No matter if you have purchased a new or used car, it is time to start shopping for parts and start modifying it. Your end goal is to personalize your ride, enhance its value, and unleash its full potential. We have compiled a list of essential car modifications that can maximize your ride’s performance.
1- A Cold Air Intake
The engine gets hot as you drive. A cold air intake takes the hot air from the outside of the engine and cools it. The engine intakes the cold and dense air for combustion. The denser the air, the more oxygen it creates, allowing your engine to produce more horsepower.
A cold air intake is sold in a kit. Sure, if you are mechanically inclined, you can assemble it on your own. It consists of aftermarket parts, such as an intake tube that connects to a turbocharger inlet, a heat shield, and a washable air filter.
Before installing a cold air intake, familiarize yourself with the engine warranty. Most car brands refuse liabilities on modified engines. Consider security risks, too. For example, avoid a cold air intake that routes into the bumper since it may let floodwater into the engine.
2- Exhaust Systems
Enhancing your ride’s breathing capabilities benefits its performance in multiple ways. For starters, a modified exhaust system improves the sound both inside and outside of the cabin. It also boosts the horsepower since the exhaust gasses will exit the combustion chamber more effectively.
Now, there are different types of aftermarket exhaust systems. Full exhaust systems, for example, provide significantly more power, but they are also pricier. Above all, when installing a full exhaust system, you also change the emissions equipment. By violating local they require changing the emissions equipment, you may be fined for emission violation.
Axle-back and cat-back exhaust systems are a far safer option. Apart from sounding better and allowing for minor power improvements, they are also more affordable.
3- Suspension Systems
Suspension systems lower the car to improve handling. Vehicles with a lower center of gravity are more aerodynamic and have better turn-in. Additionally, using suspension lowers also benefits your car’s visual appeal since it reduces the wheel gap.
Now, you can change your suspension in many ways, such as lowering springs and coilovers. Lowering springs fit a wide range of cars and are easy to install. Coilover setups, on the other hand, provide greater flexibility. They significantly improve your vehicle’s handling and allow you to adjust the car height, spring preload, and rebound.
Always choose suspension solutions that align with your goals and needs. For example, when a car is low, its bottom may scrape the driveway. It can also affect handling since stiff suspension can cause a tire to lose contact with the road.
4- Firewall Panels
A car firewall is an essential component of your ride. It prevents fumes and heat from entering the passenger compartment. It is also an opportunity for you to customize your car and adapt its looks to your specific needs and preferences.
However, finding well-maintained aftermarket firewall panels or fabricating ones on your own is not that easy. Fortunately, many automotive brands offer custom firewall fabrication. Instead of building a custom firewall for your truck or car, you can order a prefabricated one. Most importantly, that is one of the car repairs you can do yourself.
5- Tires
If you are wondering how tires impact the performance of your car, the answer is simple. No matter how strong your engine is, you need strong tires to use your wheel horsepower. Choosing the right rubber for your vehicle can help you enhance acceleration, handling, braking, feedback, and steering wheel.
If you use all-season tires, it is time to rethink your choices. Summer tires provide better performance during warm and dry months. They are made from a softer rubber compound and come with large tread blocks. As such, they provide maximum contact with the road and have optimal cornering and braking capabilities. However, summer tires are not designed for winter temperatures.
As temperatures drop below 45-degrees Fahrenheit, the soft rubber hardens. That impacts the performance of your vehicle on multiple levels, from the impaired cornering performance to longer stopping distances.
Therefore, if you live in an area that gets below freezing and receives an overwhelming amount of snow, consider investing in a set of winter tires. They have a deeper tread pattern and thicker rubber that enable more traction, improve performance, and make driving safer during the winter. Most importantly, the rubber does not crack in freezing temperatures.
Over to You
Sure, those are just some of the numerous ways to boost the performance of your vehicle. Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to improving your car. You first need to set clear priorities and, based on them, choose the modifications that make sense.
Do you have any additional car modifications in mind? What steps did you take to boost your car’s performance?
