Archive for June, 2011

The Ins And Outs Of Brakes

Posted on June 30, 2011 | Customize Car Detailing.

When a car is driving and needs to stop, it is the brake rotors that enable this to happen. The two sets of wheels are each attached to a long pole. When the brake pedal is hit, the rotors clamp down on the rod, and thus the wheels cease to spin.

The reason brake rotors are such an important part of any auto is because nothing else is able to prevent the wheels from continuing to spin. The brake pads themselves cannot for more than one reason clamp down themselves. One reason is that this would cause the wheels to wear through extremely quickly, in fact, too quickly.

Since the wheels are usually spinning quite fast, the brake rotors need to have a lot of grip when braking. At the time of braking, there is a lot of friction caused. To be able to withstand all this, the brake pads need to be made of a material that will not give in to the pressure and friction.

When choosing the correct material for brake pads, one must bear in mind what happens when the car brakes. As the rotors try to get a grip, heat and gases are created due to the intense friction levels. Thus the brake pads need to be made of a material that can withstand high levels of heat too.

The original brake pads were made of asbestos as it is widely known for its resistance to heat. However, when braking, the asbestos gave of extremely harmful dust. This dust is dangerous to breathe in and too much was being created to be ignored.

Instead organic brake pads are often used. These are made from organic materials; glass, rubber and resins that can withstand the heat. The dust created from organic brake pads is not dangerous, and the pads are easy to dispose of. They also provide much quieter braking as they are softer. However, a lot of dust is created, and organic pads wear through very fast, therefore are not so economical, as they need constant replacing.

An alternative type of pads are metallic. These are made from graphite, steel, iron and copper, all combined to create one unit. As they are made of metal, they are highly durable and do not wear through quickly. They are economical to produce, and do not create much dust. The disadvantage of metallic brake pads is that on cold mornings they will take time until they warm up and work effectively enough for use. Also due to the fact that they are made of metal, metallic pads are heavy, and will wear through other parts pf the auto faster than others types of brake pads.

Hennessey Performance Corvette Z06

Posted on June 28, 2011 | Customize Car Detailing.

There is a great deal of aftermarket support for Corvette Z06 owners ranging from superchargers to forged wheels. Oftentimes a single company will develop an entire program for owners so that all the bases are covered. Hennessey Performance has introduced a HPE800 Z06 upgrade for the Corvette that adds a twin-turbocharger system and pushes power to 820 bhp.

The upgrade package focuses on the 7.0-liter LS7 engine. In the stock car, the V-8 is naturally aspirated and sends 505 horsepower to the stunning z06 wheels. With the new HPE800 program, Hennessey has added a twin-turbocharger system that forces more air and fuel into each of the cylinders to create even more power.

The most important elements included in the package are the twin ball bearing turbochargers with dual wastegates. These turbochargers suck air in through new dual high-flow K&N air filters and the air-to-air intercoolers, and sends it into the larger 90 mm throttle body, high flow cylinder heads, and FAST LSx intake manifold. Because of the added fuel and air, engine components had to be upgraded. The pistons, connecting rods, and crankshaft have been replaced with forged aluminum and steel components while the main studs and head bolts were replaced with ARP units. To reduce backpressure, Hennessey Performance has installed a stainless steel catback exhaust and HPE stainless steel turbocharger manifolds. The fuel system also required modifications due to the additional airflow. New fuel lines, rails, secondary pumps, and larger injectors were fitted. Because the engine will not properly operate with the new modifications, Hennessey Performance has retuned the engine management software, and carried out extensive dynometer and road testing.

The end result of the upgrades is a potent 820 horsepower sent to each of the rear Z06 wheels – a 315 horsepower increase over the stock engine output.

Although the kit focuses mainly on the engine, it is also recommended that customers upgrade their stock clutch and Z06 wheels. Upgrading the clutch to a stronger unit will help to ensure better reliability. With the added power it is also important to consider upgrading to forged wheels. New forged wheels provide improved strength and durability compared to the stock rims, and are better suited to handle the increased power.

As part of the HPE800 performance package, Hennessey Performance will add premium floor mats, new exterior badging, and serial numbered dashboard and plaques. The entire kit comes standard with a 1 year/ 12,000 mile limited warranty.