oil supply,
current rate of use, predicted use, analysis of time remaining, etc.
Yes, alternatives exist - but what is as easy, as transportable and as proven
as Otto-cycle engines? And, let’s face it, when I’m old I am not going to be
happy driving some Honda hybrid s^&box with 20kW ATW!
Should the question be what other fuels can be used? Should we all go to
methane, ethanol or hydrogen? This could be a multi-part series.
Adam Howarth
Australia
We have covered oil supply issues in
the article The Big Rollover.
We've driven the local Honda and Toyota hybrids and well, we love 'em! Take one for a
test drive – you can’t help admiring the sophistication and operation of these
remarkable cars. Oh, and don’t think hybrids are beyond modification!
Rolled Edges?
I was reading the very informative article ("Pop Tops"),
which covered the step-by-step installation of a
sunroof. However, I'm very interested in finding out something that the article only mentioned
in passing... the option of getting a rolled metal edge around the sunroof hole instead of the standard rubber seal. The only places I
can find that seem to do this are in
Australia. I
was wondering exactly how the process of rolling the edge of the metal
and repainting the roof goes.
Nigel
Providence
We’re told that very few people are
prepared to wear the extra cost to get the rolled edge. We have not seen this
job being performed but SunroofCity (the company we worked with in the article)
should be happy to give you some details. We imagine there should be someone
closer to you, though.
Muffler Pickings
I'm hoping you can tell me the part numbers of the Genie resonator and
Tornado you tested in your Giant Muffler Comparo
Giant Muffler Comparison - The Mufflers!. The photos show that they
have Genie Turbo stamped on them, yet you have a different unit listed as the
Genie Turbo in your test. The two I'm interested in are the straight-thru
designs. I'm looking to purchase these, as I was impressed with both the
performance in your tests and - more importantly - the sound. I want to make
sure the ones I buy are exactly the same as the ones in your test.
Jeremy
Australia
We don’t have part numbers but if you
order a Genie Tornado or resonator of the straight-through variety you’ll get
what we tested (assuming there haven’t been any design changes). The third Genie
muffler listed in the article (with Genie Turbo stamped into the body) is a
Tri-flow type. That’s not what you want.
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