Bumper Tech
The safety sensors are embedded in or attached to the bumper and front grille, which makes bumper repair after a collision very different from the procedures of only a decade ago.
MOST Definitely, from D2B – What You Need to Know if the Fiber Optics Stop Processing Digital Media
The addition of electronics has turned the average vehicle into a technological marvel, but a Mercedes-Benz is no average vehicle. At the cutting edge of technology since its founding, the company has added fiber optics that allow it to process large amounts of digital media. What do we need to know if it stops doing that?
June 2014 HOT ROD Professional
In this issue, we focus on brake friction material, why combustion chamber volume is critical to know in calculating true mechanical compression ratio of an engine, why a supercharged engine doesn’t have to be difficult to tune, and,why setting up your differential properly is critical.
Taboo!
Regardless of the dangers and laws, street racing is still a fact of life.
Modern Motor Mounts – Part of the Electrical System
Mercedes-Benz has always been an innovator in the automotive industry, and its powertrain technology shows this clearly. But besides the great leaps in engines that have produced the wonderful performance and efficiency of today, has anybody ever given any thought to how those engines are mounted in the chassis? Yes, indeed, and to a larger extent than you probably suspect.
Why You Should Use Only Genuine Mercedes-Benz Parts
There’s a lot more substance to this topic than you might think — it’s not just marketing hype. The rigorous “Genuine Parts” testing program is especially interesting and relevant to the price/value relationship.
High-Performance Brake Upgrades, Part 2: Rotorama
Last time, we looked at the parts that provide the pinch, but the components that spin off all that thermal energy are more interesting from a scientific, technological standpoint.
Light Flywheels & Clutches
When it comes to racing, initially large chunks of horsepower are made and lap times drop quickly on that first day at the track. By day three, the improvements have dropped to 0.1 second if you’re lucky. Will lightening your flywheel give better lap times — or just another 0.1 second? And will the car still be “streetable” after this mod?
Two Kids, One Job and an Unlikely Racer
June 1987. After over 12 years of marriage my wife wakes me up at 0-dark-thirty one morning and says, “I’m pregnant.” Apparently, it’s written in the wife handbook that one must get up early, take the test, sit on the edge of the bed while the husband is peacefully...
The Watch That Roared
Mocking things up is just part of what has to be done now, both in the race shop and in the restoration shop I work at part time.
2014 Detroit Autorama: A Little Ray of Sunshine
Hot cars warm the heart and lift the spirits at Detroit Autorama.
Airing Out the Problems
In the first year of the new millennium, BMW introduced a new air suspension on its X-Series vehicles. This compensates for load by controlling the ride height of either the rear axle, or all four wheels in later versions. But what do we do when they stop working?
Father of the Corvette: Zora Arkus-Duntov
Many years ago I had the honor of meeting Zora Arkus-Duntov at a cocktail reception put on by Chevrolet Public Relations as an adjunct to the introduction of some new models. Most of us were dressed in suits and ties, but he had the California-casual thing down, and...
HOT ROD Professional, April 2014
In This Issue: Performance Tool Box for Carbureted Engines The computer age has made tuning tools, formerly only used by factory engineers, now relatively affordable for virtually anyone with the need for speed and performance. Basics Series: Connecting Rods Our...
Missing the Point
OBD II has spoiled us. When we were kids, we had to find misfires BY OURSELVES! Now drivers have a blinking Malfunction Indicator Lamp and diagnostic trouble codes telling us which cylinder is in trouble. You would think that would make our job easier, but we still need to find the cause.
BMW Glass Repair
The structural strength of the front and roofline of the passenger compartment depends heavily on the windshield and its bond with the A-Pillars, roof, and base where it connects to the upper frame rails. Replacement parts, installation materials, and procedures must meet safety standards.
Tools, Tools and More Tools, Part 2
What you use in your day-to-day career, no matter how high-quality, is necessarily different from what you need for high-performance work, in this case engine building.
StarTuned March 2014
In this issue: Connections Come First; VVT: The Best of Both Worlds; Why You Should Use Only Genuine Mercedes-Benz Brake Parts; Certified Collision Centers
The Basics of Tightening Technology
Critical fasteners are generally considered to be those with a definite tightening procedure that is specified by the engine manufacturer. It’s important to understand that fasteners are elastic in nature.
Mercedes-Benz Certified Collision Centers: The Future Is Here
New structural and safety features of Mercedes-Benz vehicles require significant changes to collision repair facilities, equipment, and technician skills.
Does this Stop the Car? BMW DSC (Dynamic STability Control)
With anti-lock brakes controlling wheel speed while decelerating; traction controlling wheel speed under acceleration; and advanced versions of Dynamic Stability Control, BMW drivers are safer than ever. How do we keep this winning streak going?