Digest of best performance mods for under 50$

[jester911]

Originally posted by Jim Garfield
I removed the almost useless foglights and fabricated a duct that forces all of the air from the right opening to pass through the Carrera oil cooler.

I did something similar to this myself. I haven't actually ducted it to the cooler yet but I took the plastic housings on the outside of the foglights and reversed them so they act as scoops. I took some steel mesh and put inside them and painted them black.

[Wil Ferch]

-Shaping your own reverse "L" gas pedal in aluminum stock for under $3.

- removing the RF bellows ( on 74+ cars) and fabbing a front fender oil cooler scoop from black ABS plastic......"host" item was plastic roof flashing for a house roof vent with the proper curvature for a forward-facing scoop ( cutting required on flashing). You can't even see the difference unless you look close......

- rear license plate....remove.....drill 2 x 3" holes side-by side in the stock alu bumper in an area covered by the plate. Replace plate. Can't see but hot trapped air has an avenue to escape while driving. Works well on DE days (when the plate is off) and generates a lot of comments when the holes are visible.

- lower rear bumper valence.....went to hot rod shop and had it louvered.... opening facing toward bottom .... a set of five or six looks pretty cool ( think 550 or Abarth Carrera). Another hot air outlet......

Wil

[jorian]

As usual Wil Ferch's post has some great stuff...

[Por_sha911]

New air filter.
Adjust WOT if not opening all the way (free HP).
Stuff listed above like plugs, fuel filter, new trans fluid, bleed brakes...

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Rear view mirror performance.
I bought one of these after Jack O. said it was money well spent.

They make an 11" version and mine is the 17" that clamps on to your existing mirror, Cost $20. I was going to get the 11" but bought the 17" and like it enough it stays. Takes care of all the blind spots.

With the 17" I can even see my left side were a car flanks you.
I could see were these would be a big advantage if your wearing a helmet as you don't have to turn your head to see to you rear.
It's kinda big at first compaired to stock but you get used to it.

Pelican needs to sell these.

[ZOA NOM]

Valentine 1

oops, not quite $50, but worth every penny

[rlh930]

Use the $50 to enter an autocross, and take an instructor.

[Jack Olsen]

Oh, yeah, the blind-spot mirror. Bob's right. It definitely improves the driving experience.

[smestas]

Originally posted by JackOlsen
Oh, yeah, the blind-spot mirror. Bob's right. It definitely improves the driving experience.

Bob/Jack,

Where do you get those mirrors?

[smestas]

Ohhh and my best mod for under 50.00 would have to be replacing my fuel injector O-Rings (hard as rocks) with new ones. At this time it is also very easy to remove your injectors and clean them out. A little over night in some techron then a air compressor blower with a rubber tip and your can visually see the spary pattern. Keep cleaning untill you get the nice cone shaped mist.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Originally posted by smestas
Bob/Jack,

Where do you get those mirrors?

IO Port Racing . com
They show the 17" on their site but also cary an 11" if you contact them.

[jluetjen]

Caroll Smith's "Drive to Win"
Pierro Taruffi's "The Technique of Motor Racing" (an Oldie, but still very valid)

And if you can find any of these at used prices, you'll have enough left over for...

Dennis Jenkinson's "The Racing Driver"

[soup dragon]

How about one of these babys

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=72205&item=7946167111&rd=1


LOL

[carmad]

$10 of aluminum and a few hours work, and presto floor-board and track pedals.

[Milu]

Removing the Carrera script from the engine lid of a 3.2 improved my washing and polishing performance

[Jim Garfield]

Originally posted by fireant911
Jim,
I too would absolutely love to see pictures of your project!!!

OK, I found out that it's almost impossible to get a good picture of the tinwork unless the car is on a lift.

Here are a few bad shots:


The duct is the black metal seen under the cooler. This was taken looking through the valence foglight opening looking toward the cooler.

[Jim Garfield]

Here's what it looks like with the foglights removed:

[Jim Garfield]

Besides removing the AC and engine compartment heater blower to backdate the heat, replacing the monster bumper pads with the Euro version gets rid of weight where it matters most....I found these at Hershey for $5. Or you can just fill the holes and leave the pads off.

[Wil Ferch]

Here's another one for you wide-view rear view mirror guys....costs "zero".

different approach on "Adjusting" the mirrors..goes like this:
- adjust inside center mirror as you always do
- for the left mirror ( do this stationary !).....place head right onto the driver's side window and adjust from this position.....adjust for a "normal" view along body sides.
- for the right mirror.....repostion yourself so you pretend you're sitting in the absolute middle of the car....scootch over. Now sight the right mirror along the right body line, as normally done.
- go back into your seatiing position, and be amazed at now having removed all blinds spots ! Left mirror has "overlap" to center..and center has "overlap" view to right.

This method essentially angles "out" widens the outside mirrors's field of view.

Added benefit.....no glare into your eyes (from the jerk behind you with the brights on) from the outside mirrors....

Wil

[TXScott]

OK, MILU.
That's kinda scarey...to me.
Not the script removal.
Scott