Let’s face it, from the age of 16 to 17, there’s one thing on every man’s mind that swiftly develops into a passion and obsession that lasts the rest of his life. So, what exactly is it, you ask? It’s called “the urge for speed.” The never-ending race between ‘the quick and the furious’ to make our cars go faster. We all remember our first automobiles, but we also remember the first time we parked them next to a tuned-up import or an American muscle car at a red light. You lock your gaze on the other driver. You clench your grasp on the steering wheel.
You fix your focus on the road ahead, and as soon as the light turns green, you slam on the gas… What happens after that? You’ll almost certainly get smoked, and you’ll gain a valuable lesson about where your car stands in the great scheme of 0-60 times in real time. You weren’t quite where you expected to be. Your mission becomes apparent after that… it’s time to make your car faster.
The most difficult part of increasing your car’s speed is deciding where to begin. Specific changes will vary by make, model, and year, but we’ll go through the basics of general speed upgrades and alterations that work for most cars.
Car Interior
Spark Plugs
Replacing your spark plugs is an obvious and possibly one of the simplest fixes. What exactly do they do? A spark plug is a vital engine component that ignites the air-fuel mixture that runs an engine. A spark plug works by directing electrical current through a center electrode, causing a spark to develop across an electrode (or air) gap, and then completing the circuit to a ground electrode. No spark means no air-fuel combustion, and defective spark plugs are frequently overlooked. Have you ever had a spark plug blow or misfire? Your car isn’t moving very fast. Spark plugs should be replaced and upgraded on a regular basis. If you’re not sure how often they should be replaced, consult your user’s manual.
Replace Mechanical Parts
If you can upgrade or replace mechanical parts with electrical parts, you will notice a significant increase in horsepower. Mechanical parts deplete the vehicle’s horsepower and cause it to slow down. Fans that keep your engine cool and fuel pumps are two common elements (generally found on older vehicles) that can be replaced with electric ones that do not drain horsepower, allowing all of your horsepower to be committed to speed and acceleration.
Air Intake
As previously said, engines require air and fuel to function, thus installing or upgrading an air intake will undoubtedly increase your speed. You may have seen this part in cars before but had no idea what it did. It’s the long pipe with the accordion-like element (air filter) that doesn’t seem to belong because it’s not made of metal. An air intake does exactly what it says on the tin: it permits your engine to take in more oxygen. Many air intakes are simple and inexpensive improvements that also improve your vehicle’s gas mileage.
Performance Chips
The basic computer chip used in stock fuel injection systems often limits the quantity of air and gasoline an automobile can use, limiting its power and speed significantly. You may dramatically boost horsepower, speed, and fuel mileage by replacing the unit with a special performance chip that allows your engine to handle more air and fuel. These chips can be customized and programmed to improve performance for your particular car.
Carburetor
You can also upgrade an automobile with a carburetor if you still have one. A carburetor is a mechanism that combines air and gasoline to create a vapor that can be burned within an engine. Fuel injection is standard on newer automobiles, but if yours is older and has this feature, replace your barrels as needed. Upgrade to a four-barrel carburetor if you have a two-barrel carburetor. You’ll also need to install a new intake manifold, but you’ll be gaining speed in the process.
Exhaust
Most people are familiar with this one… it’s well-known habit of making your automobile sound louder usually precedes its reputation for making your car faster. By updating your exhaust, you may minimize the amount of restriction in your engine, allowing the exhaust to flow more freely, resulting in better performance. Dual exhaust systems can be fitted in place of a vehicle’s catalytic converter, but make sure you choose a true dual exhaust system that starts at the back and splits the output between two tailpipes, not one that only splits the output between two tailpipes. This also facilitates the flow of exhaust through the engine. Before upgrading to an exhaust system that will make your automobile even louder, make sure to verify your local sound ordinances.
