The Car Geek: December 2005

The Car Geek

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Tin Lizzie, Mother of Ethanol Vehicles

Do you know that the use of ethanol in automobiles goes back to the good ol days of Tin Lizzie (or Henry Fords Model T)?
Well, historically speaking, the Model T cars were the first widely sold vehicles in the United States that used ethanol. They were mostly used by farmers who were capable of making their own ethanol. In fact Model T’s of the old times can still run on todays E85, which is a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. This is because Henry Ford designed the Tin Lizzies to work on either ethanol or gasoline.

The successor to the Model T, the Model A, likewise was an early version of FFVs. As a more modern car, it provided users more convenience in accommodating different blends of alcohol and gasoline through a driver control on the dash. It has a knob that can be turned to control air fuel mixture and the burning of the alcohol and gasoline in different proportions. This vehicle can also run on today’s E85 like the Tin Lizzie.

As time passed by, however, the less expensive gasoline became the dominant fuel used by most vehicles. Today as environment issues are being raised against the automakers, more alternatives to gasoline are being developed and applied to modern cars. The use of flexible fuel engines is again being promoted by several auto makers, including Ford, which has used it since the Henry Fords time.

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Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Suspension Basics

The suspension is the portion of the vehicle that connects the wheels to the frame. It's composed of front and rear springs, shock absorbers or struts, anti-sway bars and a system of linkages, such as control arms, torsion bars, 4-links or trailing arms, that suspend the vehicle's "sprung" weight; thereby, controlling its ride quality and handling.
Springs in the suspension are used in sets of four for each vehicle or are paired off in various combinations and are attached by several different mounting techniques. The leaf springs are mostly used in front suspension on some full-size pickups and SUVs; however they may also be used in front suspension. Leaf springs work with hocks to control the vehicle's up and down movement as it moves down the road. Working with the torsion bar are shock absorbers. These suspension components control the up-and-down movement at each corner of the vehicle. Through changing stocks, the vehicle's ride quality and handling can be greatly improved. Use high quality shocks called "dampers" if you want superior ride quality. These parts literally dampen the feel of potholes and rocky roads, giving you a very comfortable ride even in worst driving conditions. For more information on the suspension and other auto parts and systems, you can go to Auto Parts Inner. This site features the best information on anything about cars and the automotive industry. Discover the marvels of automobiles and the automotive world through Auto Parts Inner's Auto Parts Information section.
This site is also a great source of top quality replacement parts. The store features the most reliable and very affordable Ford parts, Toyota parts, BMW parts and so much more. Find thousands of ways for you to improve your vehicle's ride quality, handling, over-all performance, style, safety and comfort, explore Auto Parts Inner.

Friday, December 02, 2005

When Cars Spell F-A-S-T

Do you know what the fastest American car is?

Imagine this: a supersonic jet took off at a speed of 225 mph on its final commercial flight last October 2003. Now, add some 48 mph more thrill to that, that’s how fast this fastest American supercar is!

This American supercar known as the American SSC Ultimate Aero supercar belittles a Concorde jet with its top speed of 260 to 273 mph. According to feature article in forbes.com, SSC spokesman said it was seen “LOAFING around Pocono (a famous NASCAR track in Pennsylvania) at speeds of around 210 mph." —that isn’t an exaggeration!

Powering this extremely speedy car is a V8 engine that produces a whopping 1,046-horsepower! Yes, you heard it right. One thousand plus horses and this car weighs just like a Dodge Neon! But of course, it costs literally MORE. Imagine, its base price is about $654,500. Yeah, right!

Now here’s another American supercar, the Saleen S7 Twin Turbo with top speed of 240 to 260 mph—just a little less than the SSC Ultimate Aero. It got a lower output but certainly hot and breathtaking 750-hp V8.

You probably know by now I’m a racing buff with all those ! in this article... hahaha... but really, I’ve always been fascinated with cars and racing. It gives a different sense of excitement and a different adrenaline rush so to speak.

Currently, I’m working on a customization project on a Mazda car. I’ll be putting a turbocharged engine and a load of body Mazda accessories and stylish auto parts including the Mazda spoiler, Mazda wheels and Mazda hubcaps I got from Auto Parts Inner.