Car Hacks & Mods For Dummies
by David Vespremi
List Price:
Our Price: $11.41
You Save: $18.58 (62%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $6.46 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: David VespremiEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-10-15
ISBN: 0764571427
Number of pages: 384
Publisher: For Dummies
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780764571428
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Car Hacks & Mods For Dummies
Book Review: +A for coverage but weak in How modern engines work.
Summary: 2 Stars
review:
I could post and prove 100 inaccuracies, but I will cover just one point, let me review chapter
VII, p189-197; INTAKE mods.
He is only trying to get you to buy expensive induction mods.
He never mentions the down sides. oop's ( that is the smoking gun )
First of all, he fails to mention that these changes only improve the breathing of
the engine at wide open throttle. A place that most people never reach.
He make blanket statements about gaining 8HP , but he never said on what size engine,
a 50HP smart car with 1000cc or 7 liter monster truck engine. Funny huh?
Blank statements are almost always wrong.
Consider this:
messing with the inducting will most likely foul up the function of the MAF sensor.
Removing the screen (a laminar air controlling device really) or any changes can
cause the MAF to read incorrectly and to read wrong at different RPM.s
This is really foolish.
or
Bad #2:
Oil soaked washable open air filters will coke up the MAF sensor with oil.
Greater HP is an outright fallacy.
The MAF sends the AIR flow values to the ECU the Oxygen sensor brings the engine to NEAR
the best combustion point 14.7 (A/F ration by weight) 15.6 is best MPG on most cars.
So, no matter what you do (save damaging the MAF readings) the car will always give the same MPG if these two sensors are working to spec.
Many false statements and many fibs by omission.
feeding air straight in to the throttle body will defeat the purpose of the MAF.
ALL MODERN ENGINES USE A MAF SENSOR. ( There are exceptions ,like a Jeep 4 Liter i6)
The #1 biggest restricting device to power, is the Throttle valve ,it is restricting at 70%
while drive down the highway at 60 MPH. ( in fact, that is its job, it controls power)
The #2 is the Size of the Intake valves.
A larger Throttle body will not increase power with out major engine changes.
Nor will silly throttle plate adapters .
Before you change anything, My I recommend that you review other peoples work using a dyno where they have worked hard and proven all the myths , true or false, on your exact car.
You can tune for power or MPG but not both. Read the Forums of MegaSquirt (tm).
(but a custom ECU can do both "the dual map trick") ( not on your ECU)
An Otto cycle automobile engine is an air pump; in order to pump more air , one only needs to study where the REAL restrictions are located and there magnitude.
Once that is learned , you can begin experimentation.
The book is very good in its coverage of what can be done but is weak on facts.
I check to Manufactures TSB data bases and found both to contain the order of not
honoring the warrantee with MODS to the engine. He calls this "Scrutiny", with a light mention. Not to mention the Smog station.
I have studied many TRACK tests that show no so called COld air induction kit improvements, with the exception of building a funnel box in the front of the car to scoop up air , or by taking the naturally pressurized air from the vent cowl below the windshield (if you have one).
this test must be done on a track because the car is not moving on a Dyno.
I hope I open some eyes on how to get to truth. ( testing , with control groups).
jtgh
Summary of Car Hacks & Mods For Dummies
So you want to turn your Yugo into a Viper? Sorry--you need a certified magician. But if you want to turn your sedate sedan into a mean machine or your used car lot deal into a powerful, purring set of wheels, you?ve come to the right place. Car Hacks & Mods for Dummies will get you turbo-charged up about modifying your car and guide you smoothly through:- Choosing a car to mod
- Considering warranties, legal, and safety issues
- Hacking the ECU (Engine Control Unit) to adjust performance-enhancing factors like fuel injection, firing the spark plugs, controlling the cooling fan, and more
- Replacing your ECU with a plug and play system such as the APEXi Power FC or the AEM EMS system
- Putting on the brakes (the faster you go, the faster you?ll need to stop)
- Setting up your car for better handling and cornering
Written by David Vespremi, automotive expert, frequent guest on national car-related TV shows, track driving instructor and self-proclaimed modder, Car Hacks & Mods for Dummies gets you into the ECU and under the hood and gives you the keys to:
- Choosing new wheels, including everything from the basics to dubs and spinners
- Putting your car on a diet, because lighter means faster
- Basic power bolt-ons and more expensive power adders
- Installing roll bars and cages to enhance safety
- Adding aero add-ons, including front ?chin? spoilers, real spoilers, side skirts, and canards
- Detailing, down to the best cleaners and waxes and cleaning under the hood
- Using OBD (on-board diagnostics) for troubleshooting
- Getting advice from general Internet sites and specific message boards and forums for your car?s make or model, whether it?s a Chevy pick-up or an Alfa Romeo roadster
Whether you want to compete at drag strips or on road courses or simply accelerate faster on an interstate ramp, if you want to improve your car?s performance, Car Hacks & Mods for Dummies is just the boost you need.
Customize Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Customize Books
Vehicle Noise (NCA)by S.H. Sung
American Society of Mechanical Engineers,U.S.; Published: 1990; Hardcover; Book
Engineering Plastics and Plastic Composites in Automotive Applicationsby Kalyan Sehanobish
SAE International; Published: 2009-04-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $199.00
Occupant and Vehicle Response in Rollovers (Progress in Technology)Society of Automotive Engineers Inc; Published: 2004-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $79.99
Vehicle Aggressivity and Compatibility in Automotive Crashes (Special Publications)by Society of Automotive Engineers
Society of Automotive Engineers Inc; Published: 1999-03; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
![Automotive Technology, Third Edition [R-242] Image](/images/Automotive-Technology-Third-Edition-R-242-0768002737-X.jpg)
Automotive Technology, Third Edition [R-242]by Malcolm James Nunney
Society of Automotive Engineers Inc; Published: 1998-07; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops:
Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Vehicle Structural Mechanics and CAE (Proceedings Series)by Society of Automotive Engineers
Society of Automotive Engineers,U.S.; Published: 1997-12; Paperback; Book
Painting for Collision Repairby Michael Crandell
Delmar Cengage Learning; Published: 1998-11-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $101.95
Price in other shops:
Ferrari (The Legends Series)by Mark Konig
Smithmark Pub; Published: 1998-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $1.00
Price in other shops:
Light and Heavy Vehicle Technologyby Malcolm James Nunney
Butterworth-Heinemann; Published: 1992-06; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
The Care of Automobiles; With a List of Dont's for Motor Car Drivers and Acute Automobiliaby Robert Edmund Sherwood
General Books LLC; Published: 2012-01-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.79
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Road & Track Illustrated Automotive Dictionaryby John Dinkel
Bentley Publishers; Published: 2000-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.43
Price in other shops:
Engine Builder's Handbookby Tom Monroe
HP Trade; Published: 1996-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.64
Price in other shops:
How To Build the Cars of The Fast and the Furious (Motorbooks Workshop)by Eddie Paul
Motorbooks; Published: 2004-11-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.24
Price in other shops:
Street TurbochargingHP1488: Design, Fabrication, Installation, and Tuning of High-Performance Street Turbocharger Systemsby Mark Warner
HP Trade; Published: 2006-06-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.67
Price in other shops:
How To Build a Hot Tuner Car (Motorbooks Workshop)by Scott Smith
Motorbooks; Published: 2007-09-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.63
Price in other shops:
Car Audio For Dummiesby Doug Newcomb
For Dummies; Published: 2008-02-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.79
Price in other shops:
Engine Management: Advanced Tuningby Greg Banish
S-A Design; Published: 2007-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.35
Price in other shops:
Toyota MR2 Performance HP1553: A Practical Owner's Guide for Everyday Maintenance, Upgrades and PerformanceModifications. Covers 1985-2005, All Makes and Modelsby Terry Heick
HP Trade; Published: 2009-11-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.41
Price in other shops:
How Cars Workby Tom Newton
Black Apple Press; Published: 1999-10-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.95
Price in other shops:
Auto Repair For Dummiesby Deanna Sclar
For Dummies; Published: 2008-11-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.57
Price in other shops: