Performance Chips:
If you want to upgrade your car and a Civic performance chip is an option, it is a cheap and easy upgrade to complete. So long as your vehicle was built in the past two decades or so, it should be able to utilize a Civic ECU chip, though earlier models may not be able to. Civics are already known for their remarkable efficiency as non-hybrids, so the several miles per gallon in fuel savings provided by a chip probably wonít impress you all that much. But a Civic isn’t a horsepower heavy vehicle, and if you need that extra power (perhaps for storage towing or for climbing up steep roads), a chip can provide a crucial assist. Your vehicle will see faster quarter mile acceleration times and more rapid 0-60s, as well as a potential increase in horsepower resulting in up to 60 extra HP. The chip will alter the fuel air mixture and close performance gaps in your Civic’s operating system, allowing your improved performance and efficiency for under a hundred dollars and less than a half hours time.

HID Headlights”
Honda Civic HID headlights are more than viable alternatives to basic halogen headlight systems. Emitting light that’s up to three times brighter than light produced by halogens, and also providing extended peripheral light coverage for better visuals of your surroundings while driving at night, HIDs help to reduce driving risk by keeping the driver more visually aware. With a proper HID kit, the new headlight components necessary to upgrade your vehicle can be installed in an hour or two, provided that your Civic is a more recent model and won’t require extra wire harness adaptors or physical cuts into the body of the car. Once installed, your compact car will be able to light up the road further down than before, and depending on what color temperature you selected for your kit, you’ll have custom-colored headlights to boot. Your Civic will look heavily modded without requiring you to install a full body kit or an add-on rear spoiler, for the truly customized appearance you sought.

This morning was a bit cool and overcast here in Los Angeles, so I decided it would be a good time to tackle the ugly ass roof rack on my car. First order of business was to see what the car looked like with no rack at all. I was not a fan, but I did decide that the little strips that lie across the roof between the two primary rails could go away. At one point maybe someone figured that they would be used to protect the roof from boxes that had been tied down, but let’s get real, there will never be anything attached to these racks. If I ever plan to take this car to the mountains for biking or snowboarding, I will get a real rack from Yakima or Tule. The little strips combined with moisture and time had really done a number on the roof, so I grabbed my 3 step 3M buffing kit and was able to significantly reduce the staining, but not eliminate it. I then removed the little strips from the larger rails and re-installed them.

I’m a fan of the overall cleaner look with the little strips gone, but I think I am going to keep the chrome racks. They just reek of ’90s charm that I feel is crucial to the appeal of these Swedish Bricks.

Now that I actually own at 1990 Volvo 760 Turbo with Intercooler, my addiction has only grown deeper and more insane. So far I have ordered up a set of Lowering Springs and Koni Shocks from www.IPDUSA.com, tinted all the windows (replacing the horrible purple tint that was on there before), and found a shop in Pasadena that was able to seal and charge my R-12 A/C system. I have not had a car with working A/C in nearly 7 years, despite living in northern Los Angeles where it gets well over 100 degrees for a few weeks in the summer, so I am rather excited. I was actually quite relieved to learn that I did not need to convert the system over to R-134a or R-406a as I hardly wanted to spend a mint on staying cool.

Next up on my list is upgrading to a slightly more modern radio setup out of a newer Volvo, mainly so that I can use the Alpine M-Bus for the CD Changer to connect my iPod. I am currently looking at either an SC-816 (CD/Casette) or SC-900/901 (3-CD Changer). Found a great website with more detailed information on all the various Volvo radios found over the years. (http://www.wothrline.se/editerbara_sidor/hihi_headunit.htm) Since I don’t really plan on using the CD all to often, I am going to go with whichever on I can get a good price on in black. (note: the come in black and grey, so be sure to get one that matches your dashboard)

Seriously, it’s going to happen, now I just need to find one to call my own. I’m burning way too much browsing the internets and dreaming, time has come to put on in the garage. Target appears to be a 1990 740 Turbo. Right blend of box and style for my personal taste. I’m also looking forward to owning my first turbocharged car.

I wish I had an amazing porsche racecar to ruin like this.

Seem like forever since I have posted fresh content here on the site. Guess I have been swamped with work. Photographer Alison Merion captured this shot of a boy mid turn on his motorcycle at Industry Hill Speedway, just down the road in City of Industry. It’s amazing to me that a rider so young, can have such control. Click here for a desktop sized shot. Over the years I have featured literally thousands of her drifting photos on DriftLive.com.