A wealth of information is available, but the data is surrounded by noise. For every knowledgeable enthusiast, there are many more misinformed or incorrect speculators whose opinions usually spring from personal preference or a need to hear themselves talk.
Instead of reading other websites or books, he should have done a AskSlashdot:)
In my opinion (a WRX), it's best to leave any mods/upgrades to the experts. If you have the money to spend on mods, you should have the money to pay for the experts' time.
Beginner - bolt on the exhaust and make vroom vroom noises. Do you really want to pay someone $70/hr to install this?
Intermediate - replacing engine components - camshaft heads; Bolting on superchargers. Almost everything in kit form. Requires an investment in tools (Sear Craftsman - not too bad)
Advanced - Fabrication! Welding in roll cages (maybe even bending them yourself). Welding up your own exhaust because no one makes it off the shelf and you can't afford custom ($3000). You find yourself asking what the hydraulic ratio of a particular brake master cylinder is. You know you are at this level where part of your long term plans is to repaint the car "when you are done". Lets just say tool costs have gone up a bit. $3000 for a TIG welder, $1000 in tube bender (including dies), about $1000 in saws, grinders, shapers, and real car hackers of course have the modified tools - example - a band saw that can cut pre-bent tubing perfectly along radiuses. Other clues are being on a first name basis with the sales and tech people at companies like OTC, Miller, and Kent Moore
There's an old hotrodder saying "Nothing beats cubic inches"... and the lesser known other half... "Except cubic dollars"
Noises (Score:3, Insightful)
Instead of reading other websites or books, he should have done a AskSlashdot
In my opinion (a WRX), it's best to leave any mods/upgrades to the experts. If you have the money to spend on mods, you should have the money to pay for the experts' time.
Re:Noises (Score:2, Interesting)
That's it, you are out of the hacker club! :)
There are different levels of mods.
Beginner - bolt on the exhaust and make vroom vroom noises. Do you really want to pay someone $70/hr to install this?
Intermediate - replacing engine components - camshaft heads; Bolting on superchargers. Almost everything in kit form. Requires an investment in tools (Sear Craftsman - not too bad)
Advanced - Fabrication! Welding in roll cages (maybe even bending them yourself). Welding up your own exhaust because no one makes it off the shelf and you can't afford custom ($3000). You find yourself asking what the hydraulic ratio of a particular brake master cylinder is. You know you are at this level where part of your long term plans is to repaint the car "when you are done". Lets just say tool costs have gone up a bit. $3000 for a TIG welder, $1000 in tube bender (including dies), about $1000 in saws, grinders, shapers, and real car hackers of course have the modified tools - example - a band saw that can cut pre-bent tubing perfectly along radiuses. Other clues are being on a first name basis with the sales and tech people at companies like OTC, Miller, and Kent Moore
There's an old hotrodder saying "Nothing beats cubic inches"... and the lesser known other half... "Except cubic dollars"