Today is July 1st and the new hands-free cell phone law is in full effect in California. Drivers are no longer legally allowed to drive with a handset being held to their ear. This law does allow for drivers to dial and text people, although some websites are reporting that legislation is under way to ban texting as well. The problems with outlawing texting, and not dialing while driving, are mind boggling… how can legislators reasonably expect law enforcement to determine whether someone was dialing or texting without unnecessary traffic stops and a huge invasion of privacy. Imagine an officer pulling you over and saying, “I’m going to have to inspect your cell phone to make sure you weren’t breaking the law.” Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that people should ever be texting while driving; I actually consider it far more dangerous than talking on a cell phone when behind the wheel since you have to take your eyes off the road, but getting people to stop texting while driving shouldn’t be enforced through legal channels, but instead through drivers education and parental guidance. Hopefully this anti-texting bill doesn’t get passed by the governator.

On the lighter side, Parrot Bluetooth has capitalized on the new hands-free law and started a petition to make the Parrot the official bird of California, removing the quail from its office. ParrotNotQuail.com mocks the quail, saying “77 years and no results…meet the Valley Quail”. Make sure to check out the hilarious letter to Arnold. At the time of writing this, the petition on the website states that over 500,000 signatures have been collected to remove the quail from office. I for one hope this petition is real. I think California would be a greater state if the Parrot were in charge of the Quail’s (near) former duties.

In a recently made-up statistic, it has been found that 98.8% of all buyers of a cold air intake install it properly on the correct vehicle, and reap the benefits. But, oh, those in the remaining 1.2%. If you ever see a CAI sticking out of an appliance or a mower, you’ll know who to blame.




The positive effects of a cold air intake are known around the world, from commuters to hardened racers. Throttle response quickens to a hair-raising thrill. High-rev punch and pull pushes to astounding levels. The cloth filter saves cash. Fuel economy bumps up a hair. All of these benefits can be had with simple installation in less than one hour.

But some people take it too far. They feel the power of a cold air intake, and they begin to plot new and exciting places to install one, mistakenly thinking of their CAI as some kind of magic device instead of a highly tested piece of scientific equipment. Once that cranial light bulb flashes on—no matter how slight the wattage count—shakily-rigged disaster is the only possible outcome. Frightening pictures of CAIs jutting from everywhere aren’t enough to deter the would-be Dr. Frankenstein.

That’s why you’ll see ill-fitted cold air intakes—like the ever-popular K&N FIPK—grafted onto places they never belonged. With just a couple of hose clamps, that FIPK can be crossed with a lawnmower, chainsaw, weed-eater or leaf blower. While K&N does make filters and other parts for landscaping machinery, this is an extremely bad and ineffective idea. A cutting torch can be used to transplant a second intake to the first, but the effect can be detrimental to the positive gains the original intake gave.

It gets even worse. Cold air intakes have been rigged to dryers, disc sanders, floor buffers, and pretty much anything with a motor. Rumors are abound that a cold air intake even made its way “between two pillows” at a frat party in Big-Ten territory, searching for flatulent performance. Basically, anywhere there’s a budding engineer or bored backwoods yokel with a few tools, a CAI is doomed to be abused. Gone is the intention behind such a technically sound piece of performance equipment, tossed in favor of life as a redneck freak show.

Fighting the freak show is easier than you might think. Resist the temptation to attempt a transplant of cold air intake power onto anything that’s sluggish. A CAI is meant to mate with a specific vehicle with a specific engine, and will not aide other disappointments like a dishwasher or lumpy son. Follow the directions, follow the path set forth by the hundreds of hours of testing, and you’ll follow the path to power. Stray from this path, and the journey toward the automotive freak show will be swift.



Don’t misuse a cold air intake like the K&N FIPK —only using it with the intended vehicle and engine will produce the correct effect. - David S. Brooks

I can’t even count how many articles I’ve read about intake systems. And I’ve discovered that most people have no clue what they are talking about. I’m going to set the record straight once and for all. It might be smart to learn how intakes work before shelling out a few hundred bucks.


Let me start by saying that cold air intakes and short ram intakes both have their pros and cons. That being said, they are also very similar. The Short Air Intake System, AKA as a Ram Air Intake or Cold Air Induction, is a system that will utilize some type of external scoop that faces forward on the vehicle. Normally, it works with a pair of snorkels or a single hood scoop through which fresh air enters. Now the Ram Intake does exactly what it sounds like. As you start driving, fresh air is “rammed” through your hood, forced down the intake manifold, and filtered through the air cleaner. Once you hit thirty five mph, this intake system will act similarly to a turbo charger; taking in more and more air to increase your horsepower. Oh yea, and they are much cheaper.

Let’s look at Cold Air Intakes. The Cold Air System replaces your stock air cleaner box and its plumbing with a simple tube that relocates the air intake to a position where it is picking up cold air from outside the engine compartment. This system consists of a large tube that allows greater airflow capability than the stock filter system. I’ve noticed that people have expressed concerns about water penetrating their engines with this system. First, it is HIGHLY unlikely that this will ever be a problem. Rain and water droplets are no problem. The only case that could be a potential threat is if you drove into an extremely deep puddle, submerging the intake head. The car would have to be in the water so that the intake was submerged, and then it would start sucking up water, making your engine hydro-lock.

In both cases the intake is collecting air from outside your engine compartment. The purpose of the intake is to collect a colder air charge than inside the engine compartment, allowing the fuel management system to give the engine a denser air/fuel charge into the combustion chamber. To clarify: Cold Air = More Horsepower. The warm air from your engine compartment is good for fuel economy, but because is has less oxygen molecules than a cold air charge, the fuel will be leaned out. This increases your fuel efficiency, but decreases your horsepower. To conclude, you should look at your car and figure out what system will work with your car’s ground clearance and hood type.


Now that you are an educated shopper, you can look through all the cool colors and designs to pick out your intake. Injen intakes are very popular, but I’m currently using an AFE intake. Can you hear that? Sounds like the record has been set straight. - Tim Saunier

I have not been very lucky the past few months. I had lost my job and everyone was starting to think that this would be the beginning of my down fall to a life without motivation and energy. But I couldn’t accept this kind of life. I will never give up and I have hopefully found my way out of my personal misfortune.



I am now 47 years old and many people told me that the best time of my life is pretty much over. Their opinions were verified after I lost my job two months ago. I was working for an advertising agency in San Diego, but the management decided to replace me by a recent graduate, he’s 24. I don’t know why the whole world has the idea that people over 40 are not able to be creative or to understand and interpret the current trends. They forget that trends are not just created and introduced by young people who are, by far, the minority in our society. Over 50 per cent of all people in the Western countries are over 45 but unfortunately totally neglected by the commercials, where just models and athletes are shown.

I don’t want to sound embittered and of course I do like to watch a commercial where hot girls are presenting the new Victoria’s Secret magazine. But I cannot understand why a 25 aged girl is advertising a BMW. Seriously, what is the target group of cars like BMW or Mercedes? Young girls, who don’t even have the money to pay their own bills? I don’t think so. To sum it up, I think a commercial has the task to convince the customers of the product’s quality. And therefore you need the actors in the advertisement to know what they are talking about so that the customer can trust him or her and therefore trust the product. For instance, if there is a commercial for lawyers, I want to see O.J. Simpson on the screen. This guy was at the court of justice more often than on the football field, so he knows what he is talking about. But when I see Paris Hilton in the commercial talking about the quality of colleges or libraries in L.A., I ask myself “What is going on?”

But back to me, a man who was supposed to be done with life. I am not like many older men who have accepted their fate after losing something in their lives. I would never give up. Why should I? I have a great wife and two adorable sons. There is still so much to do for me in my life and losing a job is no reason to change this thinking. But what opportunities do I have as a man at my age who has always worked in creative jobs. As I mentioned, unfortunately this kind of business, where only young people have the chance to be successful, seems to be part of my past. So I searched in the local newspapers for offered jobs that fit my resume and strengths. But after twenty calls to the different personal managers of local companies I had to accept that there were not any suitable jobs for me at all.

But two weeks ago, my cousin gave me some advice concerning a good job. It is a job that does not have the best reputation, but the payment is better than everyone thinks. I am talking about my career as garbage man. Many people likely think that this job is just for the lower class in our society, but the paycheck will prove that it is not like this. So I have decided to become a garbage man. I will start in three weeks and want to be prepared for my new job. But what is the best training for this kind of job? Exactly! - Standing on a driving car and learning how to jump off. So I purchased a car accessory recently that allows me this kind of training – Nerf bars. This purchase is the beginning of my new career as a garbage man and no one can argue me out of this.



I hope I can motivate many people by telling my story. I think everyone can be successful, no matter how old he or she is. You just have to believe in yourself. And maybe Nasta Nerf bars can help you on your way. And even if Nerf bars are not the answer for your unique problem, you always have to search for the key of your fortune!! – Tim Saunier

Front brakes or back brakes--which provide more braking power? If you can’t answer this question you probably need some help with your brakes.



Brakes are the single most important part of you vehicle, hands down. It is critical for your own and everyone else’s personal safety to make sure your brakes work properly. You shouldn’t be scared to change your own brakes, but you should be confident with your skills. If you don’t know the difference between a Phillips head and a flat head screw driver, you should bring your car to a mechanic.

Preparation tips:

Take plenty of time to familiarize yourself with the brakes before you start working on your car. Also work on one side at a time. This way, if you mess up you can reference the other side.

Obviously you will buy the pads before you start. But which ones will you buy? Cheap, generic pads wear out quickly and even though you may be spending less money now, you will ultimately be spending more money and time in the long run. More expensive pads are less prone to leaving your front wheels covered in unsightly black dust.

Changing the Pads:

1. Engage the parking brake put something behind the rear tires so that the car cannot move.

2. Loosen the lug nuts around the wheel.

3. Raise the car with a jack and secure it on jack stands.

4. Remove the lug nuts and the wheel.

5. Now you can see the brake calipers holding the brake pads in place against the rotor. There are two pads per wheel that squeeze the rotor. Use a C-clamp to compress the caliper piston into the caliper housing. This will make it possible to remove the caliper assembly and create enough space for the increased pad width of the new brake pads.

6. Unbolt the caliper mounting bolts and pull the caliper back from the rotor. Be careful not to bend or break the brake hose. Sometimes the caliper mounting bolts require you to use a torx or star bit instead of a normal socket. Plan ahead and make sure you have the right tools for the job to save yourself a trip back to the parts store before your brakes are disassembled.

7. Remove the brake pads from the caliper. Examine them for unusual or uneven wear. Is only one pad worn down? Are the pads worn down on an angle? These could be signs of problems that need to be addressed immediately.

8. This is also a good time to examine the condition of the rotors. If they have deep grooves, or if your car shudders when you hit the brakes, then you will need to get the rotors turned or replaced.

9. Install the new pads in the caliper. Usually, it's best to place the inner pad first, then the outer pad second. You may have to depress the piston fully into the caliper housing in order to provide enough space for the new pads.

10. Once the pads are properly seated in the caliper, put the caliper back on the rotor and bolt it firmly in place.

11. If everything is correct, you may put the wheel back on, hand tighten the lug nuts, and lower the car to the ground. Finish tightening the lug nuts in a star pattern so that they are even.

Replacing your pads is rather simple if you know what you are doing and have the right tools. If it’s your first time you might want to call a buddy over just to make sure to don’t skip any steps. Important: test your brakes before taking your car into traffic. Stop and start a few times just to make sure everything is installed properly.


If you are looking for quality products, I recommend EBC rotors and Hawk brake pads. I’ve found that they last much longer than generic parts. – Mike Rosania

Nothing gives me the heebie-jeebies like insects. That’s why I get such satisfaction buzzing around town in my Super Duty. Its massive front-end can kill thousands of those winged bastards every year. And now that I have a bug avoidance shield, I’m able to take care of business without as many gooey smears left on my windshield.


I’ve heard that some people like to keep bugs as pets, and there are plenty of scientists that spend their lives studying the suckers. But I simply can’t believe that there is anyone in the world who honestly has a soft spot in their heart for insects. Those entomologists must harbor some deep seated hatred that they keep in check by flexing some control over the creatures by keeping them captive and measuring their organs. It’s their way of lording over arthropods, and I have a serious hunch that it stems from a genuine loathing.

Personally, I wear my unconditional disgust for all creepy-crawlers smack dab on my sleeve. If I run a cross a bug, my first move is to squash that critter before he gets a chance to dig into my flesh with his stinger or fangs. I don’t care if butterflies are beautiful to some people. When one of those colorful creatures flies at me, all I can think about is its germy proboscis slithering around on my skin. I have no qualms about ripping the wings right out of their bodies when they flitter into arm’s length. But I don’t discriminate. Be they ladybugs or black widows, I’ll mash any insect I run across into a wad of sidewalk slop.

But my shoe soles can only do so much work. That’s why I love the massive front-end of my ’03 F-350. Like Louie Anderson at an all-you-can-eat buffet, the monstrous grille on my Super Duty simply devours any pest that gets in its way. Every Saturday when I give her a good washing, I can’t keep track of all the corpses lodged in the radiator, bumper and headlights. However, I hate having to stare at the slimy remains of exploded June Bugs and dragonflies on my windshield. A buddy of mine told me about an amazing auto accessory: bug avoidance shields. Apparently, when you mount one of these onto your hood, it alters your aerodynamics to push the flow of air up over your roof instead of right into your windshield.

Initially, I was apprehensive about the whole business. I figured that sending those critters soaring over my roof instead of putting them out of business with my windshield was too merciful. But the more I started thinking about it, the more I realized that I’d still be doing my part to keep the bug population in check. You see, even if I don’t obliterate them outright, I’m sure that the sheer force of whizzing over my Ford at 75 miles per hour would do some serious damage. With a snapped thorax, some mangled antennae, and a clipped wing, I doubt even the heartiest cockroach in the world could last for long. So after doing some research about bug deflectors & Weathertech side window deflectors, I picked out a set. The bug avoidance shield works like a charm, and I really like the side window deflectors. They allow me to roll down the windows and not have my music drowned out by wind noise. I like to blast Flight of the Valkyries while I’m out battling with the bugs. It sounds like…I don’t know. Victory.

Best bug avoidance practices dictate installing bug deflectors on the hood of your vehicle. And for maximum results I recommend a set of Weathertech side window deflectors. The Flight of the Valkyries music is optional. - David S. Brooks

I have been living in San Diego for a very long time and rain is not a factor to be feared during the summer. But my last experience taught me that sometimes you have to expect the unexpected.





Since I was 10 I have been living in San Diego and seriously, during the whole year it rains maybe 15 times. No one in San Diego ever thinks about rain because for 99 percent of the time, it does not rain in summer. But there is still one per cent left and I experienced this exact percentage a few days ago.

I went with my family to the beach, which is very close to us, but instead of walking we decided to take the truck in order to transport all the beach gear in the truck’s bed. So it was not out of laziness, but rather it was just the most comfortable way to transport the beach rackets, surfboards and baseball bats. We arrived at the beach around two o’clock and the sun was shining, bright as ever. Beside that, the waves were pretty good so we could really enjoy this day at the beach! If you live in San Diego, you can start thinking this great weather and these beautiful beaches here in California are the most normal things of the world. I know that there are so many people who did not have the opportunity to relax in the sand looking at your surfing sons in the Pacific. So I really appreciate this wonderful lifestyle and days like this make me realize how lucky I am.

We were hanging around at the beach till around 6 pm and afterwards we decided to eat something in one of the beach restaurants because everyone was starving. These restaurants are not just known for their great food but also for their very high prices. But my stomach was not very interested in walking miles to a cheaper café. Like the commercial says:”Hunger gets what hunger wants” and my case underlines the truth of this statement. While were enjoying our delicious seafood, we noticed that clouds appeared over the ocean but we were not very interested in them. Remember, it never rains during the summer, so why should this be an exception? So we kept on eating. Suddenly the clouds became pitch-black and it started raining. It is hard to describe my feeling at this moment, but I was shocked because the rain became stronger and stronger. And I remembered that I had a lot of papers and documents in my truck bed, which I left there after work two days ago. There are two facts that emphasize why I was not the smartest man this week. First of all, I should have a cover for my truck bed, which protects my stuff in it. Secondly, I should never trust rules, especially any rules referring to nature. The weathermen try so often to forecast natural events, but they always fail.

But instead of being angry with myself I tried to learn from this disaster. And my first step was the purchase of a hard tonneau cover for my truck bed. In doing this I can prevent repeating an experience like the last one. So I look forward to my next day at the beach, hopefully with a better ending.



I think you will find the best selection and best prices of Hard tonneau covers via internet. I hope you will recognize that a Truck bed cover can avoid a lot of hassle, trust me – Tim Saunier

What compels people to plaster Jesus fish and religious paraphernalia all over their car? I can understand self expression and deep devotion, but if I have to see one more car covered in stickers with god related slogans I think I might lose it. They should quit wasting their money on stickers and spend it on something useful like brakes!




I’m a part time EMT so I have seen some pretty horrific accidents. I’ve seen people survive some situations that should not have walked away from; call it God’s will, call it luck, call it whatever you want. I have seen enough to make me somewhat religious, but I hate dealing with religious freaks.

A few weeks ago we received an emergency call about a car that flew off the road and slammed into a nearby tree. My partner Jeff and I hopped in the ambulance and sped through the night to the scene. It was misting out; the kind of precipitation that isn’t enough to be called rain but just enough to coat the roads. This amount of water does not normally pose a threat to drivers, but there are other factors to consider. There could be oil, grease, or other chemicals on the road that combine with the water to make the streets slick.

As we race down the highway I can make out blinking taillights thirty yards from the road. Jeff slams on the brakes and I shoot out the door and race to the smoking vehicle. Sitting in car is an old woman. “Mam, are you OK?” I ask as I flash my light into the interior. “My leg…It’s stuck under the seat,” she yelled. Trapped in the small two-door Civic the woman sat, hands clenched, praying. The driver’s side door is stuck around a tree so I pull her out from the passenger side. By the time I actually get her out, the car is smoking pretty badly. My lungs are starting to hurt and my chest is pounding from drawing deep breaths of the white fumes. The woman’s leg is seriously cut and bleeding profusely. So Jeff and I throw her arms over our shoulders to carry her to the ambulance because we needed get away from the car ASAP. As we are carrying her she screams and reaches back towards her car. “Wait, I can’t leave him,” she screamed. Did we miss a child in the back seat? “I need my Jesus statue!” Are you serious lady? Your car is about to explode, but you want us to go back in to pull out a little figurine? Jeff and I pulled her screaming and kicking up the hill to the ambulance. We strap her down and sedate her. A few moments later her car goes up in flames. From the fire’s bright glow we can see the numerous bumper stickers covering her car—all religious.

We got her to the hospital and she was just fine. A doctor bandaged up her leg and reassured her that she would be fine. An officer had to question the woman about the accident for the report. She kept resisting and trying to avoid him by saying she was traumatized. She forced the officer to call in her vehicle in order to get more information. It turned out her car’s brakes didn’t pass inspection a few weeks ago and she never replaced them. The woman finally broke down and complained that she didn’t have any money and donates all her money to her church.





If you want to be religious, by all means, be religious. But when you start donating money that you don’t have, that is a problem. This lady really needed a new set of Ceramic Brake Pads and probably some replacement Eibach springs, which would have been a whole lot cheaper than a new car. -Mike Rosania

When long-hauling a massive trailer cross country, it’s important to equip yourself with the proper gear. Besides an actual trailer—and a truck built to haul it—you’ll want a set of heavy-duty brakes to stop the rig, a sturdy hitch rated for the trailer’s weight and some extra-large mirrors to see who’s coming up from behind. Tow on, my friends!



Last Sunday, I took my new Airstream trailer on her maiden voyage—a simple test run—and ended up getting more than I bargained for. Before I get into the story of my weekend from hell, let me brag about my new unit. This thing is a true beauty, Airstream really had their stuff together when they designed it. She’s a thirty-three footer decked-out to the gills with all the niceties from home.

You see, this trailer’s American made, so my chest swells with pride when I grab that stainless steel handle and step inside. She’s decked out with double insulation, diamond tuck & roll, toilet, shower, refrigerator—we’re completely self-contained! In fact, I’m tempted to just sell the condo, park this baby at the Indian Lake KOA and start my early retirement.

But I digress, let’s get back to my bloody Sunday. I’ve got my new trailer hitch and towing mirrors installed and ready to roll. The Airstream is hitched-up to my brand new F-250, the lights and brakes are working and everything else’s in order. With only a small amount of consternation I back out of my driveway and hit the local highway. I gotta tell you—the Airstream tows like a dream and the F-250 has no problem yanking that baby around town. I even beat some numbskull at red light who tried to drag race me in his old Coronet.

Once on the open road everything was going smoothly until I heard some yahoo honking at me. I’m not sure what I did to upset him, but he was obviously hopping mad. In my mirrors I could see this wacko darting back and forth, pumping his fists, flipping me the bird and pounding on his steering wheel. Admittedly I was a bit put off, so I thumbed my nose at him, then I thumbed my teeth—just to drive the message home. Judging by his red face and the steam coming from his ears, this only served to really upset him.

I was in my happy place at the time, out pulling my new rig around, so I decided to pay this guy no mind. I continued driving, just ignoring the idiot. I remembered that I needed to do some banking so I took the next exit. I needed some cash to take my lady out later, and the bank parking lot would provide a great proving ground to test my technical towing abilities.

I get the rig parked with no problems and start walking toward the bank. Just then, this crazy freak starts rushing me. Just when I identified him as the screaming jerk I’d encountered on the road, he sucker-punched me right in the jaw. I fell hard, nearly blacking out. Then I heard him shout, “Take that to the bank!”

Next thing I know, he’s gone and I have an achy jaw. I’m sure he ran off to tell all his friends just how bad he is—before I could get back up and beat him silly.

All in all, it wasn’t so bad—sometimes it takes a good, sharp blow to the face to clear the cobwebs. I’m supremely happy with my new Airstream and all the towing accessories I loaded my F-250 with. Only, now I know to be a little more careful when I’m out there towing my rig among the restless native population.




If you need to find a trailer hitch or towing mirrors, the internet can’t be beat. These items are easy to install for the do-it-yourselfer and can be had at a terrific bargain. Just make sure you buy the hitch that’s rated for your trailer’s weight and don’t skimp on cheap mirrors. After all, you wanna see who’s coming up behind you. - David S. Brooks

Mud flaps exist to do the thankless job of stopping spatters, slop and gunk from mucking up your vehicle. Sometimes they can even prevent a run in with the law as we see in the following story.


One hundred and fifty dollars! I couldn’t believe it, but there it was, printed right there on the fix-it-ticket, $150. It was clear that there would be no way out of this one. That dang cop had me dead to rights and now the bill had arrived in all its highway-robbery glory. What now?

The saga began a few weeks ago when me and my buddies were sloshing it up at the local mud bog. My ’04 Silverado, aptly named Mud-Slinger, is built for the express purpose of, well, slinging mud. I’ve got a snorkeled cold air intake for the deep stuff, a power chip tuned for torque and a performance exhaust to let that baby exhale.

On top of the power mods, I got the Mud-Slinger lifted higher than Keith Richards on china white. I’m talkin’ 14” Skyjacker lift, triple Fox shocks front and rear, ladder bars—the works. And, it’s all sitting on top of a set of meaty 44” inch Monster-Mudder tires. These babies are so big that the Mud-Slinger practically floats over the bogs. Plus, I like the ruckus they make when those gnarly treads start clawing the pavement.

Of course, the Monster-Mudders are what started this ticket trouble in the first place. You see, the local deputy sheriff, Deputy Conner, is also a local mud bogger. He’s one of those snivelers that me and the Slinger end up winching from the muck. Deputy Conner drives some panty-waist Jeep that he tries to pass off as a mud machine. Silly Conner, Jeeps are for girls.

This particular day, after tearing up the bog, I’m driving the Slinger home and notice flashing lights and the wail of a siren. I pulled to side and to my utter surprise Conner struts up sporting mirrored shades and a toothpick. He asks me for my license and registration and I remind this numbskull that he’s known me since the 4th grade. Conner puffed his chest trying to act all official like and asks me step from the vehicle. That’s when the trouble began.

Ten minutes, a slight scuffle and a few embarrassing bite marks later, Deputy Conner ends up writing me a ticket for having no mud flaps! I guess the Mudders stick out to far from the wheel wells. What the hey! I’m mean putting mud flaps on the Mud-Slinger is like non-alcoholic beer—what’s the point. Of course, the way things went down I’m lucky he didn’t take me down to the pokey for assaulting an officer.

So what now? I got the ticket which means I not only have to pay the $150 fine, I gotta install mud flaps to get my record cleared. So I went online and started shopping for flaps. I was amazed at how many styles there were to choose from: diamond plate, molded plastic, flat plastic and rubber. I decided on a rubber set built for duallies. The mudslinger ain’t no dually, but I figured the wider flap would cover those 44 inchers.

Installing the flaps was no problem, they bolted right up. I did have to do a little trimming since they were dually flaps, but that was no problem. They didn’t look bad and as I found out, they actually did some good. When I start slingin’, the flaps actually keep the mud from splattering all over the truck. I used to like that muddy look, but it was a hassle cleaning up afterward. Now, the mud stays off the truck and keeps the paint looking clean.

I went downtown sporting my new flaps and got the ticket written off. I’m still ticked at Conner but we worked it out. The next time he got that girly Jeep of his stuck in the bog, my winch mysteriously got jammed up and I couldn’t help him. He just sat there fuming mad while me and the boys loaded up and headed to the watering hole for a few post-bogging brews.



Whether you’re clearing fix-it tickets or just keeping your vehicle spic-n-span, a set of mud flaps is your ticket to cleanliness. There are few brands out there, I happen to order a set of Husky mud flaps. Good luck and I’ll see ya at the bogs. - David S. Brooks

Back in the ‘70s, I practically lived in my Dodge Tradesman, and I was incredibly popular with the lassies around Milwaukee. These days, though, I wouldn’t be caught dead in one of those coffins-on-wheels. Now, I’ve converted to SUV power, and my Excursion drips with muscle and masculinity. At least, that’s what I thought before I bolted on my Pacesetter air intake and popped in a Bully Dog chip. These upgrades nearly knocked my socks off.



Even before Scooby-Doo and their hippie-fied Mystery Machine skyrocketed to the pinnacle of popularity, I was a huge van fan. There was just something about the elongated, cylindrical shape that made my mouth water. When I was a sophomore, I took up a humiliating job at a local fish-fry just so I could save up enough bread to buy my first van. A year and a lot of forearm burns later, I was the proud owner of my very own Dodge Tradesman. The old girl was pretty beat up, but I poured every spare dollar I had into tricking her out with all the accessories I could get my hands on. First, I installed a twin-size water bed into the rear. Then, I converted the side cabinetry into a wet bar. After that came the shag carpet and stereo system. I finished it off with some velvet upholstery and incredibly opaque window tinting.

It goes without saying that my van made me a popular man around Milwaukee. Every Friday night, I would buzz over to the ice rink and park right up front. When the ladies heard my hi-fi blasting out Don’t Fear the Reaper, they knew to ditch their dates and come outside to me. I always kept the wet bar fully stocked with plenty of Coors and Schnapps, so it didn’t take long to get those girls to lose their inhibitions. Man, those were the days. Carefree and cool is the only way to live.

Unfortunately, times change, and so do girls’ tastes. About the time Reagan took office, owning a van was suddenly seen as a liability with the ladies. I didn’t want to turn my back on my Tradesman, though. She had been loyal to me, and I was going to be loyal to her in return. I tried adding on some new accessories, like a roof-mounted wing and some chrome windshield wipers, but all the girls simply sneered.

I was in the love doldrums until the turn of the millennium. I made a Y2K resolution to “get with the times, van man,” to use the parlance of the Denny’s waitress who turned down my invitation for an all-expenses-paid night out at the Red Lobster. As soon as my January 1st hangover wore off, I rolled over to the Ford dealership, said goodbye to my Tradesman, and drove home in my shiny new Excursion. From the moment I sat down behind the wheel, I was bowled over by the SUV power that my Ford pumped out. But I wanted more. So I recently installed a Pacesetter air intake and a Bully Dog performance chip, and I can barely control the explosive power of this SUV. And the love life is definitely on the upswing. What can I say—big automobiles are nature’s aphrodisiac.




Like Cher, I Wish I could turn back time and load my Tradesman with a Pacesetter air intake and a chip from Bully Dog.




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Bothered by your car’s unsightly display of splattered bug guts? Bug deflectors are an effective tool for protecting your vehicle’s appearance.

If you have ever taken a road trip, your vehicle has probably met a few bugs along the way. Windshield wipers are useless when it comes to clearing bug gunk. In fact, they usually streak and cloud your glass, making it even harder to see.

When you’re on vacation, going to the car wash is the last thing on your mind. Besides wasting valuable time, getting your car washed isn’t cheap. Last time I was over at the local “Clean N Care” I got roped into buying the “deluxe” package, which cost me $29.95! My head started spinning just thinking about how much money I will spend on car washes this year.

Bug deflectors are a good investment. With the money you would spend on a few trips to the car wash, you could buy yourself a bug deflector, which will then save you time and money.

Worried that bug deflectors don’t match your car’s image? You can find a variety of bug deflectors to match your style. They range in size, shape, color—you can even find chrome bug deflectors. Adding a sleek smoke colored bug guard can add unique styling to your ride.

They are extremely easy to install. You won’t have to pay installation fees. It will help having a friend assist with centering the guard, but besides that you can install by yourself in a matter of minutes.

An important step that most people forget is cleaning the hood. You don’t want any dirt of grim on the surface where you will be applying the adhesive. You can use an alcohol pad or a degreaser product for this step.

Once the area is clean, make sure it is completely dry. Deflectors come with a variety of mounting pieces. What’s great about bug deflectors is that there is no drilling involved. That’s right, just a strong adhesive will be securing the guard, so there won’t be any nasty holes in your hood should you decide to take it off.

Your bug guard kit should come with its own mounting pieces. Some products come with circular pieces that are sticky on one side and Velcro on the other. For some guards you will just use heavy duty 3M tape. If yours comes with the Velcro system, make sure the two pieces are stuck together and unpeel only one of the backings. Stick them (together) onto your hood. You do not want to apply the pieces to the guard and the hood separately because it will be nearly impossible to line them up straight.

This is where the friend comes in handy. After all the sticky pieces are attached to your hood, you are ready to stick on the bug guard. It helps to have someone eyeing the placement from a distance to make sure it goes on straight. You can also make little pencil markings on each side to check if it is aligned.

The installation is almost complete. You just need to attach a few small rubber bumpers behind the ends of the bug guard. These will stop the edges of your deflector from hitting your hood at high speeds.

You’re done! It was that simple. And bug deflectors are constructed from quality stainless steel or scratch resistant acrylic, which means you won’t have to go replacing it anytime soon.


You can shop for all your road trip needs online. Find everything from Bug Deflectors to Roof Racks for your specific vehicle. –Mike Rosania

This week I will be walking you through a basic air filter change. Clogged filters can affect performance, cost you at the pump, and even shorten engine life. It’s quick, cheap, and your car will thank you.



Changing your air filter should be a familiar and comfortable process; if it’s not, you’ve come to the right place. It’s inexpensive, easy and can play a big role in vehicle performance. You are probably wondering, “But how will I know when to change the filter? I’m no mechanic!” Well bewildered reader, a good rule of thumb is once or twice a year, or roughly every 12,000 miles. But keep in mind that your environment can affect this. Obviously daily dirt road driving will require you to replace your filter more often than Sunday driving in the city.

If nothing else, learn to change your own air filter. It’s so easy and saves you money.

Can you remember your last visit to Jiffy Lube for an oil change? These guys always hit you up with the patented, “You really need a new air filter” line. And you’re left wondering, “Do I really need a new one? What should I do? Can I really trust this guy?” If in your shock, you utter “Ok,” the mechanic then adds another set of fees for labor, parts, and a new air filter, whose brand is usually a mystery.

Now you can stick it to the man and simply say, “No thanks, I will do it myself.” That is if, in fact, it really needs to be done.

It’s time to get down and dirty. Park your car in a shaded area and let it cool for a few minutes—you don’t want to be working with a steaming engine that can potentially burn you; i.e. don’t change your filter after a six hour road trip.

You will need very few tools for this procedure. If possible grab two medium-sized screwdrivers, one Philips and one standard.

The air filter is typically enclosed in a black plastic casing near the top of the engine. In larger vehicles, it may be off to the side. It is usually the largest non-metal assembly you see; approximately the size of a bread box.

Most air boxes are held together by a couple of large metal clips on the side. Either pop off the clips or slide the flat-head screwdriver between the casing and the clip and pry the clip off. Occasionally you will find the top is held down by several long screws, in which case you simply unscrew them to access the filter.

Pop the air box top off and expose the secrets of the all mighty air box. Basically, you will find the air filter—riveting, I know. It’s usually bright yellow or orange or red, to better see collected dirt.

Pull it out. It’s typically one foot by six inches and has rubber edges along the bottom.

To check for cleanliness, hold it up and bend it back, so the paper ridges of the filter flutter like pages in a book. Now look in the crevices and look at all the dirt and grime it stopped from entering your engine. Pretty cool, huh? Hold the filter at arms length and look at it straight on. If the colored paper is mostly dirty in the center than it is time to replace it. Guess how much this will cost you-- About $5; a lot less than Jiffy Lube.

You can throw the old filter in a plastic bag and bring it to your local auto part store to make sure you get the right replacement. Or you can save time by ordering a new one online. You can now stand proud and confidently say, “I know how to check and replace my air filter.” And damn it feels good.




From K&N to Volant filters, you really can’t go wrong with any name brand air filter. You may also want to consider upgrading to a Volant cold air intake for added sound and performance. –Mike Rosania

I recently drove across the country, from Jersey to California, with two of my good friends. We took route 80 straight across until we hit Nebraska and cruised down through Denver then Vegas and finally landed in San Diego. We packed pretty well for the trip, but if I could do it again I would get a bug deflector.

The time had finally come when I had graduated college and it was time to enter the cruel working world. I have always been under the financial umbrella of my parents so naturally I was freaked out. A man can live on Ramen and Peanut Butter and Jelly for only so long. Well, I figured that if I’m going to be poor, I might as well have a godo time. I talked it over with two of my good friends and we all agreed that we weren’t ready to get jobs. This was the birth of the road trip idea. We had been in school for years; studying day in and day out, and it was time to cut loose. We understood the reality that we would eventually need to get jobs, but we weren’t going out without a fight; not without having a crazy adventure to send us off into the workforce.

We decided to take the northern route, which led us out of the armpit of a state we call New Jersey and on our way to Cleveland where we stopped briefly. From there we enjoyed the windy city; spent some time in Chicago chowing down on some deep dish pizzas. Next, we camped under the starlight sky in Nebraska—the scenery was stunning. Besides the occasional wrong turn, our first problem didn’t arise until that brisk Nebraska morning. We awoke in the morning to find ourselves covered in bug bites. The bites weren’t too painful, just annoying and embarrassing. We pretty much kissed goodbye to any chances of meeting some sweet country girls, since it looked as if we had chicken pox. The drive that day was beautiful, but when we stopped for gas I noticed that the car’s hood was plastered with dried bug remains—blood, guts, and miscellaneous insect parts. Sounds appetizing doesn’t it? We tried to wipe them off at the gas station with the window sponges but no dice. Those pesky insects didn’t budge. I was starting to think they were never coming off and they were going to be permanently engraved on my hood, forever reminding us of our bug attack in Nebraska. But we ended up finding a car wash in Vegas and they came right off. Vegas was insane and as much as I’d love to share, I need to follow the rules, “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” But I will say that after the trip we were ready to take a good shower and relax for a while. I definitely suggest taking a cross country trip; just make sure you do it with your best friends. Otherwise, you won’t make it out alive.
Oh yea, and if you are interested in taking the trip, I really recommend picking up a bug deflector. I ended up getting one of the Lund bug deflectors, but I’ m sure you can find a ton of good ones online. See you in the working world. -Mike Rosania

You would think that a minor childhood trauma like being locked inside an oven that was then turned on would not scar a person too badly. But ever since that fateful afternoon, I’ve had an uncontrollable fear of tight places. However, I heard on an episode of Dr. Phil that the best way to overcome these mental weaknesses is to face our nightmares. And that’s exactly what I did—with a truck tool box.






As a youngster growing up in Wichita, the golden bosom of our glorious heartland, fear was practically unknown to my pure mind. Sure, I was mindful of papa’s belt and my older brother’s killer wedgies. But I wouldn’t think twice about climbing the tallest tree on our property, and I never needed a nightlight to fall soundly asleep. Unfortunately, reality is a coarse towel soaked in icy ocean water, and once it’s flung in your face, you’ll never be able to close your eyes to its briny sting ever again.

For me, I lost my childhood innocence on Flag Day, 1968. Dwight, my crafty older brother, and I were looking for an excuse to get out of our morning chores. We realized that we wouldn’t have to sweep and dress the chickens for the night’s patriotic feast if no one could find us to ask. So we split up to make ourselves invisible. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I decided that the oven would be the perfect place to hide. I guess I’ve always thought that freshly baked bread looks like the most contented food in the kitchen, so I must have wanted to feel like a bun. No matter the reason, I climbed into that cast iron coffin and couldn’t help but snicker thinking about how cleaver I was. Well, my ma got the last laugh. About twenty minutes into my stint, she decided to start baking her famous rutabaga cobbler. I didn’t realize it, but she turned that stove up to 375, and I started to sweat buckets. At first, I thought it was my conscience working me over for ditching out on my chores. But once my sneakers started melting and my nose was filled with the reek of singed hair, I bolted out of that hot box like a Brit from a dentist. Needless to say, I couldn’t even eat a hot supper for a month afterwards, and I never felt comfortable in confined spaces or around blow driers again.

Three decades and 4 failed marriages later, I decided it was time to work past that childhood trauma. Now, I wasn’t crazy enough to climb into another oven, so I started looking around online for a decent substitute. That’s when I ran across some sites pushing truck tool boxes. I figured that would work pretty well, so I set about finding the right one for my needs. Though Dee Zee tool boxes got a lot of rave reviews for their ingenious AlumaGuard latch design, I went with a Deflecta-Shield, which had enough elbow room to house my adult frame. It arrived a few days later and fit right into the rear of my Ranger. Of course, I powered through a half-pack of Winstons and a quart of rye before I had the courage to face my fears. But by that last pull off my bottle, I was ready. I climbed in, closed the lid, and stared down my demons.

And it worked! There was just one problem. I didn’t think that there wouldn’t be a release button inside the tool box, so I was stuck in there for 16 hours before my neighbor heard my screams. The good news is that I went out and bought my very first over. However, now I can’t even walk past a tool box without getting the sweats. Oh well.



My Choice of Truck tool boxes narrowed down to one from Dee Zee or Deflecta-Shield.

California has a unique freeway system. Drivers have to stop at a traffic light before entering the freeway. I drive a Toyota Corolla, which means every trip is a near death experience as I merge into a line of speeding trucks. I bought a performance chip and now I don’t need to bring a change of underwear on my morning commute.



I recently moved to California from the east coast. Although I love the climate change and abundance of beautiful beach babes, I’m not too thrilled about California’s unique freeway system. I can still remember my first experience like it was yesterday; actually it was last week. I had just gotten to California and was headed to the beach to go surfing. So I’m cruising on the 8, about to get onto the 15. I look down at my map to check what exit I want to get off at. I glance back up to see red; the brake lights of cars stopped in front of me. Thank god for ABS. I slammed my brakes and stopped just in time to avoid crashing into a Ford F150. “Great, now I’m going to sit in traffic all day,” I thought. As the line of cars slowly crept forward I could see a light in the distance. Is that a police car? Maybe, it’s an ambulance? When I got closer I could see that the light was actually a traffic light. This was the first time I have ever seen a traffic light on a freeway entrance. I finally reached the light, which turned green for two seconds, and hit the gas. I was giving my Corolla full throttle, but it wasn’t speeding up quick enough. Looking in my rear view mirror, I could see the driver of the BMW behind me mouthing curses. The lane started to approach the highway and I wasn’t going nearly as fast as the flow of traffic. Apparently, California drivers have lead-foot syndrome. My lane was merging and truck in the lane next to me that was going at least 30mphs faster than me had to slam on his brakes. The driver thought it wouldn’t be enough to just curse, so I had a great view of his middle finger when he switched lanes and blew past me. Now I’m not a slow driver, but let’s face it, a Corolla isn’t a race car. I ended up making it to the beach in one piece, but I needed to find a solution if I was going to be taking the freeway to work everyday.

I talked to my brother-in-law, who is a mechanic, about my problem. Basically, he gave me two options. I could either buy a new car or make my car faster. I definitely was not ready to buy a new car, especially with all my moving bills. And the last thing I wanted was to be driving around a “rice rocket” or anything that looked like it came from the Fast and the Furious. He suggested adding a performance chip. He had installed a few recently and said that they fine-tune your engine to increase performance. The result is a boost in horsepower, which means some lickety-split acceleration for me.



My brother-in-law suggested getting an Edge Evolution or SCT livewire performance programmer. I ending up going with the Edge Evolution and have seen a big improvement in my car’s pick up. Phew! Eat my dust trucks…Or at least don’t run me over.

Up here in the Bozone, which is what we call Bozeman, Montana, the weather gets pretty nasty. Snow, rain and the occasional mudslide keep folks with big trucks pretty busy towing city folk tourists out of the muck. In order to keep your rig on the giving end of these messy rescues, make sure you equip it with some super diesel power.


These days, a big diesel rig is an indispensable part of country living. You can load it up with feed, lumber, livestock—whatever—with nary a squat. A diesel truck will go just about anywhere; they get relatively good mileage for the horsepower and the torque rating is more akin to a bulldozer than a work truck. Plus, in a pinch or when the stuff goes down, you can run the thing on vegetable oil, really.

Now up here in the "Valley of the flowers," folks are living the quintessential country life. There are lots of ranches and farms, dirt roads and swimming holes. And, being so far north they get lots and lots of snow. Now the average Bozemanite isn’t phased by the fluffy white stuff, but those city slickers that come up to hit the slopes are constantly getting their Subarus and Volvos stuck in the muck. Since the folks in Bozeman are so neighborly, they take it upon themselves to help these helpless yuppies.

Massive diesel power is the order for the day when you’re plucking tourists from snow banks. Even though a late model diesel rig comes equipped with horsepower and torque out the wazoo, some of us feel it’s not enough. Natural tinkerers, Bozemanites are always looking for more power. As far as diesels go, there’s finally a healthy aftermarket industry devoted to bringing out the best these oil-burning monsters have to offer.

The best part is all this power can be had by installing a few bolt-on parts. Intake kits, exhaust systems and power programmers are plentiful and easy to install. A few basic tools, a couple cold beers and a free afternoon are all you need to transform your rig from factory to ferocious. Installing all three of these components will add more horsepower than a Crown Vic even comes with and enough torque to power a tugboat.

This is the kind of power you need to pull citified station wagons and their goofy drivers from the crud. Hitch that Bimmer up to the bumper of your 500 horsepower mean machine and give Mr. CEO and his family the ride of their lives. In fact, you might even give his wife a little wink and a lesson on the kind of vehicles real men drive.

Beside pulling helpless executives from the mud, your hot-rod diesel can be a lot of fun at the track. Diesel drags are all the rage up here in Bozeman, in fact, it seems like the entire great white north is addicted to buckling the blacktop. Those hosers up in Canada love this stuff and they make a great majority of the performance exhaust systems at MBRP.

Diesel rigs are all the rage and a souped up truck can make even a simple commute a total blast. The performance parts are easy to come by and all the big-time performance names have thrown their hats into the diesel arena. If you’re out in the middle of nowhere, check the internet. It’s chock full of diesel speed shops and the miracle of UPS means your parts are on your doorstep in a few days. Then, you too can be the hometown hero pulling yuppies from the mud.



The most effective bolt-on diesel part is a custom diesel exhaust. They let the engine breathe the way it should to give you massive power gains. The easiest addition is the power programmer. All of them, like the one from Predator Performance simply plug into your OBD-II port and deliver a power wallop in a matter of minutes.- David S. Brooks

Ah reality TV. Today we salute you for providing us with such nutritional entertainment as American Idol, Trading Spouses, and The Simple Life. On a recent episode of the “The Simple Life,” Paris Hilton installed a power programmer, which makes me think a chimpanzee could do the same. Hmm…


I don’t think anyone would argue that traditional television has gone down the drain—actually it’s been brutally murdered in its sleep, thrown in the back of a dilapidated van, driven into the depths of the desert and buried under the starry night sky. And reality TV is to blame. The youth of today lacks the heaping spoonfuls of moral fiber that shows like Saved By the Bell and Family Matters used to dish out. And what are today’s audiences watching you might ask? Sugary, unwholesome garbage that’s what. Apparently, anyone who is, has been, or will ever be famous can have their own show. Heck, nowadays you can have your own series simply by associating with someone in the spotlight. Guilty as charged, I watched “I Love New York,” but did I like watching it? Maybe, but that’s not the point. Tiffany Pollard, AKA New York, participated in a trashy dating show with washed up rapper, Flavor Flave. And merely by being a contestant, a psychotic one at that, she spawned her own hit series. Everyone knows that watching these horrendous shows is like catching a glimpse of a train wreck; you don’t want to look, but you can’t stop yourself. Maybe they are more like crack.

I was flipping through my hundreds of channels and stumbled across a hot chick in a bikini. So I did what any other respectable twenty three year old male would do and kept watching. This turned into four hours of The Simple Lift marathon. What can I say? Stupidity amazes me, and Paris Hilton is chock full of it. In one episode, the girls were staying with a mechanic’s family out in the sticks of Nebraska. The girls were given one simple task; change a tire. Before you can say Dolce & Gabbana, the shop and girls are covered in oil, grease, make up, and rags. At this point, Paris felt it necessary to strip out of her grease-covered overalls; disgusting, I know. The mechanic wasn’t too thrilled about the mess, but was quickly distracted by the half-naked model standing in front of him. Since changing a tire was obviously too difficult, he had them install a performance programmer. “Oh boy, this should be good!” I thought to myself. I guess Paris can actually read because she looked at the directions and got the darn thing to work. Granted she only had to plug in a few wires, I was shocked.

So this got me thinking. Could a monkey install one of these programmers? I don’t know too much about them, but from my understanding, these little devices plug in under your dash and reprogram your car’s factory settings so you can get more power and better gas mileage. Sounds complicated, but I’m pretty sure you just plug in a few wires. So if anyone out there has a monkey and is willing to try an experiment let me know. If that gorilla in Congo can learn sign language, surely we can get a chimp to plug in a wire. And imagine if the tabloids heard about it? They would sink their gargantuan fangs into this story and eat it up—ruthless bunch if you ask me. I’ll even split the story rights with you. I can see it now, “Monkey Outsmarts Paris Hilton!”



I’ll get the Hypertech Programmer by Hypertech. You bring the monkey. Let’s make history...or at least US Weekly. -Mike Rosania

So you want added performance from your vehicle, but don’t know where to start. If done properly, you modifications can improve your car’s gas mileage, appearance, and handling.

The problem is that most people have no clue where to start. Rather than getting on some forums and researching their options, most 17 year olds throw a tin can muffler on their 92 Civic and give performance parts a bad name.
You’ve probably seen the Fast and Furious and thought, “Dang, those cars are sweet!” But not all parts are created equal. Start by identifying your goals and expectations. Also, think about the long run. You might save a few bucks now by going with a new muffler, but if you pay a little more you can add a full exhaust and really see results.

I suggest you start by making a list of a few parts you are considering. Then research which ones work best for your vehicle and which order you would like to add them. Lastly, it is worth it to shop around online. Spending half an hour online comparing a few shops can save you a few hundred bucks.
This article will bring you up to speed on exhaust headers.


1. How much power can you get from exhaust headers?
No two vehicles are exactly alike, so it is impossible to assign specific numbers of horsepower or torque. In general, a set of performance exhaust headers will unlock around an extra 5-25 horsepower along with a noticeable boost in rear-wheel torque.

2. Will performance exhaust headers discolor?
Performance exhaust headers absorb some of the most punishing abuse of any part on your vehicle. They are constantly being cooked at temperatures of around 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and time will eventually take its toll on any finish. Performance exhaust headers with ceramic coating are the most resilient and will retain their finish the longest. Stainless steel is also incredibly durable, but it will start to tinge slightly after a while. Nickel-chrome will also change color, especially if used for racing or towing. High-temperature paint usually stays the same, but it can be chipped.

However, discoloration does not affect the performance of your exhaust headers. They still work just the same on the inside no matter how they look on the outside. It just depends on your level of OCD.

3. Are performance exhaust headers street legal?
It depends on which performance exhaust headers you get and which state you live in. Most of the headers are 50-state street legal, which means that they don’t interfere with pollution-controls on your vehicle. Some headers are designed for off-road or racing vehicles that are exempt from smog certification, so they are not street-legal. Then again, some states have more relaxed pollution controls than others, so a set of off-road headers in California might be street-legal in Montana. If your state requires that you pass a smog test, get a set of headers that are 50-state street legal. If not, then they sky’s the limit. Either way, check with your local DMV.

4. Will performance exhaust headers void my vehicle’s warranty?
It depends. Vehicle manufacturers cannot refuse to perform repairs just because you have installed performance parts. However, if they can prove that the part itself contributed to the problem, or if your warranty expressly prohibits performance upgrades, then they can refuse to honor the warranty. Always take the time to read your warranty before installing any aftermarket parts.

5. Which performance exhaust headers have the most thermal protection?
Hands down, ceramic coatings have the greatest resistance to heat damage. Besides protecting the headers from burning out and discoloring, the ceramic coating insulates the header’s piping. This keeps the temperatures in your engine compartment down, which improves your overall efficiency.

6. Are performance exhaust headers difficult to install?
Bolting on a set of performance exhaust headers may seem like a daunting task, but it is a fairly straightforward installation. As long as you have the right tools, a sturdy floor jack, and some experience under the hood, you should have no problems. Of course, having a buddy around to lend a hand always helps. If you are concerned about installing your performance exhaust headers on your own, most garages and muffler shops can do the work for you.

7. Which performance exhaust headers are right for my vehicle?
Most online automotive stores have a vehicle selector, where they will display parts that specifically fit your vehicle. All you have to do is enter your vehicle information. Still have questions? Don’t be lazy! Pick up the phone and ask a professional about performance exhaust headers, cat back exhaust systems or any other parts for your vehicle.

Start looking for exhaust headers as well as many other performance parts online. I recently ordered a pair of Gibson headers and have seen a nice increase in power. – Mike Rosania

I bought a Corvette for my anniversary. But it wasn’t a happy experience…


My girlfriend Michelle and I were due to celebrate our 3rdanniversary and I wanted to do something really special. I didn’t just want to get some standard gift that showed no thought, but rather something that she would really like and that came from the heart. I thought about it for a long time, going over every possibility, but still couldn’t come up with anything.

Finally I asked my friend Tim for his advice and he hit upon the perfect present: a kitten! Michelle has a real soft spot for animals. She is a lifetime member of PETA, a vegan and she is routinely involved with violent anti-fur protests at fashion shows. She’s even nice to Jimbo, my pet boa constrictor…(foreshadowing…) A kitten would be just the thing.

So I went to the pet store and searched through cage after cage until I found a pitiful hairball that would melt even a heart of stone. I fed it and put ribbon around its neck and put it in a box. I made sure that I cut sufficient airholes to prevent suffocation.

Michelle was due at 5pm and it was 4:30. I looked at the shaking box and said to myself, “you done good.” When Michelle walked in, I wordlessly handed her the mewing box. She opened it and cried for joy.

“I love it!” she shouted. She hugged me and said she was going upstairs to change for our dinner out.

Feeling well pleased with myself, I performed a jaunty dance on my way back to the living room. Then I stopped in shock. Jimbo, my snake, was in the room and there was a suspicious bulge in his midsection.

“No!” I screamed to the heavens. In desperation I tried to perform the Heimlich maneuver but Jimbo would have none of it. He merely belched and looked bored with the proceedings.

I had to do something quick.

I tossed Jimbo aside and flew out the front door. Tim would have the answer! I ran across the street and over to his house and banged on his door. When he heard the situation he looked grave.

“There’s only one thing to do man,” he said, “A real relationship is built upon a firm foundation of honesty. You have to bite the bullet and tell her the truth.”

“Never!” I screamed and I knocked Tim out. I leapt into his nearby yellow Corvette and floored the gas.

In about 20 seconds I reached the pet store and begged them for a look-alike kitty. Luckily, they happened to have my kitten’s identical twin in stock, and I was soon off again racing back home. I made it back just in time, Michelle was just finishing getting dressed.

I quickly tied Jimbo in a knot and threw him in the garbage can to hide the evidence.
Just as Michelle emerged I flung the kitten into the gift box with a powerful overhand throw.

“Hey baby,” I said innocently.

Michelle’s eyes widened in surprise. She was looking past me, out of the front window into the driveway, where a certain yellow sports car was still idling…

“I don’t believe it!” she yelled. “You bought me a new Corvette!”

I groaned. This was going to be very tricky…





I guess I’ll have to cash in my life savings and buy the Corvette from Tim. But at least the car will come with some great K & N parts and a couple good AFE Air Filters.