hot auto review

Jud Buchanan of Ontario, Canada, assembled this one-of-a-kind hot rod. Chances are unless you grew up in Canada or near the border, you've never seen a car like this in your life. And unless you follow the whole wide and wacky world of motorsports, you've probably never even heard of the unusual event Jud and his car compete in every year. This is such a unique story, and such a great one, that it's hard to know where to begin.

Proper braking techniques can save fuel.

Energy that could be used to move your car down the road is effectively converted into friction, heat, and brake dust under braking…so obviously, you should try to use the brakes as little as possible, as they put a real drag (pun intended) on gas mileage. One way to get in the habit of staying off the brakes is to drive like you don’t have any! This should keep your foot off the accelerator and extend the amount of time available for the vehicle to naturally coast to a stop.

Nevertheless, whatever goes, must also sooner or later stop. So, when you do have to slow down or stop…

Assuming adequate warning time, coast to a stop with the engine off. Failing that, if possible at least coast down in Neutral with the engine idling without hitting the brakes (note this may be illegal in some areas).

Try to avoid stopping completely. It takes much less energy to accelerate a vehicle that’s already in motion—even if in motion at a very low speed—than it does to accelerate that same vehicle from a complete stop.

By planning ahead as discussed in previous tips you should be able to minimize hard braking. But for every rule, there’s always an exception: If faced with an unanticipated slowdown or possible need to stop, sometimes braking hard initially actually can save fuel.

Huh? Let’s consider, by way of an example, an unexpected encounter with a “stale” green light. In this case, there’s no pedestrian signal providing a clue that the light is about to change. Suddenly, the light turns yellow. Normal moderate braking would result in the vehicle coming to a complete stop at the intersection and then an idle period waiting for the light to change back to green (a double fuel-economy hit). Assuming you are driving far enough “ahead,” initially slamming the brakes really hard (traffic conditions permitting) could allow coasting into the intersection at a low-speed, thereby providing enough time for the light to cycle back to green without the need to come to a complete stop.

This about it for my fuel economy tips…at least for now. But I’m sure you guys have plenty more of your own. Feel free to comment and chime in with your own!

Save fuel: Avoid peak traffic hours and choose less-traveled routes.

Continuing to look at the nitpicky things that can really add up, not only is combining stops important (see Tip No. 18), but so is the timing. Obviously, if possible, you want to drive during off-peak hours. If there is less traffic you can maximize your overall driving style and technique for fuel saving, such as avoiding excessive braking and stop-and-go conditions.

If there are alternate routes choose one that is more lightly traveled, even if it is slightly longer in distance. However, driving on the freeway at a steady-speed under moderate traffic conditions can be better than driving in isolation, because the other cars can create an aerodynamic “wind-break.”

Leave early and allow plenty of time to reach your destination. When you run late and “get down to the short strokes,” it’s more likely you’ll devolve back to bad lead-foot habits.

Weather conditions also play a part. Mild weather is better than rain and snow. Driving with the wind at your back is better than driving into the wind or even in a cross-wind. Be aware of the prevailing winds and the time of day these winds generally occur in your locality and try to drive when they are to your advantage. Where I live in southern California’s high desert, this can make a big difference.

Back in the Sept. '07 issue, we tested some factory-based bolt-on parts for the new Mustang, the GTO, and the new Charger (cover theme: "Power Parts"). At the time, Mopar Performance was in development of a 5.7L kit, but deadlines being deadlines, we had to opt for an aftermarket story ("The State of the Hemi").

New school or old school, call it what you will; Jack Bowser's creation borrows from both. At first glance it's a clean, classy '34 roadster, but then you notice the five header pipes-on each side. What the . . . ?

GM Performance Parts engines, blocks, heads, cams, intakes, accessory drives and dress-up parts - available at retail prices online

DETROIT - GM Performance Parts has launched an online superstore that promises to simplify shopping for high-performance engines, parts and components.  The site, www.gmperformanceparts.com, is the first OE performance parts site that actually allows consumers to purchase their hardcore hardware online, and have it shipped straight to their door. One of the most onerous tasks of any engine builder is assembling the shopping list, and then actually buying the goodies. Days, sometimes weeks of planning, research and shopping are involved before the parts are laid out, ready to assemble. The GMPP website simplifies this process by providing enthusiasts with access to the most popular GMPP products on a trusted GM site 24 hours a day - 7 days per week.

Whether a shopper is a discriminating enthusiast who knows what he wants or one who doesn't know where to start, the information needed to make the right choices is literally clicks away:

* Access to 38 genuine GM small block, big block and LS high performance crate engines

* More than 300 different part numbers available for sale in one place - engines, blocks, heads, cams, intake manifolds, accessory drives and dress-up parts

* Product search by category, name and part number

* Product information - complete description of each GMPP product

* Technical product information - dyno charts, tech specs, engine builds

* Pricing - GM's MSRP and access to dealer's retail pricing

Purchase Process that Actually Saves Time, Money!

Unlike many online shopping sites that refer consumers to a retailer for pricing, www.gmperformanceparts.com makes it simple to buy what you want, when you want it, and have it shipped to your door. After entering the site, a buyer can find the products they need simply by searching for it, or by clicking on the category (e.g. "LS") and scrolling through the list. Each item can be added to a shopper's "cart."  When ready to check out, shoppers enter their zip codes in order to locate the GMPP Authorized Centers nearest them. The site will list dealers that have all items in the shopping cart in inventory first, followed by others based on their distance from the shopper's location. After choosing the dealer they want to purchase from, the customer can check the dealership's retail pricing, enter billing and shipping addresses and select method of payment - including all major credit cards and PayPal(R). Products can then be shipped directly to the buyer's door, or, by picking up the products at their selling dealership, buyers can save on freight charges. Dream it, Build it, Race it

For a closer look at GM Performance Parts products and to get some ideas, the www.gmperformanceparts.com homepage offers three sections designed to help visitors in their quest for performance:

* Dream It - We're in love with performance and power - we're enthusiasts just like you. Check out some of the dream cars of the GMPP team.

* Build It - We've got the parts, you bring the project. Before you build, choose an engine and check it out on the site's virtual engine dyno.

* Race It - If winning wasn't important; there'd be no need for a checkered flag. Get advice from six-time NHRA Pro Stock Champion and GMPP sponsored driver, Warren Johnson.

GM Performance Parts Promise

GM Performance Parts crate engines undergo a 50-hour, full-throttle engine dynamometer validation; requiring that the engines perform from peak horsepower to peak torque.  And if that's not enough, GMPP installs crate engines in its own engineering vehicles for ongoing testing and continuous improvement.  It's that commitment to quality and durability that allows General Motors to back GM Performance Parts crate engines with a 24 month / 50,000 mile warranty (whichever occurs first). All GM Performance Parts components carry a 12 months / 12,000 miles warranty.

Enthusiasts who crave the latest technology, maximum horsepower and the expertise and confidence backed by GM, can purchase GMPP crate engines, blocks, heads and components, from GMPP Authorized Center dealers or any other GM dealership nationwide. For more information or to locate the closest GM dealership visit www.gmperformanceparts.com

Save fuel: combine or eliminate unnecessary trips.

I’m sure you’ve seen at the chassis dyno how a bunch of little, nitpicky things often add up to a significant power gain by the end of the tuning session. So it is with gas mileage: a little bit here, a little bit there, and the overall savings can really add up.

So consider the simple things you can do: Try to avoid short trips. The vehicle is more efficient if it’s fully warmed up. Combine multiple stops in a single trip. Plan the most efficient route. Generally, on a multistep trip, the most efficient route is one that goes to the furthest destination first before working your way back. GPS or mapping programs can help plan the shortest route. On the road, try to avoid getting caught by a “stale-green” light that’s about to change to red—you can often watch the pedestrian signal crossing light for a clue if the light is about to change.

Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly over 60 mph.

As a hot rodder, I’m loathe to advocate anyone slowing down (truth in advertising: yours truly doesn’t practice what he preaches in this regard), but I’m duty-bound to bring up the fact that for most cars, gas mileage drastically decreases at speeds over 60 mph. The EPA claims that for “each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional 30 cents/mile.” The simple corollary is to observe posted speed limits, but your vehicle may vary, so you may want to experiment to find its most efficient cruising speed. And try not to constantly get in and out of the throttle: Avoid “jack-rabbit” starts. Maintain a steady pace. Yeah, I know it’s tough.

Save fuel: combine or eliminate unnecessary trips.

I’m sure you’ve seen at the chassis dyno how a bunch of little, nitpicky things often add up to a significant power gain by the end of the tuning session. So it is with gas mileage: a little bit here, a little bit there, and the overall savings can really add up.

So consider the simple things you can do: Try to avoid short trips. The vehicle is more efficient if it’s fully warmed up. Combine multiple stops in a single trip. Plan the most efficient route. Generally, on a multistep trip, the most efficient route is one that goes to the furthest destination first before working your way back. GPS or mapping programs can help plan the shortest route. On the road, try to avoid getting caught by a “stale-green” light that’s about to change to red—you can often watch the pedestrian signal crossing light for a clue if the light is about to change.