Category: Cars

General car related posts not specific to a project or person.

S&B Cold Air Intake

Posted on | by Justin M.

The S&B cold air intake is the best intake you can buy for your Ford 7.3L Powerstroke diesel engine.

The Ford 7.3L Powerstroke diesel engine is pretty fantastic from the factory. But, like any turbo charged vehicle, improving the air flow on the intake and exhaust side always provides improvements. The OEM airbox on the my Ford F250 is a little bit restrictive. In order to improve airflow and efficiency, I upgraded to an S&B cold air intake that is made for the 7.3L diesel engine. The better flowing intake makes the engine much more efficient in moving air. This results in improved gas mileage and drive ability. The intake is simple to install and provides noticeable benefits over the stock unit. Combine the S&B cold air intake with the MBRP exhaust and you have a great combination to improve the power, MPG, and efficiency of your 7.3L diesel engine!

MBRP Exhaust for Ford SuperDuty

Posted on | by Justin M.

Upgrading our stock exhaust to a 4″ MBRP exhaust system for my 7.3L Powerstroke diesel.

The Ford F250 Superduty with the 7.3L Powerstroke diesel engine is great from the factory. However, the intake and exhaust system leave something to be desired when it comes to efficiency. The small exhaust system that comes with the truck is very restrictive and can be detrimental to turbo efficiency when towing or daily driving. When the turbo cannot push air through the exhaust effectively, the truck suffers. In comes the MBRP 4″ exhaust system. This exhaust system is nearly twice the diameter as the OEM exhaust system on the 7.3L Powerstroke diesel engine. The installation is not terribly difficult and the improvements are immediately noticeable. When towing, my truck feels like it can breath and push air very effectively through the turbo and exhaust system. This improves MPG and drive-ability and the truck does not have to downshift when climbing small hills. Check out the video that includes the entire installation process and first drive!

Sony XAV-AX100

Posted on | by Justin M.

Upgrading my 2002 Ford F250 with a Sony XAV-AX100 stereo.

The stock stereo system that is included with older Ford Superduty pickup trucks is nothing to write home about. They lack pretty much every modern convenience that can be found in newer stereo systems. Because of this, I wanted to upgrade to something had features similar to most modern cars on the road. I chose to go with a Sony XAV-AX100 multimedia head-unit that has a number of great features. Including, Bluetooth for phone and audio, Android Auto and Apple Carplay support, touchscreen support, and a number of other nice amenities. Also, the Sony XAV-AX100 is one of the best multimedia head units on the market for the price, as far as I am concerned. Check out the installation process which is pretty straightforward and simple!

Tow Mirror Upgrade

Posted on | by Justin M.

My 7.3L diesel Ford F250 is in need of a tow mirror upgrade!

One of the things I have noticed when towing race car trailers over the years, is that mirrors are very important! Most pickup trucks come with small, inadequate mirrors for towing trailers. Unless, you opt for a truck that has a towing package which often has upgraded mirrors. My 2002 Ford F250 with the 7.3L Powerstroke diesel engine came with telescoping mirrors with a small blindspot mirror. However, I found them to be inadequate as well, and went on the hunt for a tow mirror upgrade. After doing some searching, I found YITAMOTOR towing mirrors which have been a fantastic upgrade over the stock towing mirrors. The mirrors include features not found on my OEM truck mirrors, such as a turn signal and heat mirrors. In addition, they are telescoping and have a huge blindspot mirror which increases visibility in your blind areas. The installation is fairly straightforward and my video below covers all of the details, including the wiring of turn signals and heat!

7.3L Powerstroke Diesel

Posted on | by Justin M.

Upgrading my tow vehicle with the legendary Ford 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel powered F250!

So, my old 2010 Ford F150 was not quite up to the task of towing our new 22ft enclosed race car trailer. It managed only 4mpg and just did not have the power to pull the trailer at a reasonable speed. I got really lucky searching for a replacement and found a nice 2002 Ford F250. This truck is equipped with the legendary 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel engine. This turbocharged diesel engine pumps out 275 horsepower and 525lb.ft of torque! Plenty of power to safely and economically pull our new trailer. I am looking forward to the upcoming modifications for this truck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLcdKsXR8sQ

JDL Ultra Quiet front-pipe

Posted on | by Justin M.

The JDL Ultra Quiet front-pipe replaces my old Berk front-pipe.

I have gone through quite a few different catback exhaust systems on my 2017 Subaru BRZ. However, I have always had the same front-pipe, which is the Berk high flow cat version. After a few years of use and abuse on the track and autocross course, it seems this pipe has finally started to fall apart. First, I noticed a hissing sound of sorts coming from my exhaust system. It got worse over time. Finally, I pulled the exhaust system from the car and found a hole in my Berk front-pipe! So, my broken BRZ exhaust needs to be repaired or replaced. I chose to replace the Berk front-pipe with a brand new JDL Ultra Quiet front-pipe instead of attempting to repair the hole in the Berk pipe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7LkdqVo7Qw

Best BRZ Exhaust

Posted on | by Justin M.

Is this the best BRZ exhaust yet?

It seems like I have spent years trying to find the best BRZ exhaust for my racing requirement! Some of my favorites have been my single exit Tanabe Concept G exhaust and the Blitz Nur-Spec VSR dual exit exhaust. However, both of those exhausts had their flaws. They were either too heavy (the Blitz), or too loud in the case of the Tanabe exhaust. Now, I have picked up yet another exhaust to review. This time, I ordered the Dezod Motorsports Dual Catback exhaust. Will this be the last exhaust I will ever need for my 2017 Subaru BRZ? I hope so!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwlIH1kttq8

OS Giken Differential Install

Posted on | by Justin M.

OS Giken differential install process for your Subaru BRZ, Scion FRS, or Toyota 86.

The OS Giken Super Lock limited slip differential is a high end product that will improve your cars cornering grip. This is the latest in my Subaru BRZ upgrades for competing in SCCA STX autocross. The OS Giken differential install process is fairly straightforward. However, it does take time and some familiarity with how the rear differential comes out of your car. With the OS Giken unit installed, you can expect improved grip during mid-corner and corner exit phases. Going fast requires putting the power down and the OS Giken differential definitely helps with that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQbHA6zT59Y

BMW M3 Reveal!

Posted on | by Justin M.

My new and improved BMW M3 is here!

Ok ok, so it is really not a true BMW M3. BUT, my trusty old 1994 BMW 325is has gotten the M3 treatment. We did a lot of upgrades to this car during the off-season. The various upgrades were aimed at improving reliability, as well as improving driving feel and stability. The are a lot of new M3 front brake parts, including calipers, rotors, pads, and more. In addition, I installed a fancy new e36 M3 bumper to improve the looks! The new bumper also makes it possible to run the Hard Motorsports brake duct kit. Lastly, I added a new Sparco steering wheel and topped it off with a Z3 steering rack. No more slow and sloppy steering like in my stock 325is!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SusCubkETgo

Boxer Rumble

Posted on | by Justin M.

What makes the boxer rumble sound?

Everyone loves the boxer rumble that comes from WRX’s, and even our BRZ, FRS, and 86’s. But, what makes that sound? Why does a stock BRZ/FRS/86 not have the boxer rumble? In this video I compare the exhaust sound differences between an unequal length style header to that of an equal length style header. Which exhaust note do you like best? If you would like to know more about my BRZ exhaust system setup, take a look at my ACE A-350 header installation video.