If you’ve ever replaced a clutch, then you know it’s a big job. Dropping the transmission out of most cars is both time consuming and physically taxing, given how heavy and awkward transmissions are to handle. Having done more than my fair share of clutch swaps over the years, a few especially memorable ones involving seized bolts and bloody knuckles, I think it’s reasonable to say this is a job few of us look forward to.

01 SamcoSport
Honda CR-Z Hose Kit
All SamcoSport hoses are made by hand in the UK, and each hose is 100 percent visually inspected before it leaves the factory. All SamcoSport hoses meet or exceed the requirements of SAE J20 and are manufactured under an ISO 9002:2000 quality system. These hoses are made from the finest European silicones specifically designed for automotive use, and the latest application to hit the market is for the Honda CR-Z.
samcosport.com

One of the best (and easiest) ways of improving your car’s performance is to upgrade to some nice, sticky rubber. However, we realize that not everyone can roll on summer tires year-round — after all, there are seasons, and costs, to consider. What we have here is a list of many of the best tire options readily available today for varying driving conditions and budgets. Remember that tires with a lower treadwear rating (UTQG) will tend to be stickier, which is great for dry-weather performance, but they won’t last as long as higher-UTQG tires.

The more test-driving of new cars I do, the more I find myself becoming increasingly aware of the growing disconnect between car and driver. A big part of this is the way in which throttle-by-wire systems operate, some being almost undetectable, but the majority leaving me feeling like my right foot is being completely ignored by the computer controlling the throttle. Automakers are getting better with their drive-by-wire (DBW) logic and overall e-nanny programming, but DBW and the rapidly spreading use of stability control and other accident-avoidance systems beg the question, at what point do we cease to be driving the car at all and become mere passengers on a computer-controlled joy ride?

01 AEM

Key Features

• 270-degree precision stepper motor movement
• Amber, white and red LED display with red halo ring
• 6 stages of dimming for both day and night operation modes
• Daisy chain power supply easily hook gauges up to one another
• Gauges perform start-up and shutdown ceremony
• Built-in peak/warn flash functions, as well as audible beep

Flex-a-lite

Send your feedback to dpratte@modified.com

01 AFE Power
Magnum FLOW air filter
These air filters are designed with deep rounded plates for maximum flow and filtration surface area. The frames are constructed of soft urethane with progressive bump seals that provide a leak-free seal, as well as never losing their shape. The 30-10130 is a Pro 5R filter that utilizes five layers of progressive oiled cotton gauze media for maximum airflow, and the 31-10130 is a Pro Dry S filter that utilizes three layers of progressive synthetic media that require no oils for maximum filtration. Expect increased airflow, improved throttle response and better fuel mileage.
afepower.com

So you’ve completed the basics: a set of dedicated track wheels and tires, along with some track-capable brake pads and high-temp brake fluid. You’ve been lapping, honing your craft and have probably completed a track day with coaching or even a racing school. What’s next? How do you get the most from your car and continue to lower your lap times, aside from more seat time and coaching?

One of the biggest ways to improve your car’s cornering power both on and off the track is choosing the right tire for your application. As we’ve all experienced firsthand, the more traction or grip a tire produces, the faster your car will be able to go around corners. It’s also well understood that every tire has a finite amount of traction it can provide before it starts to slip, which is the part where you end up in the ditch and have to dig out your AAA card. But what exactly leads to that moment when traction turns into slip (experienced as understeer or oversteer) and you find yourself scrambling to stay on the road? There are many factors that determine a tire’s grip level — starting with how soft and sticky the compound is — but other design elements like carcass construction, sidewall stiffness, tread block design and tire pressure and temperature also play key roles. When you start to look at all the elements and moving parts in a tire, suddenly what seem like simple rubber donuts become incredibly complex and highly sophisticated pieces of rolling engineering.

Key Features

Life often presents interesting opportunities. Sometimes you take them, and sometimes these opportunities turn out much better than you might have initially expected. Take, for example, the Compass360 Racing (or C360R) team. What is now a multiple-championship-winning operation began quite humbly.

My normal drifting job is setting up the chassis to make Dai Yoshihara’s Discount Tire/Falken Tire S13 do its thing on the Formula D circuit. For the pros there are a lot of tricks and engineering going into making those cars go sideways, changing directions and maneuvering with lighting-fast precision. Quite possibly the fastest growing motorsport, drifting is getting more and more popular on the grassroots level. Although your local drift day can sometimes attract hundreds of enthusiastic beginning drifters, the scene is mostly lacking even a basic knowledge of how to properly set up a car for drifting.

When it comes to improving the performance characteristics of nearly any car, suspension and drivetrain are the best places to start. Check out some of the latest offerings in the suspension and drivetrain tuning department; different cars respond well to different modifications, so make sure to research what you specific ride needs before jumping in wallet first.

Test Mule

Scion xB R/C Car

Send your feedback to dpratte@modified.com

Test Mule

’08 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart

01. Aeromotive
340 stealth fuel pump
This high-output, in-tank electric fuel pump fits most popular EFI applications. The Aeromotive 340 is a compact, lightweight pump that bolts into many existing hanger assemblies. Compared to a typical 255-lph pump at 40 psi, the Aeromotive 340 boasts 340 lph at the same pressure, providing over 30 percent more flow. The 340 stealth pump is available in most common inlet/outlet configurations.
aeromotiveinc.com

We’ve received quite a few emails lately asking us to explain what the advantages are of cross-drilled and slotted rotors, as compared to the blank rotors most cars come standard with. We’ve also had requests to explain why many slotted rotors these days have curved or J-hook shaped slots, rather than straight slots. Rather than giving you the Wikipedia answer, we went right to the source by once again contacting Mark Valskis at Brembo North America (some of you will recall his contribution to the big brake kit Tech Talk story in the May ’11 issue).

Key Features

The word aerodynamics can conjure up bad images in many sport compact owners’ minds. Visions of nasty, ill-fitting body kits and obnoxious, oversized wings remind us of days past — bad days we wish we could forget about. But all aerodynamics parts are not for looks alone. Check out a few of these functional and aesthetically pleasing aero parts available for a wide variety of cars.

Having been racing for a decade or so now, I’ve read just about every rulebook there is out there, from SCCA and NASA pro racing, right down to grassroots-level time attack and autocross. Despite all the so-called experts on the Internet spouting off about how bolt-in rollcages are illegal and how you’re going to bash your head against that rollbar you’re thinking about installing, there’s a surprisingly consistent set of rules out there with respect to rollbar and rollcage design, fabrication and installation; as long as you follow these guidelines, the end result should be a safe and legal rollover protection structure for just about any type of racing you’ve got in mind.

01 APM Racing
Two-piece directional brake discs
These complete OE-replacement two-piece front directional brake discs are lighter than standard one-piece brake discs, and APM Racing has reduced the unsprung weight and increased the cooling capacity by directing the cooling air through their directional rib design. This brake kit includes two 2-piece directional brake discs with billet aluminum hats.
apm-racing.com

Description
When it comes to Scions, there are few people who know them better than the team at World Racing. Chris Rado and his crew have been using and abusing Scions in all forms of motorsports since their inception. So what do you do when you’ve got years of research and development into turbocharging Toyota’s 2AZ-FE and its newest 2AR-FE engines? You take everything you’ve learned and develop a street-version of the turbo kit for Scion tCs and xBs.