Home
Port Matching
If you are lucky, the engine in your vehicle has exhaust and intake manifold ports that line up perfectly to the cylinder head. But chances are this isn't the case. You can pick up a few horsepower by carefully removing material in the manifold ports to match the gasket or the gaskets to match the port. This can also be done on the cylinder head.
Transmission Line Pressure Increase
This simple modification pertains to auto(Tragic)matic transmissions only. By using a factory service manual and looking at the wiring diagrams, you can increase line pressure within the transmission. This results in stronger shifts by simply adding a drop resistor that can activate with a relay and dash-mounted switch. Great little weapon for bracket racers, too
Spark It Up
This is a simple yet overlooked tip that can restore a few ponies: pay attention to the condition of your spark plugs. Worn plugs won’t make optimum spark. Also, switching from a conventional plug to an iridium unit may help. For a few more bucks it’s worth it.
Redline Water Wetter
This product works wonders by raising the enegine's boiling point and increasing the cooling capacity of your coolant. This tip is used by many forced-induction fanatics.
Lower Tempature Thermostat
Head to your favorite auto parts store and see if it has a thermostat that opens sooner ) lower temperature) than your factory unit. If it works in your application, this will allow your car to run cooler sooner and can minimize power lost to heat.
More Ground
A thicker ground on the Nissan mass airflow sensor (MAF) is a mod many enthusiasts perform. The factory ground wire on the MAF tends to corrode, causing inadequate signal. Your car will run better due to the stronger constant signal sent to the ECU.
Big Wire, More Voltage
If in doubt, rewire your fuel pump for adequate voltage. you must use larger gauge wire than OE to wire large-capacity fuel pumps and relays. Be certain to follow install specs-even if it means running new wire from the battery source to the pump, rather than splicing into an existing loom. You will be glad you did.
Remote Exhaust Valve Control
This product can be bought over the counter-or if you are creative , make your own. For quicker turbo spool-up (more usable power) use it to "dump" the exhaust after the downpipe from your turbo. And when you're done racing, your car is once again street legal.
Big Mouth
Do some reserach and see if another vehicle within your automaker's fleet has a larger throttle body that can be retrofitted onto your intake manifold.
OverLooked Manitenance
Interestingly, some of the simplest power tricks full under routine maintenance. Having a clean air filter, for example, will ensure that you are getting maximum airflow into the engine. New fuel filters are also smart- and thats for starters. Good wiring connections ad preventive maintenance on life-cycle parts is also wise.
Get A Grip
If lucky, you could benefit from bigger brakes off a different vheicle. Do some research to see if there is some cross-pollination action in your near future. For example 300ZX brakes and calipers will fit on a 240SX. Enough said, go for it.
Nail A Wicked Hole-Shot
This is simple yet very effective weapon for front wheel drivers. For drag racing at the track, get bump stops and install them in your rear suspension. This will limit the rear suspension travel, giving you better hook-up. You will nail better 60-feet times
Tire Pressure
Having the correct tire pressure not only ensures that you get maximum fuel economy, but also the best performance out of your high-performance tires. Check tire pressure every two weeks and adjust accordingly. New rims will leak
Timing Is everything
If you have a good consistent grade of fuel where you live-or better yet 92 octane-(93 WTF), then you can benefit from advancing the timing a few degrees to pick up some extra throttle response and more drivability. Be sure to use a timing light!
Lexan Windows
Replacing your heavy factory glass with light weight Lexan will help your car in weight department (and hence, accelerate quicker) A lighter car is quicker than a heavy one.
Brake Fluid
This is too often overlooked. brake fluid needs to be changed at least every two years and for a high performance vehicle, every year. Use or upgrade to a high performance DOT4 brake fluid. It’s easy as draining the old fluid (completely), replacing with DOT4 and then bleeding the system.
Crank Protection
When installing rods into a fresh engine, it's an old tip to install a couple pieces of rubber hose over the rod bolts to prevent scratching the crank journals. You can buy them inexpensively, too.
Custom Cold-Air Intake
If you have a car that doesnt have a cold-air application available from the aftermarket, design your own.
Keeping Your Cool
For high output application take "keeping your cool" one important step further and replace your factory radiator with a high-flow aluminum unit. It tends to make your cooling system much more efficient.
Hood Washers
By placing washer between the hood and hood mounting brackets and using longer bolts you can lower the temperature of the engine compartment. Air will enter the engine compartment in much the same way as a cowl induction works.
Custom Heat Shield
There are companies that sell intakes with these heat shields, but you can make your own out of stainless steel or any other material for that matter- and for cheap. It can be as simple as a flat piece of material that isolates the air filter from the engine heat.
Power Terminals
The factory terminal on Japanese vehicles is made as cheaply as possible, but by upgrading to a block style terminal accessory such as alternator, starter and other current demanding equipment will get the proper amount of current. Yes, this does affect horsepower.
Subframe Spacers
This can be bought or made and are used primarily on Nissans. The spacers pre-load the rubber bushings between the subframe and the body, thus helping to reduce wheel hop and body lean.
Bushings
For very little cost, replacing worn and tired rubber bushings with urethane bushings will put life back into your suspension. In certain applications, this will be a major performance boost in handling.
Engine Mounts
Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference. Because stock sucks. Upgrade your motor mounts or inject them.
Baffled Oil Catch Can
Having oil enter the intake tract can skew emissions and even lead to detonation. By using an oil catch can that has baffles or breather, you can avoid this problem. This will also allow you to run a few more pounds of boost over a stock PCV-equipped car.
Check Ingnition Wires
If you are unsure as to the condition of your ignition wires, perform this simple test: take a spray bottle full of water an while its running, spray the ignition wires. It shoul dbe somewhat drak when you do this test. If you see arcing, you know that its time to replace the wires.
Brake Proportioning Control
Want to have absolute control over your braking bias? Instale a bias controller that is adjustable from inside the car. There’s also the wilwood proportioning valve, which is adjustable front to rear
Piston Swap
Cross breeding occurs in all enthusiast groups. For Nissan 240Sx fans, you can take the Ka24De pistons and put them in a Ka24E for an increase in combustion: Type-R pistons in GS-R enegines and so on. Going with a high compression piston will give you a mild bump in performance, but check piston to valve clearance.
Disable Speed Cut
On the 240Sx the speed limiter is set at 115mph. If you race at the track and can exceed that speed, but the ECU wont let you, there is away around it. By unplugging the speed sensor on the transmission, you will loose your speedometer and cruise control, as well as the limiter but you'll go faster
Cheap Bolts And Tower Bars
Unless you shell out good coin for strut tower bars, chances are that the ones you have equipped with cheap weak bolts that will no doubt strip or break. Head to your local hardware store or fastener store and buy some hardened bolts. Look for five marks on the head of the bolts, noting that they are grade 8.
Purge
If you have a nitrous system, spend the extra coin and buy the purge valve. Not only does it look cool but it also allows the nitrous to hit sooner once the line is purged of any liquid. Best thing is to purge the nitrous a few times before you are about to launch.
Pretty Plumbing
If you have a direct port nitrous system and want to have a fancy plumbing, you need a line bender. Two different size radii can be made with this bender and it's fun doing it. Nothing says man like working with metal.
If you are lucky, the engine in your vehicle has exhaust and intake manifold ports that line up perfectly to the cylinder head. But chances are this isn't the case. You can pick up a few horsepower by carefully removing material in the manifold ports to match the gasket or the gaskets to match the port. This can also be done on the cylinder head.
Transmission Line Pressure Increase
This simple modification pertains to auto(Tragic)matic transmissions only. By using a factory service manual and looking at the wiring diagrams, you can increase line pressure within the transmission. This results in stronger shifts by simply adding a drop resistor that can activate with a relay and dash-mounted switch. Great little weapon for bracket racers, too
Spark It Up
This is a simple yet overlooked tip that can restore a few ponies: pay attention to the condition of your spark plugs. Worn plugs won’t make optimum spark. Also, switching from a conventional plug to an iridium unit may help. For a few more bucks it’s worth it.
Redline Water Wetter
This product works wonders by raising the enegine's boiling point and increasing the cooling capacity of your coolant. This tip is used by many forced-induction fanatics.
Lower Tempature Thermostat
Head to your favorite auto parts store and see if it has a thermostat that opens sooner ) lower temperature) than your factory unit. If it works in your application, this will allow your car to run cooler sooner and can minimize power lost to heat.
More Ground
A thicker ground on the Nissan mass airflow sensor (MAF) is a mod many enthusiasts perform. The factory ground wire on the MAF tends to corrode, causing inadequate signal. Your car will run better due to the stronger constant signal sent to the ECU.
Big Wire, More Voltage
If in doubt, rewire your fuel pump for adequate voltage. you must use larger gauge wire than OE to wire large-capacity fuel pumps and relays. Be certain to follow install specs-even if it means running new wire from the battery source to the pump, rather than splicing into an existing loom. You will be glad you did.
Remote Exhaust Valve Control
This product can be bought over the counter-or if you are creative , make your own. For quicker turbo spool-up (more usable power) use it to "dump" the exhaust after the downpipe from your turbo. And when you're done racing, your car is once again street legal.
Big Mouth
Do some reserach and see if another vehicle within your automaker's fleet has a larger throttle body that can be retrofitted onto your intake manifold.
OverLooked Manitenance
Interestingly, some of the simplest power tricks full under routine maintenance. Having a clean air filter, for example, will ensure that you are getting maximum airflow into the engine. New fuel filters are also smart- and thats for starters. Good wiring connections ad preventive maintenance on life-cycle parts is also wise.
Get A Grip
If lucky, you could benefit from bigger brakes off a different vheicle. Do some research to see if there is some cross-pollination action in your near future. For example 300ZX brakes and calipers will fit on a 240SX. Enough said, go for it.
Nail A Wicked Hole-Shot
This is simple yet very effective weapon for front wheel drivers. For drag racing at the track, get bump stops and install them in your rear suspension. This will limit the rear suspension travel, giving you better hook-up. You will nail better 60-feet times
Tire Pressure
Having the correct tire pressure not only ensures that you get maximum fuel economy, but also the best performance out of your high-performance tires. Check tire pressure every two weeks and adjust accordingly. New rims will leak
Timing Is everything
If you have a good consistent grade of fuel where you live-or better yet 92 octane-(93 WTF), then you can benefit from advancing the timing a few degrees to pick up some extra throttle response and more drivability. Be sure to use a timing light!
Lexan Windows
Replacing your heavy factory glass with light weight Lexan will help your car in weight department (and hence, accelerate quicker) A lighter car is quicker than a heavy one.
Brake Fluid
This is too often overlooked. brake fluid needs to be changed at least every two years and for a high performance vehicle, every year. Use or upgrade to a high performance DOT4 brake fluid. It’s easy as draining the old fluid (completely), replacing with DOT4 and then bleeding the system.
Crank Protection
When installing rods into a fresh engine, it's an old tip to install a couple pieces of rubber hose over the rod bolts to prevent scratching the crank journals. You can buy them inexpensively, too.
Custom Cold-Air Intake
If you have a car that doesnt have a cold-air application available from the aftermarket, design your own.
Keeping Your Cool
For high output application take "keeping your cool" one important step further and replace your factory radiator with a high-flow aluminum unit. It tends to make your cooling system much more efficient.
Hood Washers
By placing washer between the hood and hood mounting brackets and using longer bolts you can lower the temperature of the engine compartment. Air will enter the engine compartment in much the same way as a cowl induction works.
Custom Heat Shield
There are companies that sell intakes with these heat shields, but you can make your own out of stainless steel or any other material for that matter- and for cheap. It can be as simple as a flat piece of material that isolates the air filter from the engine heat.
Power Terminals
The factory terminal on Japanese vehicles is made as cheaply as possible, but by upgrading to a block style terminal accessory such as alternator, starter and other current demanding equipment will get the proper amount of current. Yes, this does affect horsepower.
Subframe Spacers
This can be bought or made and are used primarily on Nissans. The spacers pre-load the rubber bushings between the subframe and the body, thus helping to reduce wheel hop and body lean.
Bushings
For very little cost, replacing worn and tired rubber bushings with urethane bushings will put life back into your suspension. In certain applications, this will be a major performance boost in handling.
Engine Mounts
Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference. Because stock sucks. Upgrade your motor mounts or inject them.
Baffled Oil Catch Can
Having oil enter the intake tract can skew emissions and even lead to detonation. By using an oil catch can that has baffles or breather, you can avoid this problem. This will also allow you to run a few more pounds of boost over a stock PCV-equipped car.
Check Ingnition Wires
If you are unsure as to the condition of your ignition wires, perform this simple test: take a spray bottle full of water an while its running, spray the ignition wires. It shoul dbe somewhat drak when you do this test. If you see arcing, you know that its time to replace the wires.
Brake Proportioning Control
Want to have absolute control over your braking bias? Instale a bias controller that is adjustable from inside the car. There’s also the wilwood proportioning valve, which is adjustable front to rear
Piston Swap
Cross breeding occurs in all enthusiast groups. For Nissan 240Sx fans, you can take the Ka24De pistons and put them in a Ka24E for an increase in combustion: Type-R pistons in GS-R enegines and so on. Going with a high compression piston will give you a mild bump in performance, but check piston to valve clearance.
Disable Speed Cut
On the 240Sx the speed limiter is set at 115mph. If you race at the track and can exceed that speed, but the ECU wont let you, there is away around it. By unplugging the speed sensor on the transmission, you will loose your speedometer and cruise control, as well as the limiter but you'll go faster
Cheap Bolts And Tower Bars
Unless you shell out good coin for strut tower bars, chances are that the ones you have equipped with cheap weak bolts that will no doubt strip or break. Head to your local hardware store or fastener store and buy some hardened bolts. Look for five marks on the head of the bolts, noting that they are grade 8.
Purge
If you have a nitrous system, spend the extra coin and buy the purge valve. Not only does it look cool but it also allows the nitrous to hit sooner once the line is purged of any liquid. Best thing is to purge the nitrous a few times before you are about to launch.
Pretty Plumbing
If you have a direct port nitrous system and want to have a fancy plumbing, you need a line bender. Two different size radii can be made with this bender and it's fun doing it. Nothing says man like working with metal.
