http://autospeed.com AutoSpeed - Technology, Efficiency, Performance en-us rss@webpublications.com.au Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 2016 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss rss@webpublications.com.au http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113303/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113303/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1133/113303_00tb.jpg"></a>I needed a new shed. Yes, despite having previously built a 14 x 6 metre home workshop, the requirement was again present. Why? In short, an interstate move, a new job - and a new house. But first, I needed to know down the old sheds...</div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 2016 http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113302/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113302/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1133/113302_00tb.jpg"></a>So how do you increase the rear roll stiffness of a car with torsion beam rear suspension? Let's take a look at what is commercially available and then also provide a cheap, DIY solution. </div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 2016 http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113326/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113326/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1133/113326_00tb.jpg"></a>Back in 2014 we covered building a very effective listening device that would allow you to hear when engine detonation was occurring. That device has proved to be so successful that now we're updating it to make it even better.</div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 2016 http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113315/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113315/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1133/113315_00tb.jpg"></a>When you want an engine and/or front brake upgrade, buying a half-cut from a wrecker has always been a great way to go. But these days, is there an even better way? With the reduction in the cost of used cars, and changed regulations relating to the re-registration of seriously accident-damaged cars, we think so. </div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 2016 http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113301/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113301/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1133/113301_00tb.jpg"></a>These days nearly all mid and low-cost front-wheel drives use torsion beam rear suspension. A torsion beam suspension integrates both an anti-roll bar and the suspension arms - but what if you want to have a stiffer anti-roll function? Then it gets interesting...</div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 2016 http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113282/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113282/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1132/113282_00tb.jpg"></a>Building small speaker enclosures is good fun - and you can also save a lot of money over buying prebuilt speakers. But while it initially seems straightforward, making good-looking, compact speaker enclosures requires excellent carpentry skills and usually a fair amount of home workshop equipment. But here's a different approach - it needs only an electric jigsaw and is quick and easy. </div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Aug 30 00:00:00 2016 http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113276/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113276/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1132/113276_00tb.jpg"></a>With workshop machinery it's a good idea to have an emergency 'off' button. That's the switch where when something is going wrong, you just slap your hand on the button and the machine immediately shuts down. The good news is that these switches are now available quite cheaply. And, if you know your way arounds mains power, fitting a switch to a machine can be done in only 10 minutes or so.</div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Aug 30 00:00:00 2016 http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113300/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113300/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1133/113300_00tb.jpg"></a>This thing is just bloody awesome! Joystick control, zero radius turning circle, instant response - and such subtlety of control! Want to move forward smoothly and progressively by just 10mm? Easy! Want to go instantly from moving forward to doing a reverse 180-degree turn? No problem! This is no car - instead it's a Cat 226 B2 Skid Steer loader! And it's one of the best fun machines I have ever driven...</div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Aug 30 00:00:00 2016 http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113295/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113295/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1132/113295_00tb.jpg"></a>Downsizing in combination with boosting and direct injection of a spark ignition engine has benefits, especially when that alternative fuel is ethanol. Technology company Ricardo has been investigating.</div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Aug 30 00:00:00 2016 http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113299/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113299/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1132/113299_00tb.jpg"></a>Interested in cars and car modification? Would you like to start fiddling under the bonnet or adding accessories? Or maybe you'd rather be in the shed or garage, making things with your own hands? OK ? here's the common advice that you can ignore!</div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Aug 16 00:00:00 2016 http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113261/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113261/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1132/113261_00tb.jpg"></a>From improving the quality of a new horizontal bandsaw, to adding fire extinguishing equipment, to a near zero-cost generator, to restoring an old leaf-digit clock, to making a 200 litre drum trolley to carry rubbish out of the workshop - it's all here!</div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Aug 16 00:00:00 2016 http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113298/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113298/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1132/113298_00tb.jpg"></a>If your car uses a MAP sensor, this device can improve your fuel economy by up to 15 per cent. This week - installing and calibrating the module.</div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Aug 16 00:00:00 2016 http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113296/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113296/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1132/113296_00tb.jpg"></a>The Wright Flyer III taught the Wright brothers - and the world - how to fly in a useful fashion. </div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Aug 2 00:00:00 2016 http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113297/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113297/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1132/113297_00tb.jpg"></a>If you have a manual transmission car and the engine uses a MAP sensor, this device can improve your real-world fuel economy by up to 15 per cent. And there's no shonky science involved!</div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Aug 2 00:00:00 2016 http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113320/article.html <div><a href="http://autospeed.com/cms/A_113320/article.html"><img style="float:left; height:auto; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border:0px;" src="http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i1133/113320_00tb.jpg"></a>Gearing - the speed relationship between the driven wheels and engine revs - used to be really hard to get your head around. But these days, with the availability of online calculators, it's all much easier.</div><div style="clear:both">&nbsp;</div> Tue Aug 2 00:00:00 2016