Technical

tiretech2

Somehow, we’re all gear heads. We all know what does what, and what makes a car fast… right? The fact is that despite all the theory we can read in books, or find in the FAQ on drifting.com, half the time we don’t even know our cars well enough to properly diagnose the problem. Not only that, the other half of the time theory proves itself to be just that, and then, if you are like me, you will begin to question the very nature of science and resort to various voodoo’s and nonsensical rituals.

My point is that, I have tried and failed many times. Name a book on suspension theory and vehicle dynamics and I’ve probably read it. (I’ve never been much of a drivetrain guy.) I have a degree in mathematics, and I’ve spent many hours trying to figure out what does what, and how. I think about this stuff a lot, and as a result I feel like I have made HUGE advances since I first bolted on springs and shocks and set my car to specs I found on club4ag. Not that this means you should wait on my every word. I made this section just because, such things have been a big part of my car life. I’m not intending for you to agree with me, and I haven’t created this as a reference for anyone.

The writings below are often based on, or a follow up of writings on my previous webpage.  If you are so keen, check them out.


Wiring and electrical issues and modifications are what I despise most about tuning. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it done in a manner that revivals what the OEM’s manage… that includes all of my own efforts too. This is a document sticky, that I’m really excited about: a Toyota Wiring Repair Manual. Dated from 2007, it’s perfectly relevant to […]

Official Toyota Wiring Repair


Supposedly the ultimate step in suspension tuning and set up, it is my belief that corner weighting is often quite misunderstood and the actual act of doing it, very over rated. Here is why… Corner weighting doesn’t change (or at least not in any meaningful way), front to back weight distribution, or improve left side versus right side balance. You […]

Balancing Scales



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Strength versus weight…. the common belief is that you can drill holes in practically anything to make it lighter, without compromising strength. We drill holes in everything, and seldom worry about the strength of what is left behind. A lot of the time it doesn’t matter. Sometimes strength and stiffness is critical however. In that case, is it true that […]

You Already Know This


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Last year, I had a brief love affair with aluminum. I bought a spool gun for my old Lincoln 180, a canister of argon, and went about learning how to weld and work with aluminum. It went so well in the beginning, that I imagined making everything out of aluminum. Nevermind intercooler piping and catch tanks, I was thinking struts, […]

Worth Even A Stack of Dimes?



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Drivetrain mods are for max winning IMO. Nothing you can do to your car is more under rated in it’s impact on performance and drivability… particularly differential set up. AE86 was a very simple lesson in this. A stock [Canadian] AE86 with an open diff is basically no fun at all. Tall and soft, it teases you often by playing […]

No Humping. Straight Porking.


Having first read about this two years ago… there is no breaking news here. At the time of first reading though, the concept of shock valving was only vaguely meaningful to me, and I didn’t fully understand what I was reading. Car design is often about compromise. Want a great camber curve? Jack that roll center up. Want negative lift […]

Regressive Revolution



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