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How to tune a car engine for power or economy

Let’s take a look at ways to tune a car engine and what exactly we mean by engine tuning.

First up we have to accept that there are many different types of engines.

We can only cover generic theory in this article on how to tune a car and suggest if you want more specific advice you sign up to our car forums where our helpful and friendly members will assist you further.

Suspension settings, lowering and stiffening

On the track your priority is fast cornering and suspension plays a large part in this. Track conditions are quite forgiving and you can make some compromises like using hard suspension and lowering the car for optimum aerodynamics and a low centre of gravity.

This works well because tracks are fairly flat and you do not have a carrier bag full of eggs in the car from your return trip to the supermarket.

Clutch tuning: performance clutch modifications and triple plate clutches setup

The clutch takes the engine power, and puts this down through the drive shaft, to the driven wheels on the road but allows you to disengage the engine whilst performing a gear change.

Contact like this requires a lot of grip and a fast response. The more power you have the harder it is for the clutch to operate.

Weight reduction and lightening a car to increase performance.

Maximise your performance gains with strict weight reduction. "Weight reduction. Putting your car on a diet.." Lighter cars are quicker […]

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