10. Rechargers in the Road

The drive to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels has taken many paths, but it has turned a new corner through the efforts of the Korea Advanced Institute of Technology. Engineers there have created a system of electric strips that they embed in the road surface and use to recharge electric buses. Although the technology is still in its experimental stage, the prospects are very good and the pilot project being run in an amusement park in Gwacheon is having exceptional success. The power passes between the strips and the vehicle through a magnetic transfer and maximum charge pick-up was achieved when the gap between the vehicle and the roadway was thirteen centimeters (approximately five inches). It is envisaged that in the real world, this means of maintaining the electrical charge of a battery-driven car will reduce the size of the battery required by eighty per cent and the cost of running the vehicle by two-thirds.

9. Pig Urine Plastic

As the world struggles with the demand for plastic products, the environmental impact of large-scale farming and the need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, a Danish think-tank has come up with a way to do all three by making the first from the waste of the second rather than the third. Agroplast has gained some positive results in their pursuit of recycling pig urine into household items and dinnerware. Basically, urea is a compound of oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon and is readily found in urine. The ability to commercialize the substance into a cost effective product is a financial boon for the company. As pig urine is the most difficult of farm wastes to dispose of safely, it has made sense to use this source for the venture. The added bonus is that making biodegradable plastics from ingredients other than petrochemicals reduces the demand for fossil fuels. If there had to be one last point to seal the deal, it would have to be that the urine-based plastic products can be made for about a third less than conventional plastic. So next time you’re at your Danish friend’s barbecue and he hands you a plastic plate and offers you a sausage, remember that you may be saving the environment of Denmark and the resources of the western world, even if it means the sausage isn’t the only piece of pork in your hand.

8. Personal Propulsion Unit – SoloTrek XFV

In the mid 1960’s promises were given that jetpack propulsion was the way of the transportation in the future. Those of us around then are still waiting for our own jetpack unit, so that we can zip around the neighborhood or around the world laughing at all those cumbersome vehicles on the roads below. While it looks like we’re going to waiting for some time yet for our jetpacks, the latest advance in the field of personal VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft has recently passed a vital stage in its development. The SoloTrek XFV is a high-power system that incorporates two sizeable propellers, one on either side of the pilot at shoulder height, and an engine/control structure that clings to the pilot like an oversized playmate demanding a piggyback. Although it promises maneuverability and ease of operation in confined spaces, the assurance that it can transport an individual in a standing position for up to two hours does sound a little like an invitation to travel on any of a hundred overcrowded public transport systems in the world.

7. Artificial Trees

The issues surrounding Global Warming cannot be simplified, but one of the major challenges is that of addressing the excess of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Rooted in a science project on which he worked with his daughter, Klaus Lackner’s study and consequent proposal is to create Artificial Trees. The “trees” would suck CO₂ from the atmosphere and deposit it in the spaces beneath the earth’s surface that have been left by exhausted oil and gas fields. While there is a quaint sense of justification in the process, the one question that shoots into most people’s mind is, “Why not simply plant more real trees?” Lackner has not ignored this option, but his study has shown that it would take every square inch of fertile soil on the planet to accommodate enough trees to do the job. The technology behind his proposal draws on the natural structure of the leaf of a tree as leaves are impressively successful absorbers of CO₂. Using this natural technology and amplifying the process will hopefully redress our overproduction of carbon dioxide since the Industrial Revolution.

6. Date Rape Drug Spotter

Among the many lucid list of available street drugs and dubious substances that pervade the modern social scene, there are few, if any, more sinister than gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), Rohypnol (Ruffies) and ketamine, more commonly known as date-rape drugs. These drugs can render its victims unconscious and susceptible to sexual assault. To combat this global insidious scourge, The Florida-based Drink Safe Technology designed the coaster that will detect the presence of these foreign substances in a drink. It only requires a drop of a drink on the coaster, that is then rubbed in with a finger and the coaster will turn blue if any of these drugs are present. Each coaster can be used to test two drinks. While there is no doubt that the devious and despicable will always find new ways to deceive, this innovative advancement will hopefully prove to be successful. The technology to confront such abuse is some comfort to many women that frequent lounges, clubs and parties for fun.

5. The Camera in a Pill

Anyone who has ever had a gastroscopy or colonoscopy knows the true meaning of “invasive”. Anyone who has ever thought about these procedures probably winces in sympathy. So when engineers from Given Imaging created the Camera Pill, a huge number of people were able to sit more easily. The Camera Pill is a little than four grams in weight, measures 26mm x 11mm and goes down easily with a few sips of water. It can be directed with a magnetic remote control and transmits up to eighteen images per second as it makes its way through the digestive system. A full scan of the digestive tract can take less than an hour and the results can be interpreted virtually straight away. Of course, the question that’s always asked is “How do you recover the Camera Pill?” From all reports, it is passed in the way most of us anticipate and with little, if any discomfort, but there is little mention of actual “recovery”.

4. iPad, iPhone, I want!

The convenience and endless possibilities of the iPad and iPhone have made the technology of Apples marvelous toys on of the greatest advances in personal computer and communication technology. While there are some critics who would suggest that the iPad is simply a successful reworking of a previously unsuccessful Microsoft computer, the Tablet PC. However, the user-friendly software, that has been a hallmark of Apple software progression since its inception, Apple has addressed and fulfilled the potential of a good idea in hardware that easy user friendly, light in weight, and multifunctional. The adulations and adjectives rain down upon Apple like, well, if you need a simile for it, then there’s probably an app for that! But one would be wise to avoid superlatives, as the nature of the iPhenomenon is such that there will continue to be advances and upgrades that will surpass any current achievement, so hold off the cheers and personal excitement of these new-age gadgets, because Apple technology is constantly being developed and upgraded and will someday be discussed historically as a twenty first century software achievement.

3. Wooden Bones

Long John Silver would be astounded to think that he was blessed with Twenty-first Century technology, but Italian scientists are confidently developing the use of wooden implants to help heal broken bones. Red oak, sipo and rattan have been found the most effective, although they can barely be recognized as such by the end of the week-long preparation. The wood is heated to a stage of being pure carbon, then sprayed with calcium and, after a further series of chemical and physical processes, emerges as carbonated hydroxyapatite. But, despite the changes that occur, it’s the sponginess of the wood that makes it so desirable. The natural similarity in texture means that the bone will grow into the structure more quickly and reduce the recovery time. The wooden bones can be molded to any required shape and also has the added advantage over more traditional metal plates in that they won’t set off the metal detectors at airports.

2. Have A Heart? Have An Abiocor

The extent of technology for combatting heart disease and other coronary conditions has finally been reached with the development of the AbioCor. This is a fully self-contained replacement heart that can function successfully in the patient’s circulatory system making it possible for a return to a full and fulfilling life. Consisting of four components, three located internally and one externally, the device uses transcutaneous energy transmission (TET) to pass electrical power across the skin from the external power supply to the internal battery pack. As well as being far more convenient for the patient, the absence of wires passing through the skin means the possibility of infection is all but negated completely. The potential applications of TET technology are endless as the ability to pass electrical power to internal devices without ongoing damage to the integrity of the body is a major step in reducing infection.

1. The Bionic Lens

The exploration of new technologies is like looking into the future, so when a new technology actually allows one to look into a personalized and purpose-built display without any visible screen, then reality starts to feel somewhat slippery. Babak Parviz of the University of Washington has developed a contact lens that has within it a radio-frequency receiver and solar-powered lens. Initially the project was intended to display messages about the health of the wearer’s eyes. But it took little time and a fraction more imagination to realize that the hologram like display could also give a range of other information. Appearing a short distance in front of the eye and only visible to the wearer, the display can be connected wirelessly to the computer of a car or plane and provide the driver or pilot with information that they previously had to look away from the path of the vehicle to see. There are even plans to make the contact lens internet compatible, so you can surf the net in any situation. So next time your loved one nods blankly while you’re venting after a hard day be aware that they might be taking in the latest football game, reading their email or indulging in some other form of personal internet entertainment.

As we swept into the 21^st century there have been advancements in medicine research, computer technology, and solar energy, and these are just a few of the innovative developments that have been modified to perfection and functionality. As scientists and developers continue to study new and upcoming innovative ideologies, continual medical research progression, and software development and advancement the twenty first century is sure to bring forth new and upcoming developments such as; medical breakthroughs, software, and eco-friendly innovation.

We scanned the entire planet to find some of the world’s smallest gadgets. There was no shortage of useful but really tiny machines to pick from. The tech was so small that there was no problem crunching the list down to the top ten of the world’s smallest machines (with plenty of room to spare X D).But alas, some of these inventions were created just for fun and some of them however small they may be, have all the features of functionality of their larger counterparts.

10. The World’s Smallest Drilling Machine

Father mice across the land will feel appreciated when they get a load of the world’s smallest drilling machine. The small button on the front activates the drill. Hard to imagine what you would drill with it but it’s certainly a novelty item. While most tools are renowned for combining power with a sleek, light design, this small devise takes it to the next level. This tiny drill can fit in any tight space imaginable. There is not a lot that is known about this drill or the creator, who goes by the name screenname S8, other than the fact that this drill is alleged to work similar to its larger counterpart.

9. The World’s Smallest Donkey Kong Arcade Game

This…..darned…thing…..my quarter won’t fit!

How much fun is this! We’ve all dreamed owning our own personal arcade machine but how realistic is that? Arcade game consoles are huge and usually found in old school restaurants near the back or in amusement parks. But now that someone had the inclination to create an arcade console no bigger than a bottle of beer, our dreams may come true! The world’s smallest Donkey Kong Arcade Game is only 8.25-inches tall. The game version is a bit different since its run on the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator (MAME). Emulators simulate the behavior of hardware on software and allow games to be run on computers and other devices.

It runs on a GamePark GP2X Wiz, due to its speed in processing electronic information, its OLED screen and its suitability for handling the entire Donkey Kong game. The system is 512 times smaller than its normal counterpart yet includes all the 80’s glitz and glam of its predecessor. The coolest feature about this small arcade system has to be the two coin slots on the front. They did that just to mess with us, don’t you think?

8. The World’s Smallest Washing Machine

Remember honey…don’t overfill the machine.

Sometimes you just don’t want to waste your high tech, super efficient washing machine on one or two shirts. If only there were a machine just small enough for —well would you look at that…

The world’s smallest, working laundry machine was created by Haier, a company famous for its cutting edge technology in the electronic appliance arena. It is about 1 cubic foot is size and fits close to two adult sized shirts at once. It includes three wash cycles and water levels: heavy, normal and quick.

The small device was introduced a year back in China and get this—Haier is readying the washer for release on the open market. According to Haier, the device is meant for parents concerned with being green and who use diapers made of cloth. Apparently most parents use special cleaning services to wash these sorts of diapers and Haier believes they are a viable customer base. They also hinted this little gem could be used wash swimsuits drenched in chlorine or other delicate items. RV travelers might love it as well. One thing is for sure—it’ll save a ton on the water bill.

7. The World’s Smallest Digital Camera/Camcorder

You are elegance, you are style, you are….. Plankton? Now VOGUE!

This next item is very James Bond-esque, particularly because of its potential for use on top, secret reconnaissance missions. The world’s smallest camera only weighs about half an ounce and is a little over one inch wide, one inch long and one inch thick.  Obviously the creators had bare minimums in mind when they made this camera.

The pictures it takes aren’t all the bad either. The 2 megapixel picture quality is similar to a mid-range camera phone and can take pictures with 1600 x 1200 resolutions. You’ll feel like a seasoned spy veteran with this camera on hand. It is very similar to the surveillance devices used during the Cold War when agents went on missions to gather intelligence. It houses one single button and to be honest, that’s all you really need to take a picture, right? It has automatic focusing capabilities and get this—it can record video at 30 frames per second with decent quality. The recorded videos boast a respectable 640 x 480 resolution. Like any other camera, you can connect the microSD card to your computer and upload all your photos and videos.  Next time you’re feeling in the mood for some espionage; don’t forget to add this camera to your collection of cool spy tools.

6. The World’s Smallest Wireless Router

Honey, I shrunk the network?

In this new age of information, families are wary of having wireless signals that reach every device in the house including cell phones, computers and tablet devices. But don’t you hate that cluttered look from clunky, wireless routers? Well hate no more because this router is so small, you might forget it’s even there.

Produced by TP-Link, a global producer of computer networking technology, this Wireless N Nano Router provides internet access for all devices in range of its signal. It’s not even the size of your average credit card. It houses all the same technology as bigger routers, producing internet speeds of up to 150 Mbps. Given its size, you might not expect to hold much of a charge, but this little bad boy can work for up to four and a half hours! The fact that this router is battery powered and highly portable makes it a pretty attractive buy for many consumers throughout the world.

5. World’s Smallest Cell Phone

If you talk much, you might accidentally swallow it.

Everyone loves cell phones. Kids, young adults, and older adults, there is a phone out there for every need, from internet access to video conferencing. Since the inception of cell phones, one of the key features of their design has been size. Unlike most technology, when it comes to phones, smaller and thinner is better. But this is a bit overboard.

The Modu phone is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the smallest phone on record in the world. The phone has all the same functions as a regular sized phone is only 0.3 inch thick. It barely weighs 40 grams. That’s about the same weight as three and a half quarters. You would think a phone this size couldn’t possibly do anything but make calls, if that. You’d be wrong. This little critter has expandable features and can double as a gaming Smartphone and transform into a mobile music player. That’s pretty impressive when you think about it.

4. World’s Smallest Microwave

Ok, now this is just being lazy…

Anyone who has ever worked in an office setting will understand this scenario.  You’re looking forward to break time, but you’re dreading the fact you have to waste five minutes going all the way to break room, just to wait in line for the microwave? Well now you don’t even have to leave your seat.

Frazer Designers and Heinz came together to create the world’s smallest microwave. It is powered through a USB connection. The Plug and play capability with the USB connection adds a bit of hi-tech flair and coolness to an otherwise mundane piece of equipment.  The world’s smallest microwave is a shade of blue and is only 7.4 inches tall, 6.2 inches wide, and 5.9 inches thick.

They should have had a contest or something like that to pick the name however. The small machine is known as the Beanzawave. If you’re like most people, the sheer ridiculousness of the name is just striking. One question you might have is just how does a microwave this small, powered by a computer, manage to generate the heat necessary to warm up your food? The answer wasn’t very comforting for the Microwave Association (Let’s stop right there for a second. Who even knew there was actually Microwave Association in existence?). Well it does exist and they aren’t thrilled the Beanzawave uses phone radio frequencies to create and produce heat. Heinz has designed little cups of food, about 1 serving worth, to be used in conjunction with the Beanzawave. They’re called “Snap Pots.”

3. World’s Smallest Espresso Machine

I need more coffee by ten am than this thing could probably make.

Everyone needs a hot cup of Joe every now and again. Espresso machines are extremely popular and with everyone on the go these days, portable varieties have become very desirable. If you’re a traveler, you may want to get your hands on the world’s smallest espresso machine, known as Simply Espresso. The wait is over for coffee, this small coffee maker will even fit perfectly in a suitcase or travel bag.

Created by the French technology company, Nielsen Innovation, the Simply Espresso machine is sold by Stelton. It’s renowned for its ease of use and it has considerable power. Just like its big brothers and sisters, the Simply Espresso can crush beans with a pressure of 16 bars. It’s 9 x 3 inches and just the right size to save the day. You can pack it for a trip, slide it in a drawer, or just save yourself some space on the kitchen counter. So how many creams and how many sugars?

2. The World’s Smallest TV

3D-Demoralizing, Dastardly and Diminutive

For as long as we can probably remember, when it comes to televisions, bigger is always better. The big screen television has recently become a hallmark of human society, with the many different options and functions, such as flat screen, plasma, 3-D. Some may consider a large Television a sign of status and success. Maybe you want to be different and own the world’s smallest television. So why not think about purchasing this small counterpart that has all the functionality and features that a large television offers.

Your eyes may hurt just thinking about this little whopper, but this small machine comes with special television glasses. This little bit of technology was designed specially to be used with unique television glasses; that is suggested to enhance the picture quality and personal television experience. The screen is about half as big as a postage stamp.

1. World’s Smallest Computer (Computing System)

Maybe if I implant this in your brain, you’ll be smarter.

Computers have become ubiquitous in our society. Only twenty years ago, we were looking at computers and wondering if they were just too complicated to handle. In the beginning they were large and hardly equipped with the technology we have today. Over time though, computers and their processors became sleeker and faster. Laptops, calculators, Ipads, smartphones, they are all very small computers. But here we have the world’s smallest computing system.

The world’s smallest computing system is only millimeters long and about the size of a single letter on the back of a penny. It was designed as a monitoring system to measure eye pressure in glaucoma patients. The device can be transplanted behind the eyes. It is a powerful little joker able to connect with wireless networks from other computers and devices. It’s considered a revolutionary tool that could lead to similar devices that can measure pollution levels, structural integrity in buildings or even perform surveillance.

A guy named Bell once proposed a theory concerning small computers. According to his theory, every ten years or so, we get a new class of smaller, more efficient computers. He even predicted that they’d get smaller and smaller. With this new ultra small computer, it’d be ok to guess we’re right on track.

This list had a bit of everything. We’ve seen a microwaves that you can plug up to your computer, a washing machine that barely reaches your knees, cell phones smaller than your finger, miniature arcade systems, and lots of other small technology.   One thing is for sure, it’s amazing that so many types of technology can be housed in such small bits of space. It’s a testament to how cool technology (and the humans that invent it) really is.

Technology has come a long, long way. Gone are the days when cell phones were the size of your head, computers seemed to weigh a ton, and televisions were strictly for the house. As a people, we’ve managed to essentially shrink everything down to bite size. It might be worth taking a look at possibly owning one of these trinkets just to show it off the Jones’.

10. Microwave Ovens

Working all day and then spending the next hour in the kitchen preparing dinner was at one time considered the norm for mothers and wives. Not anymore. Microwave ovens and the enormous variety of foods that can be prepared with no more skills than the ability to push a button have made it possible for the man of the house to prepare a meal. Microwaves make it possible to cook a variety of foods and reheat them later in the week to help make dinner time less stressful. The microwave has also helped make snack time easy enough for younger kids and teens to handle on their own. Many people find it hard to go back to pre-microwave times and if theirs goes on the fritz will make the trek to their local appliance store immediately to get a new one. Microwave ovens have changed the traditional kitchen with an apron waiting on the counter to a fast food, pop and go diner minus the drive-thru and check.

9. Debit Cards

People who carry cash are quickly becoming an oddity, thanks in part to the debit card. This automatic, electronic means of accessing money is slowing making paper bills obsolete. Invented in the late 1980’s debit cards have become a way of life for some people. One look around at the local convenience store proves the point. Most people don’t have the cash in their pocket to pay for a soda; instead they pull out their trusted debit card. Debit cards have made it possible for people who don’t have credit cards or are not able to get a credit card to flash the plastic anyway. Many young adults don’t know how to balance a check book simply because they don’t use them; they use their debit card and keep up with the balance on the go.

8. Hybrid Cars

Although still a relatively new invention, hybrid cars are poised to change the way the modern world looks at transportation. These vehicles use both gas and electricity for power and help decrease the demand for gas which in turn eliminates the need for oil. The invention and continued improvement of the hybrid car was born from the necessity to stop the depletion of the Earth’s resources and help families save money on their transportation bills. It is doubtful that the gasoline engine will ever go completely away. It’s hard to imagine a muscle car running on electricity; however, the day may come when gasoline engine cars are considered the exception rather than the norm.

7. Smartphones and MP3 Players

Once upon a time owing vinyl albums was the only way to listen to music. As time progressed the 8-track tape and cassette came along and started the transformation of the music industry. The digital format MP3 revolutionized the way music is listened to and stored. The IPod was not the first portable device for listening to MP3s but it was the one to change the digital music world. MP3 music files and MP3 players allow people to carry thousands of songs in their pocket, often in devices as smaller than a playing card. On one hand, these devices and files made it possible to carry music anywhere; on the other hand, these digital files quickly became easy to share and thus cause musicians to lose out on royalties. Regardless of how it is looked at, the MP3 changed the shape of the music world.

6. Cell Phone

You see them in cars, restaurants, libraries, schools, and in some cases you can’t see them at all, all you see is an earpiece. What is it that has people everywhere talking? The cell phone, of course. It seems that everybody has a cell phone and while that might be an exaggeration, it is a fact that the cell phone has taken over as the preferred means of telephone communication. Many people have given up their land lines in favor of their cell phone. These phones have made it possible to stay connected to family and friends without looking for a phone booth and digging for a quarter to make a call. Parents can check on their children no matter where they are and business deals can be strategized while on the way to the office all because of a tiny little device.

5. Text Messaging

As if the cell phone weren’t convenient enough, text messaging came along and made it possible to have conversations anywhere, anytime, even in the library or during church. Text messaging has created a generation of people who can type with two fingers on a hyphenated keyboard quicker than most people can type on a traditional keyboard. It has also made it possible for messages to be sent without other people hearing what is being said, often a frightening fact for many parents. Sadly, text messaging along with the next most popular invention, email, has also made a generation of people who would rather communicate online or by text rather than talk.

4. Email

Sitting down and writing a letter with a pen and paper then addressing the envelope and putting a stamp on it has become something of rarity in today’s modern world of electronic mail. The mailman no longer delivers sweet words of wonder from loved ones, today’s mail is mostly made up of flyers and junk mail along with the occasional bill if the resident hasn’t opted to have those sent by email. Email is simply a much faster, less expensive way to communicate with people. Email has changed the way people send messages including replacing the fax machine in many offices. Email doesn’t have the personal touch that writing a letter does but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming the means of communication for millions of people.

3. Internet

The Internet has changed the way people find and share information, shop, read, watch movies and so many more things it’s impossible to imagine not having the web. From personal communication across the globe or across the street to business meetings and contract negotiations the web has made it possible for people thousands of miles apart to interact as though they were in the same room. Doctors can collaborate online while others are researching everything from illnesses to their dogs while others are shopping for clothes and cars. It is hard to imagine a world with no Internet.

2. Computer

Even without the Internet the computer would be a life changing invention. The ability to process information in lightning speed and store it in tiny spaces has made the computer one of the greatest modern inventions. There was a time when the typewriter was considered a marvel, the computer moved the typewriter into extinction and made word processing fun rather than a chore. The computer made it possible to accomplish more in a shorter period of time than ever and also became an entertainment option for millions of people.

1. Google

This is what happened when you google too much

Google’s search engine and many other Internet applications has been the number one life changing invention in modern times for millions of people around the world. Ask a question and if someone doesn’t know the answer they will Google it. Google has even become an action word that people use to show they are searching for an answer. Go Google it is the catch phrase of the century. Google has made it possible to find practically anything on the Internet in the course of a few short seconds. From telephone numbers to archived books can be found using Google. For those who don’t believe it, go Google it and be amazed.

Modern inventions have increased the pace at which lives move. Everything is faster and easier than ever before and shows no signs of slowing down. Perception plays a big role in determining if an invention is life changing and not everyone will agree with the inventions here; however, it is a given fact the modern inventions are life changing for everyone in one way or another.

There are expensive cars and cheap cars. Fast cars and economical cars. For most American men our first cars were used and a little run down. But we always wanted to find a way to get more from our cars. Most notably almost every guy wanted more speed out of their cars.

My personal experience with building a faster car was a 1969 Chevelle. I bought it with a 307 cubic inch engine and modest transmission and rear end gear ratio. It had some power, but for a car that was built in the time when all cars had actual frames under them, it was a heavy car, and it could barely out perform an old pickup truck.

By the time that I regrettably sold the car it had a custom built 454 in it. It would almost get the front tires off the ground from a dead start and would do 0-60 in 5.6 seconds.

In my case, I was able to get my car a lot faster by investing a huge amount of money on a completely different engine. This is not necessary these days. There are hundreds of aftermarket bolt on performance enhancing products and techniques that can be employed to make any modern car faster, more powerful and more efficient with fuel.

Since I obviously don’t know what kind of car you are about to beef up, I am going to keep the items in this list as generic as possible. If your car is still under factory warranty, you will need to ask the car manufacturer if any of these items will void your warranty.

10. Electric Fans

Somewhere between your engine and the radiator is a fan. This draws air through the radiator to keep your engine cool. On older cars this is a mechanical fan. It runs off of the engines power via a fan belt. These mechanical fans draw a surprisingly large amount of horsepower directly from your engine. By removing this mechanical fan and replacing it with an aftermarket electric fan, you have freed up some extra horsepower to reach the ground. Do some research; there are a plethora of aftermarket electric fan manufacturers out there. You will easily find one that fits just right in your car.

9. Electric Fuel Pump

Pictured above is a mechanical fuel pump. It is driven directly off of your engine. Usually powered by a lobe on your crankshaft, mechanical fuel pumps are one of those things that rob power that should be going to your drive wheels. So, for the same reason you want to convert your mechanical fan to an electric one, you should do the same for your fuel pump. If you upgrade both your fan and fuel pump, you may want to keep in mind that you are now drawing extra power from your battery and alternator. These may need to be upgraded now too.

8. Air Induction

Your engine pulls in air and mixes it with fuel. This mixture is burned and produces horsepower. So if you can increase the amount of cool dense air that your engine is able to pull in, you will produce more power. The fact is that most cars are manufactured with the air it pulls in limited for various reasons. There are several companies out there that make aftermarket air induction systems to bolt directly on to your car in an afternoon. K&N is the leader in this field. A couple of hundred bucks, a few simple tools and a Saturday afternoon and K&N will guarantee extra horsepower for your car. In most cases your fuel economy will increase as well, making this an aftermarket item that pays for itself.

7. Carburetors

If you are working with an older car, chances are that you have a carburetor. This is a device that mixes the air and gasoline into a vapor to be burned inside the engine. All newer cars will have some form of fuel injection, but if you do have a carburetor on your car, this is one of the easiest ways to increase your horsepower. If you have a 2 barrel carburetor, you should upgrade to a 4 barrel carburetor. There are a lot of carburetor manufacturers out there that build the performance parts you need to make your car faster. Most notably in America would me Edelbrock and Holley. To upgrade your carburetor from 2 to 4 barrel will also require you to install a new intake manifold. Doing all of this will cost a few bucks, but the difference will be very noticeable.

6. Fuel Injection

If you have an older engine that is carbureted, and a few bucks that you can afford to invest into making your car faster, converting to fuel injection may be for you. Edelbrock and Holley both offer bolt on multi port injection systems for most American engines. Because these systems are electronic and not mechanical like a carburetor, they are more precise. They will offer your engine more horsepower and better fuel economy. As the items in this list get more complicated, the cost of the upgrades also increases. Your ability to increase the speed of your car is usually only limited to the amount of money you are able to spend on your car.

5. Performance Chips

If you are trying to increase the performance of a newer car (‘90’s and up) You are most likely dealing with a car that was built with electronic fuel injection.

Electronic fuel injection is controlled by a ‘computer’ or chip of some sort. Well, as you may have guessed, there are companies out there that have figured out ways to enhance your cars performance by simply replacing or modifying the chips that control your engine.

These chip upgrades are very versatile with their applications. You can buy a preprogrammed chip or you can buy a chip and a programmer device that will allow you to modify the performance chips yourself. You can achieve better fuel mileage, better towing capabilities, better horsepower and of course better speed either off the starting line or in the top end.

4. Exhaust System

While most of the suggestions in this list are dealing with getting more air and fuel into your engine, another way to increase performance is by looking at ways to improve getting the exhaust out of your engine more efficiently. Removing your mufflers and adding glass packs will make your car a lot louder, but generally won’t offer any real performance. For most cars the exhaust system is choked down right at the engine itself in the stock exhaust manifolds.

By replacing your exhaust manifolds with “Headers” the weakest link is improved in your exhaust system. From that point back to your tailpipe, the general rule of thumb is the less restriction getting the exhaust out of your car, the better the performance will be.

While you may have 2 tailpipes at the back of your car, in most cases your exhaust is choked down to 1 catalytic converter then split back to 2 exhaust pipes towards the back of the car. For truly improved performance you will want true dual exhaust all the way back.

There are laws governing the removal of catalytic converts and the amount of noise you are allowed to produce. So when converting your choked down car into a true dual exhaust system, check your local laws regarding noise and catalytic converters. The converters are very expensive, so if you have to have them and you want 2 of them, it is going to cost a few bucks.

3. Turbochargers

While turbo chargers are stock equipment on almost all diesel engines, most people are not aware that you can install an aftermarket turbo charger on your gasoline engine for a great increase in performance. Essentially how a turbo charger works is, it uses the exhaust gasses to spin an impellor which builds a positive pressure of fresh air and forces that air into the intake to mix with the fuel. This upgrade is an expensive one. The turbo charger itself will cost around $1000.00 and to install it, you will have to modify both the air intake system and the exhaust system of your car.

There are companies that produce aftermarket turbo chargers for just about any car on the road today. If you have the cash, you can have a turbo charged car.

2. Nitrous Oxide

The principal is very simple. If you add Nitrous Oxide to your air and fuel the mixture becomes considerably more explosive and therefore greatly increases horsepower.

NOS is a company that specializes in this concept. No matter what kind of car or engine you have, there is an aftermarket NOS system that will inject your car with a burst of extra horsepower.

There are many different systems. You can have a dose of nitrous dumped into your air intake, or for the person who really wants a punch there are also systems that inject from multiple points directly into your intake manifold. You are limited only by how much money you are willing to spend.

A couple of things that you will want to consider before adding a nitrous system to your car is that too much nitrous will blow your engine apart. Depending on the type of engine you are running you need to be very careful with the amounts of time that nitrous is injected into your engine.
The laws governing the use of nitrous oxide vary from state to state. In many cases it is legal to have nitrous oxide in your car but not legal to use nitrous. So check your local laws and regulations before you fork out the cash for this upgrade to improve the speed of your car.

1. Superchargers

You will see giant superchargers sticking out of the top of drag racers and very beefed up classic muscle cars. There is nothing more impressive looking that you can do to your car than have one of these monsters poking out of the hood of your car.

But far more impressive than the appearance of a supercharger is the performance of a supercharger. These big breathing beasts will add a huge amount of power to your engine instantly.

In a nutshell, while stock engines depend on vacuum and atmospheric pressure to get the air fuel mixture into the combustion chamber of your engine, a supercharger physically compresses the air, making it denser and shoves it down your engines throat! It is kind of like a turbo charger on steroids.

There are several different types and styles of superchargers. The monster pictured above is the cream of the crop and requires a good old American V-8 engine to handle all that extra horsepower. There are smaller versions for most types of engines available out there for a wide variety of different cars. Many of them are low profile enough to stay under the hood. In the case of supercharger’s, bigger is better.

A couple of things to keep in mind if you are considering adding a mega-blower to your car;
They are very expensive. You could generally buy and entire new engine for less than the cost of a bolt on supercharger.

They are complex. These amazing devices don’t just come out of a box and bolt right on to the top of your engine. There are a lot of modifications that you will have to do to the engine to get them operational, not to mention you will have to cut a hole in the hood of your car.

There are legal issues as well. When I was considering adding one of these to my 1969 Chevelle in Wyoming I found out that it was illegal. It turned out that they were grandfathered in for use on ’68 or older cars. So be sure to check your local laws regarding superchargers. You may be able to install a smaller version in your area.