Earlier this year we wrote a blog answering the question ‘Are Silicone Hoses fuel resistant?’ which has been really popular, but what about oil? Is silicone hose oil resistant?
Standard Silicone rubber is porous and therefore not suitable for oil. Made to order, our Fluoro lined silicone hoses use a specially compounded silicone called FluoroSilicone. This grade is specially formulated to prevent oil from penetrating the wall. Read More
Race teams have very specific needs in terms of the requirements of parts within their systems. The increased stress placed on components during high speeds means hoses, in particular, need to be able to handle extreme temperatures. Hose fittings also need to be superb quality as teams rely on them to hold everything in place.
We have talked before about how we can help fabricators by supplying components for different systems, but we also love to work with race teams and motorsport companies. Viper Performance have been working with AB Performance for in excess of 5 years supplying all the silicone hoses and fitting for their race, track and road cars. In that time we have been able to build a strong relationship based on the quality of our products and customer service. Read More
In F1 a team can spend millions designing, building and testing their own components. The reason F1 is so expensive is the fact that they use bespoke parts. Compare this to lower tier races they often use off-the-shelf components such as chassis which dramatically reduces the costs involved.
The one item that drives up F1 costs more than anything is aerodynamics. The shape of the car is designed to suck the car down onto the track surface. Teams spend huge amounts of money to improve aerodynamic downforce. Read More
Back in August we announced that we had added a new super long aluminium hose joiner to our range. But why did we introduce this product and what can they be used for?
A while ago now we introduced super long silicone elbow hoses. This was in response to constant requests for elbows with different leg lengths. By introducing a product which had long legs this meant that our customers were able to cut down the legs to their exact requirements. This negated the need for expensive custom built hoses. The product was a huge success and many people have found our super long silicone hoses useful. Read More
There are potential pitfalls from purchasing a second hand car and they have been widely publicised. You may worry about the possibility of getting a car that has previously been stolen, damaged or written off. Or more commonly, one which has existing problems, which are not immediately apparent, but which soon become an expensive and inconvenient fix. Read More
Prior to this year, the fastest lap time for the Nürburgring was 6.11.13. Set by Stefan Bellof in a Porsche 956 back in 1983 when the circuit was used for qualifying for the 1000k Sports Car race. This magnificent time was however beaten earlier this year by the 919 Evo completing the circuit in just 5:19.55.
But those times are reserved for special vehicles that most people will never have the joy of driving. So what about production cars? Which ones have faired the best around this legendary circuit? Read More
Efficient crankcase breathing is an important function of any engine. Even in a new engine, the combustion pressure will inevitably pass the piston rings into the crankcase. If an engine’s breathing system should become blocked or restricted, the crankcase will pressurise causing any one or more of the following problems:
Work in a garage or workshop as a car builder or part of a race team?
Are you struggling with assembling and crimping AN hose fittings?
We have the solution. A fantastic hose end-fitting tool which is portable and supplied in a carry case. This machine will crimp AN style hose ends by hand with ease.
Manual installation of hose fittings can be very tricky and extremely labour intensive due to the very sharp steel braiding. This is why Viper Performance have on offer a purpose built tool for the connection of steel hose and fittings. This tool will enable you to assemble your fuel line, and oil lines quickly, and safely. The kit comes with a number of JIGS for assembling hose ends DASH-4 to DASH-12, and doubles up as a vice.
This steel braided hose end fitting installation kit has holes in the base so that they can be screwed down to become bench mounted. If your using the kit in a portable manner you will need to secure it to stop in moving when in operation. Made of solid billet aluminium, this tool is built to last. Read More
Images from Autocar Photography : Nick Dungan
Aston Martin’s first all-electric production car the Rapide E will be a limited 155-unit special edition. The company have however now released technical details for the Rapide E.
Aston Martin has utilised Williams Advanced Engineering’s successful Electric Vehicle (EV) technology to kickstart a new era for their powertrain technology. The aim is to overcome the technical challenges associated with packaging the battery system and motors within the small space available.
A focus has been put on achieving effective cooling of the batteries and motor to ensure consistent performance. Strict weight targets have also been stringently observed. Rapide E will be powered by an 800V battery electrical architecture with 65 kWh installed capacity using over 5600 lithium ion 18650 format cylindrical cells. This battery system powers two rear mounted electric motors producing a combined target output of just over 610PS and a colossal 950Nm of torque.
Though the Rapide E will be built in low volumes, it is being subjected to Aston Martin’s stringent and exhaustive testing protocols. The dedicated Williams Advanced Engineering team are working closely alongside Aston Martin to ensure every aspect of the prototype test programme follows the established procedures. Uniquely, customers will be an extended part of the ongoing Rapide E programme, with their comments and driving experiences providing an invaluable stream of feedback that will help shape and improve future Aston Martin EVs.
There is a common feeling that cars have now become too mechanically complicated to work on unless you are a qualified technician. Since carmakers started putting covers over the engine and undertrays beneath it people often feel intimidated forgetting that under the cover there’s everything the internal combustion engine has always had. And with the AA saying that half of the 3.4 million call-outs it attends annually are caused by poor maintenance maybe we should all take a little more interest in what’s under the hood.
Drivers who can’t afford regular servicing or those who simply want to attempt it themselves as a hobby, shouldn’t be put off. A year is considered the maximum time your car should go without a service, it could save you a lot of money in the long run. If early signs of damage are spotted and taken care of before they worsen then you will save the inconvenience of a breakdown. A well-maintained car is also more efficient, so not only will you spot problems early you’ll also save money on fuel.
The AA’s patrolman of the year, Keith Miller: “The fundamentals of looking after an internal combustion engine haven’t changed over the years, so it’s actually a bit of a myth that you can’t service a modern car yourself,” he says.
If you love working on your car then check out our 8 ways to upgrade your car blog from earlier this year.
You’ll also find loads of automotive upgrade products in our online shop.