Top 10: Performance Enhancements

[luvlee17]

Number 10
Tires
We’re kicking off this top 10 performance enhancements countdown with what is probably the most overlooked upgrade, yet possibly the most essential -- tires. Sticky rubber is essential as it plays the role of middleman between pilot and pavement. In essence, if the engine spoke its own language, the tires would be the rollers that make the translation. The correct set of tire and tread reaps optimum handling benefits, and while they won’t necessarily transform you into an instant Andretti, they will provide more grip to give you the feeling of better control. Need a hand picking the right wheel wrappers?

Performance parts: We suggest the Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position series, a maximum performance summer tire compound that blends Bridgestone’s F1 technology of dry and wet traction sans sacrificing comfort and fit.

Number 9
Pistons, valves and camshafts
Not to be forgotten are the under-the-hood internals. A forged piston here and a camshaft there could prove to be invaluable as each works in tandem to allow an improved air/fuel ratio and a better regulation of the engine at higher speeds. Without being too scientific; expanding hot gases act directly to cause the movement of the pistons, and subsequently the camshafts and valves, to produce the internal combustion effect. The camshaft relies on lobes that utilize pressure on the valves to open them, as the camshaft revolves and springs located on each valve recoil to their closed position.

Performance parts: These components are in constant motion and endure the most rigorous of activities, ameliorating them to those with more rigidity is a no-brainer. We’d recommend upgrading with Holley, Edelbrock and Comp components.

Number 8
Cold air intake
It's undeniable that oxygen’s significance is a vital part of an internal combustion engine; therefore, any unit that can increase the amount of air available for improved mixture with fuel is an excellent application -- enter the cold-air intake. Typically labeled as one of three “stage one” upgrades (along with headers and an exhaust), the new intake is used to cool the temperature of the oxygen upon engine entry. Cooler air boasts more density per a given volume and can offer your motor relief from heat stress. Aside from all the performance perks and impressive gains, cold air intakes are also fairly simple to install.

Performance parts: When perusing for that perfect intake, we recommend the pioneer of it all, K&N. Although, some may opt for AEM and Injen, which are definitely up to par.
Number 7
Springs/coilovers (suspension)
Suspension aids in maximizing the friction between the car and the driving surface. Lending to an improved steering ability, it is the unique configuration of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that account for the fluidity of your ride. Generally, when speaking about performance we refer to engine output, but all the horsepower amassed is null and void if the pilot cannot properly maneuver the vehicle. In theory, if all roads were perfectly flat with no deviations, banks or turns, suspension wouldn’t be necessary. Unfortunately, anyone who’s been on I-405 knows otherwise and the fittings are often helpful in keeping a vehicle grounded with limited loss of vertical energy acceleration.

Performance parts: Adjustable by height, spring size and even front and rear, cornering capability becomes finer as the car drives comparably undisturbed with updated better-performing suspension. We recommend you look to Bilstein for this one.

Number 6
Cat-back exhaust
An engine can quickly build up a gang of waste exhaust gases that could potentially be detrimental to the controlled combustion inside of your crank. It’s the exhaust system that uses tubing to redirect these pollutants externally. The term "cat-back" alludes to the segment of the exhaust system spanning from the outlet of the catalytic converter to the final venting point of escape. Wholly, this typically includes the channel from the converter to the muffler, the muffler itself and the piping that expels the exhaust. Upgrades to the afterburners are a more popular engine enhancement and also tack on a certain measure of aesthetic allure. A worthy system will have mandrel-bent twistings that enable the exhaust gases to be removed with as little back pressure as possible.

Performance parts: Being as popular a genre as they are, you can expect a slew of aftermarket options. But, we found the race-bred stylings of Borla to be optimal.

Number 5
Headers
Headers lead the way into the second half of this countdown and are one of the most effortless bolt-on accessories to improve an engine’s output. The objective of the performance header is to create a simpler means for the engine to relieve the cylinders of exhaust gases. Giving an in-sync assist to your cat-back, they ensure the least amount of power is sapped during power strokes. When the exhaust valve opens at the origin of each stroke the piston shoves the gases out of the cylinder, if there is any contending force that the piston has to push against to drive the gases outward, power is robbed. Making the most of two export valves in lieu of just one leads to less consumption, and can be achieved by expanding the port through which the waste travels.

Performance parts: For the best fitting you may want to code match with your exhaust, although we do favor offerings from Gibson, JBA and DC Sports.

Number 4
Fuel management system
The stand-alone fuel management system requires a considerable amount of understanding and finesse in order to successfully achieve desired results. It's electronically intricate and the consumer can easily get lost in all the vehicular jargon. Essentially, the fuel management system functions as your best avenue to improve fuel injection and reaction times. These systems are specifically calibrated to the type of fuel being fed into the car and can even advance your fuel efficiency as well as performance by distributing a more precise and even helping of fuel to each cylinder. When cylinder-to-cylinder fuel allotment is less than ideal, some cylinders will receive excess fuel that will hinder the proper performance of all the cylinders combined. Your fuel management system works to eliminate this problem.

Performance parts: If you’re not a close relative of MacGyver then we suggest you leave this one to the professionals and think AEM or A'PEXI.

Number 3
Engine control unit (ECU)

The ECU is your car’s interpretation of a renaissance man, governing everything from starting, ignition timing, variable valve timing, and even the level of boost psi on turbocharged vehicles. While more primitive offerings served as primarily glorified fuel management systems, the more modern variants use sensors such as MAP to monitor throttle position, air temperature, oxygen, and a computerized host of others -- overseeing all functions. There is also a specialized class of ECU that does not exhibit the same fixed behavior found on basic models; instead it can reprogrammed as deemed necessary by the tuner.

Performance parts: A more frugal alternative would be a process known as reflashing, in which the stock unit remains, but is revamped with extensive software according to the add-on (i.e. new fuel, intercooler or forced induction). Configurations by MoTeC is a golden choice.

Number 2
Nitrous oxide (NOS)
Made vastly popular by its role in the The Fast & the Furious cult film series, nitrous oxide, more affectionately known as NOS (the company name that started the phenomenon), is one of the quickest means of seeing output gains, even if it's only for a fleeting moment. It is an oxidizing agent that temporarily bumps up an engine’s horsepower by allowing more of a fuel surge to be burned than normal. When the gas decomposes it emits a one-third mole of oxygen, which translates to 33% oxygen saturation. Air can only produce 21%, and when all of this combines it exerts more pressure on the pistons. There are two types of systems: wet, which feeds off direct port, and dry, which requires extra fuel introduced by fuel injectors.

Performance parts: Slapping a few cans of NOS onto a stock Civic may actually slow you down faster than you can hit those little red injection buttons. Nitrous oxide is pretty powerful stuff, and if you're planning on adding it to your car, you'll either need to regulate the amount of boost you're giving (stay within a maximum of 40% of the rated horsepower of your vehicle) or you need to speak to a trusted mechanic who knows your car model well and will be able to tell you other bits and pieces you'll need to make NOS work for you (such as an aftermarket fuel pressure regulator). Because nitrous is flammable, and when used improperly it can be highly dangerous, we suggest a ZEX system which claims to be foolproof… Hey, you like your eyebrows don’t you?

Number 1
Turbo/supercharger (forced induction)
At the summit of this top 10 performance enhancements 101 list is the method known as forced induction. With minimal rearranging and without much extra weight, a turbo or supercharger is the king of all performance modifications. Not limited to just improving power, they also increase emission efficiency. Both options are similar on a functional level in that they compress the air flowing into the cylinders so that more gasoline can be burned. With the previous statement noted, they vary in that the turbo creates an obstacle to exhaust gases, relying on their volume and velocity to spool; the downside of this is the lag or time it takes to reach the onset boost. A supercharger uses generated torque in conjunction with a crank pulley and features the capability to produce linear boost without the wait, but cannot be controlled as accurately as a turbo can be electronically.

Performance parts: We’d go with surefire bets like GReddy and HKS if you plan on taking this horsepower-boosting step.

performing with the best of 'em
Although this list is not intended as a DIY, it does convey a lot of the proven measures a tuner has at his disposal. With good knowledge of where to look, some determination and a little elbow grease, we’re sure you’ll have a hot rod on your hands in no time.

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It's weird tires are # 10, that's usually the cheapest and easiest thing to change.