Saturday, December 24, 2011

How to fit a large Lamborghini into a small room


Lamborghini Aventador assembled in a room
                        
 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 assembled in a small room


There is a lot going on with the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4. The Raging Bull’s new range topper features a 691-horsepower V12 that can propel the world’s fanciest door stop to 60 miles per hour in a scant 2.9 seconds. The Aventador looks good enough to cause whiplash injuries from rubbernecking onlookers. We could gush endlessly about Italy’s newest exotic, and at the end of the day there will always be room in our driveway for such a supercar.
But what about our living room?
The folks at Lamborghini needed to deliver an Aventador to a Lamborghini Museum exhibition called “La Forza del Toro” at Chiostro del. Unfortunately, the Great Room-sized space reserved for the exotic contained no entryway large enough to drive the Aventador through, but that’s when Italian ingenuity comes into play. Instead of knocking down a wall or lifting a ceiling, Team Lambo simply delivered an Aventador in pieces, then put them together on the spot. The end result is a fully functional Aventador for the “La Forza del Toro” exhibit.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Toyota Supra rumors continue with 400-hp hybrid power


Have we told you how badly we want a reboot of the Toyota Supra? One of the iconic cars of Gen X youth, the Supra died an untimely death in the mid-1990s along with the rest of the Japanese sports car market. This was, of course, long before most of us had managed to graduate from college and get decent enough jobs to be able to afford anything more exciting than a used Honda Civic.

So yes, we hang on every word out of Japan, and the latest comes via Motor Trend. It's reporting that a hybrid, 400-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 powertrain is being tested for possible release in 2015. The new Supra would look a lot like the FT-HS concept that Toyota showed at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, according to the magazine, which also says that if we really want to see this Supra successor, we'd better hope the Toyota GT 86/Scion FR-S does well.

Monday, December 12, 2011

First Test – 2010 Chevy Camaro


                         

From the base V-6 to the top of the line V-8 SS, we test Chevy’s hotly-anticipated Camaro and find out if it has was it takes to destroy Ford’s muscle car benchmark, the Mustang.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

2013 Dodge Dart aims for center of compact sedan segment



Don't call it a Hornet. Dodge has released a slew of shadowy teasers for its new compact sedan, the 2013 Dodge Dart. The company is planning a slow reveal, with snippets of the four-door's exterior and interior trickling out between now and the vehicle's full unveil at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Specifics are still murky at the moment, though we do know Dodge will grace the 2013 Dart with a variety of engine options, including a turbocharged version of the 1.4-liter four-cylinder Multiair engine found in the Fiat 500. If the Fiat 500 Abarth is any indication, that means we're looking at somewhere around 160 horsepower.

The 2013 Dodge Dart makes use of the same bones as the beautiful Alfa Romeo Giulietta, though the chassis has been both stretched and widened to accommodate the wider britches of American buyers. Chrysler says that a full 68 percent of the vehicle's architecture is comprised of high-strength steel, which means the 2013 Dart should retain much of the rigidity that's made the Giulietta a favorite among buyers and critics alike in the EU.

We're plenty excited to get our hands on the 2013 Dodge Dart to see how it stacks up against the likes of the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra among other winners in the segment

Monday, November 21, 2011

How To Build A Rat Rod Cheap Hot Rod



So you've been in a car show, and maybe even seen the cool early Hot Rods in the streets ..... and you're bitten by the bug! What is happening?

Level of difficulty:

Moderately challenging

Instructions

What you need

Old car parts

Mechanical ability

Common sense

1.

A

First,

Be honest with yourself. Are you comfortable? You can wield a key? Yes, I said to handle!

Secondly, if you have room to work?

Finally .... What about money?

If you're low on bucks ... no problem. Yes, we can fix it.

If not practical, take a class at the local university or a course of basic mechanics, welding and fabrication.

If you do not have a job, you need one.

2

If you can work on cars and have a place to work and at least some money ... we can begin.

We first need a framework. Go through the classified ads, forums and online clubs. Junkyards and also scouting for rural work. Any old frame work, but ideally you want something from 30 years or more. Straight and free as you can find rust.

If you can not find one ... supply local mills. 2x4 rectangular steel tubing perfect body as soon as possible. Buy about 16-20 feet from it. You can have them cut into two lengths of 8 or 10 meters.

Most of the cars from the 20s and 30s were about 90-110 meters in distance, so plan accordingly.

You will have the skills or welding is welding.

It should be soldered as a ladder. Perfect square and level. A member of the Cross at the front, maybe 2 or more in the middle (x is the best one) and one in the back. Width depends on the body, so plan ahead!

A uniform increase of more than two axles will be conducted as a 4x4 high .. as a "kick-up" in the back is necessary. It looks like a "Z" when the frame is placed on the page. In this way, the chassis under the body is lower than under the tree.

3

Then you need axles. Front and rear. Measure the width of your back or the width of rear bodywork. The tree can be wider than the frame (should be).

All the back of working age, but the things of the late 50's to late 70's the best. The appearance is secondary and bolt pattern of the wheel is important if you want to perform a beautiful custom rims.

A rear axle leaf spring is the best .. easier to modify. But it depends on the price.

The rear end of a spring. Coil springs, coil springs and leaf springs are easier.

Leaf springs may be transverse (left to right of the bridge) or in parallel.

At the same time be part of the low back behind the axle.

Helical coils and dampers are easier if we focus on them.

Solder cups, or more brackets next to the street (ladder), and lower brackets, cups or axle housing.

Find the axle with radius rods, torsion bars, bar scale or a wishbone split (early cars had a link called triangular bone would).

Front axle may be straight or independent.,

Direct Drive is the cheapest ... and may be from another old car or buy a new one.

Independent suspension is a better design, but requires more welding and mechanical know-how. Popular types include the Mustang II / Pinto, AMC Pacer and Corvair.

Use a straight blade shaft spring axis, parallel or transverse (s) that the pivot pin and the fork bar or 4 link triangulation system.

Most of these are available on a new .. and at least give you an exploded view of a model with old parts.

The best way is to buy a late 40's, early 50's Chevrolet or Ford pick up.

This gives you a front axle that is straight, with most of the necessary parts. The chassis cab abd an advantage, and can also be used.

At this stage .. Once welded together and designed for you ... This is a mobile platform.

4

Now is the time for the body.

Are you lucky? Do you have an organization or an online one?

If not ... fiberglass is forgiving, easy and inexpensive.

Making your own is an option ... CLEARLY ... but the cheapest Life is a choice of up truck cab.

For fun ... You can practice upper cut off for ever before!

You can cut up to pick up the body until it looks like and old bucket roadster.

Run your image using common sense .... and is almost here!

Wahhhh Hoo!

This allows you to use the open ports, line, etc.

5

It looks like a Hot Rod ... but will not move under its own

power.

Time of transmission.

The engine is the power does. Choose something.

But choose wisely.

Maybe a 396 big block Chevrolet, Ford or Chrysler 351 Hemi sounds good ... but all could blow your budget and then some.

If you already have a block and heads, or is worn out ... to sell to finance the runner.

The old 350 Chevy, Ford and Mopar 302 318, 340 and 360 are all common and cheap!

A small 4-banger to slide around a little roller compaction.

You are about to build a glorified go-karts ..... large blocks is not necessary and more ... can tear the car apart!

Go cheap and perform well.

Up (hopefully with a good trans) in front of the frame. Measure and welding in the motor assembly. Mounting the cradle works well ... or lateral supports are the best.

You need a drive shaft .... they can reduce easily (I would not recommend doing it yourself).

WOW!

6

It seems to be executed. It could even start!

Now is the time security. The security of your car and you.

You need cables, basic yes. You also need a radiator, brakes, lights and different languages. You need leadership in the area of ​​the joint and the steering column with steering wheel.

BEAST You need to get on and connected to the brake and gas pedals.

Safety for you ...... Well, it depends on you.

You need a seat belt. Do you understand?

7

An assessment of everything. The condition of the brakes, and if they actually work. So on and so forth throughout the vehicle.

Review all systems and take it for a test drive. The best idea is a truck and trailer. Provided, or yours.

Take the car to a large car park or in the middle of nowhere.

Try it. Take it easy and see if it overflows, if it leaks, does not stop, will not start, etc.

If it passes the maiden voyage ... 'Til Death do us part!

Good luck.

Advice

Excellent winter project.

Dear Father and the Son of the Project.

Even if you do not ... You will learn something

Working with the cars can be dangerous. Tetanus shots, stitches and emergency room visits are par for the course.

Do not die. Use your head and common sense.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Nissan Juke-R clears its throat for the first time


The end of the Nissan Juke-R build has come and gone. The vehicle is done. Only a lucky few were there when the 485-horsepower twin-turbo V6 borrowed from a Nissan GT-R cleared its throat for the first time. The thrills and high-fives, that wave of adrenaline that buoys dog-tired men, and the long minutes of standing around and grinning at your project as it burbles away is a private moment that only the builders can fully appreciate.

Respecting the space of the Juke-R build team doesn't mean we don't want to examine this evil little mutant closely. Nissan UK knows this, and has thrown us all a bone with 11 new pictures and three videos of the Juke-R, one with audio of the revving engine. The ultimate payoff will be the figures from performance testing, which we expect to see soon.

Using an online performance-stat calculator, we first plugged the stats of a normal Juke, deciding to go with the heaviest curb weight of 3,200 lbs, and the numbers it spat back, 7.6 seconds from zero to 60 mph and a 15.93-second quarter mile, dovetail pretty well with what car magazines have gotten, though the glossy print guys are a bit faster.

Taking that same 3,200 lb weight (though we don't know whether the Juke-R is lighter or heavier than a standard Juke) and going for 485 hp returns a predicted 3.6 second 0-60 run and a quarter mile that gets scorched in 11.44 seconds with a 124 mph trap speed.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Shelby GT500 Crushes Camaro SS! – Drag Race Showdown




 

When we first pitted the Camaro SS against the Mustang GT, Ford fans complained it was an unfair race given the horsepower disparity. But now Ford has tipped the scale way back in it’s advantage with the top of the line supercharged snake, the GT500. We head to the drag strip to see how the underdog Chevy stacks up.