The Carburetor, Will It Last?
September 30, 2008
The Carburetor, Will It Last?
by: Dave Robinson
Do you know if your car or motorcycle has a carburetor? Or, perhaps you are trying to figure out how in the world you are going to fix whatever is wrong with yours. The truth is that a little knowledge never hurt anyone. So, let’s take a closer look at what the carburetor is and what it does. You may not even have one to deal with! But, if you do, here are some facts to help you along your learning way about carburetors.
What Is The Carburetor?
The carburetor is a device on the engine of a car or other vehicle that mixes fuel with air. These are featured on internal combustion type engines. In most cases, the carburetor is no longer used though. Most cars now use fuel injection as opposed to the use of a carburetor. Nevertheless, the carburetor is still used on many small type engines and in older or specialized vehicles. Cars built after the decade of the 1980’s, no longer use a carburetor, but use an electronic, computerized fuel injector instead. In many cases, the motorcycle still used a carburetor.
The Worst Years Of The Mustang
September 29, 2008
The Worst Years Of The Mustang
by: T Frady
The Mustang II is considered by most Mustang enthusiasts as the worst of the line. By 1974, pollution controls and gas mileage concerns were destroying the previous generation of classic hot rods. Horsepower was becoming a thing of the past, and the Mustang was brought to a lowly state in order to survive this difficult time. The Mustang II incorporated two body styles featuring a two door hard top, and a pinto-like hatch back. There were no convertibles available that year.
The car had two available engines: a 4 cylinder engine with only 88 horsepower, and a German-built 171 ci 2.8L V-6 rated at 105 hp. In 1975, Ford reintroduced the 302 cubic inch small block eight to the Mustang II, but with only 122 horsepower. Compare that to the 2005 model that gets up to 300 hp.
The Mustang II was smaller than the 1960’s version, but weighing in at 3,000 pounds and getting a meager 88 hp meant a very sluggish ride. Thankfully, the very popular 2005 Mustang as stated earlier has a lot more power.
Motorcycle Helmet’s Amazing Strokes
September 28, 2008
Motorcycle Helmet’s Amazing Strokes
by: Maricon Williams
Some riders are denying the fact that motorcycle apparel is important to every ride. This is especially true to helmets.
Many riders are against the idea of wearing it. However, a lot of riders are on the other stand and I am one of them. I tried riding without my helmet on twice. At first, it made me feel uncomfortable. On my second time to do it, the bike in front of me collided with another. To stop from bumping on it, I forcibly stepped on the brakes thus, my body moved forward and my head hit the handlebar. It resulted to a cut coupled with a debilitating pain. Good thing I was not as injured as the ones in front of me! From then on, I never drive without a helmet.
As we can observe, there are different types, designs and colors of helmets. Some can provides more brain protection, some less. Before a helmet is sold to the public, it must first meet the helmet standards. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Snell Memorial Foundation (SNELL) are the two primary testing standards in the United States. They test the helmet’s retention, impact reduction, shell penetration and peripheral vision. Nonetheless, they differ in testing procedures and limits.
Wheelskins: Chrome for Styled Wheels
September 27, 2008
Wheelskins: Chrome for Styled Wheels
by: Phil Sollecito
“Wheelskin” is a relatively new term. Wheelskins were invented in the late 1990s to provide an inexpensive way to put chrome on styled wheels.
If you would like to read this article with pictures of classic cars that illustrate the examples given, go to http://www.autoamenity.com/FAQ/Wheelskins.htm
After WWII, auto racing enthusiasts introduced new technologies and materials to every aspect of race cars to reduce weight and improve speed and handling. One of those improvements, ‘mag wheels’ remains in the vernacular to this day. Halibrand magnesium wheels carried every car that won the Indy 500 from 1946 to 1963. Those early wheels were made of magnesium, which was far lighter than steel, and a even third lighter than aluminum. The major drawback of the true magnesium wheel was the need to polish it regularly, because magnesium reacts rapidly to air and water to produce a heavy surface oxide, which then pits. The shift to aluminum alloys reduced these problems.
Are Performance Driving Schools Overrated?
September 26, 2008
Are Performance Driving Schools Overrated?
by: Derek Gardner
Local street driving schools have a core curriculum primarily focused on helping students pass their test, not on controlling their vehicle.
A performance driving school, on the other hand, do not take place on public roads. They are typically on a race track, or sometimes a large parking area. This allows the instructor to encourage students to discover, and go beyond, the limits of the vehicle. This is extremely unsafe on a public road.
You learn how to find the limits of your vehicle, and how to get the most from it. You learn that some of the things that people often find somewhat counterintuitive, like smooth and silent are more or less always faster than squealing and screeching.
What do you learn on the track that translates to the streets?
Car location. Know where the corners of your car are.
Car placement. Be able to put the car where you want it to go. Understanding and dealing with under steer and over steer to go where you want, not where the car takes you.
How Do You Circumvent Motorcycle Risks?
September 26, 2008
How Do You Circumvent Motorcycle Risks?
by: Maricon Williams
Risks, dangers and threats are part of motorcycle riding. It is already an innate part of mounting on a bike and going mobile.
If you miss a signal of another rider be it a hand, lights or horn signal, you will be susceptible to an accident. If you missed the right moment to step on the brakes, you will likely encounter a mishap. In cases like these, how sure are you that you will make it alive?
When there are risks, dangers and threats, we have to be ready to circumvent their aftermath or at least lessen the gravity of a possible injury as well as other consequences.
As riders, we have to develop tactics manage the inherent perils. Some of the tactics that we have to develop are good cornering in times of twisty road, avoiding booby traps, negotiating muddy detours, riding with a group, surviving risky weather conditions and maintaining the bike so as to perform well and to avoid accidents. The common denominator is to be knowledgeable and skillful.
Motorcycle Buyers: Caveat Emptor
September 25, 2008
Motorcycle Buyers: Caveat Emptor
by: Maricon Williams
Some riders are denying the fact that motorcycle apparel is important to every ride. This is especially true to helmets.
Many riders are against the idea of wearing it. However, a lot of riders are on the other stand and I am one of them. I tried riding without my helmet on twice. At first, it made me feel uncomfortable. On my second time to do it, the bike in front of me collided with another. To stop from bumping on it, I forcibly stepped on the brakes thus, my body moved forward and my head hit the handlebar. It resulted to a cut coupled with a debilitating pain. Good thing I was not as injured as the ones in front of me! From then on, I never drive without a helmet.
As we can observe, there are different types, designs and colors of helmets. Some can provides more brain protection, some less. Before a helmet is sold to the public, it must first meet the helmet standards. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Snell Memorial Foundation (SNELL) are the two primary testing standards in the United States. They test the helmet’s retention, impact reduction, shell penetration and peripheral vision. Nonetheless, they differ in testing procedures and limits.
Reducing Cost Of Gas With Hybrid Cars
September 24, 2008
Reducing Cost Of Gas With Hybrid Cars
by: Dylan Miles
The first successfully designed, engineered and launched hybrid car was by Ferdinand Porsche all the way back in 1899. How surprisingly long ago it has been since the first hybrid car and only of recent years have we been able to find a way to bring hybrid cars to the home users.
With the continual rise in the cost of gasoline, most consumers welcome the new breed of cars in the form of hybrid cars. Hybrid cars use multiple propulsion systems to provide power. It combines the use of gas and also electric to power up the car. Hybrid cars are comparatively smaller than the usual internal combustion engines and have been known to save consumers quite a bit of money every month on gas.
One question lingers onhow can a hybrid car save me, the consumer, money? Well, the basic reason is because hybrid cars don’t use as much gas as the normal cars we see on the road. When the hybrid car is being driven or in use, they are recharging their batteries. And when the hybrid car is cruising or stationary, it also charges the batteries.
Aftermarket Motorcycle Parts’ Foray
September 23, 2008
Aftermarket Motorcycle Parts’ Foray
by: Maricon Williams
What’s in aftermarket parts to argue about?
Different states view aftermarket parts in different perspectives. Some states allow insurance companies to use aftermarket parts without consumers consent. Others require customer notification. Nonetheless, other states banned the use of aftermarket parts to repair their vehicles. From these scenarios, we can say that there is really no consensus as to the beneficially or peril brought about by this kind of parts.
When you take your bike to a repair shop, you are sometimes advised to use aftermarket parts instead of OEM parts. The first thing that comes to our mind is to refuse the offer. This is because we think of aftermarket motorcycle parts a bad choice. However, this may not always be the case. Aftermarket parts used may be equal, better, or worse in quality than the original manufacturer parts.
A greater percentage of repair shops are using aftermarket parts to damaged motorcycles. Those shops that are not using said parts have quality as the main disagreement. However, their greatest advantage is that they are less expensive. This is the reason why insurance companies save money. Consumers in turn save too. So when do you thing is the best time to use aftermarket parts?
2006 Hyundai Azera: Global and Democratic Luxury In The Premium Sedan World
September 22, 2008
2006 Hyundai Azera: Global and Democratic Luxury In The Premium Sedan World
by: Bechara Aboul-Nasr
Luxury has to be exclusive. Right?
But to be exclusive, it has to be dearer, less reachable. Still right with us?
At least, that’s classic luxury school.
But how about luxury in a global world, beyond the old slogans of passing cherished goods from father to son, because, 1, technology is moving fast, too fast anyway to keep products up-to-date for more than just a few months after their launch, and 2, because the most advanced technologies are growing cheaper and cheaper, or more and more approachable, thanks to better materials, production efficiencies, and growing market demands?
If cost is dropping, should luxury remain expensive for the sake of it then? Should exclusivity remain too closely tight to high prices?
Maybe yes, and maybe not, the latter argument being based especially on the fast advance of Japanese and now Korean brands into luxury land. Of course, the first “maybe yes” argument should hold too, since these same luxury Lexus, Infinity, and now Hyundai models have to remain dearer than their Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai brands siblings, to keep their image hovering somewhere above the “commoner’s” car.
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