I've never owned a rice-mobile before, but I've been close enough to them to get curious. As such, I have a list of things I've wondered about them - but was too afraid to ask: 1) Does the steering column have an ignition switch or a lawn-mower pull cord? 2) When filling up with gas at the station do they have to mix oil 32:1 with it? 3) Are the exhaust pipes from a mack truck factory or is there a bigger "performance" version? 4) Are the mufflers only available with the "bumble-bee in a coffee can" rumble? 5) What is the name of those oh-so-cool mufflers again - was it "Flow-master-bates?" I don't remember. 6) If more louvers equals more speed then why not put a wing on the engine? 7) Are the neon lights underneath the car meant to help find dropped tools or to admire the scraped $500 oil pan? 8) How is it possible to have a foot of wheel-well clearance AND use 12 inch wheels at the same time? NASA wants to know. Well, better shut my mouth before I say something which will bug someone. Weannies - Wennies - WTF?

6) If more louvers equals more speed then why not put a wing on the engine?

Good question, but my 15 year old son wonders why do they bother putting wings on the back, for "downforce" when the front wheels are the ones driving the car?? They get so much force back there, I've seen 10-32 machine screws and washers holding them on **LOL**... Let's not forget to wonder why they need to announce the car make as a huge graphic on the hood?? As if we did'nt know it was a "Neon".. if it did'nt have the foot-tall letters on it.... remember.. it's not how it runs.... it's how it LOOKS!! **LOL**

I've seen a wing on one car which was so cheaply made that it vibrated as the car drove down the road over normal asphalt roughness! I thought it was going to fall off at any second. The funny thing about downforce is that a car only experiences it at high speeds; that rules out most rice burners needing wings. As for graphics, some - no - THE most tasteless designs I've ever seen have been on import cars. One was so bad I actually turned my head in disgust or else I'd have gagged!  

You know guys I am a hardcore muscle car guy at heart and there is nothing like the sound of american muscle under the hood.  However, I need to make a point.  As annoying as  they are the import market has actually helped our blessed hot rod market believe it or not.  In the past the big horsepower numbers were done on the motor or with a blower attached.  Turbos weren't really an option, and they were kind of primitive(sP?).  These imports that have  a relatively small motor do all of their high horsepower numbers ( horsepower per displacement I mean) with external power adders.  Nitrous has been around for a long time, so they haven't done much for that market.  But as a result of them you can get turbos fitted and matched to your particular application that when you slam the pedal down the turbo has virtually no lag time.  This is the result of the import market.  Just to illustrate the superiority of a turbo over a blower Jim butler performance built a 482 inch pontiac that turned 8200 rpm at redline.  This killer motor couldn't be tested below 7200 rpm because it would have broken the dyno, but was making above 2100 lb-ft of torque at 7200, with a horsepower reading of 2800 horsepower!!  This was done without even leaning on the combination, as this was a baseline.  Granted it was running on alcohol, but that same company built a motor that made about 2200 horsepower on gasoline with two turbos.  All I am trying to say is to not knock them too much, they do help our hobby as well guys.  

8200 rpm on a Pontiac?  I always heard that poncho's didn't like to rev.  As for blowers vs turbos, i'll take the blower.  Both turbos and blowers are capable of quadruple digit power numbers, but the blower simply is more "hot rod" to me.  Not to mention the fact that with a blower, you get peak boost almost instantly.  Turbos are a different story.  The only turbo i'll own will be on a powerstroke ;-)

You guys don't have a damn clue! Rear wings DO provide loads of usable downforce and are totally practical. What are you all thinking?

Here, I have proof...

BlackoutSteve - you got me! You have undisputable proof that wings provide usable downforce to help keep those rice-burners from launching into the sky like a jet when the engine winds up to 10,000 rpm. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time! Thanks. As for imports helping muscle cars - yeah, no matter how junky my old american iron is it actually looks good when an import is parked next to it. You know - like if you had a cup-cake which fell on the ground and thought how nasty it would be to eat it with all the dirt on it, but then you feel fortunate when you realize it could have landed in a dog turd.  

You know you've got a point, there is nothing cooler than a big ol roots sticking out of the hood to say, just try to race me.  However, with the turbos, you can maintain somewhat of a sleeper look (somewhat).  Not only do the turbo's mask the exhaust noise, but they can be somewhat hidden from view from outside the car.   And as for poncho's not wanting to rev, yes the 455 and many stock poncho's don't like to rev due to the 4.25" stroke stock, with a 4.125" bore (in the 455).  But if you want to check out the article, just go to www.highperformancepontiac.com, that's the magizines website.  It was on the page that comes up, but now I think it is in the tech articles submenu on the left.  Imagine that in your streetcar.  One correction in the specs I quoted, I said it would do 8200 rpm, but it looks like the actual redline is 7800.  

Would you be surprised that "wheelie bars" are functional on some low e.t. FWD imports?  Don't be.   

Your correct they are functional because they prevent all the weight to shift to the rear wheels.  Have you seen the aem civic nsx engine, rwd, 6.72 et.  

um imports helped our hobby?????????????????

can u list a turbo kit for a v8 for the price of a paston or vortec???

i didn't think so...  when a turbo kit is priced in the same ballpark as a blower kit then u'r statement will hold water till then...um   no.

i too have seen more of these rice burners than i care to admit.  nothing about these cars impresses me.  anyone can throw a wing, neon, coffee can exhaust, ugly paint and graphics on a car. american cars with real horsepower and looks catch my attention and impress me.  

No but lately there are turbo kits that have zero lagtime and make crazy power and the car actually gets good mileage.  Can you say that with a blower?  That was my point, dollar for dollar, and boost for boost a blower is much better bargin, yes but with a turbo an engine is acually more efficient.  From a thermal analysis all you are doing is transferring wasted energy from heat out of the exhaust to power in your engine.  You lose a major portion of your energy through heat.  All I was doing was making a point that I thought had been overlooked.  Look at the car titled "chicayne"  1200 horsepower, through the traps at 168, and 25 mpg on the highway, on just a 400 small block!  Can you do that with a blower?  Probably not.  That's my point, the import market has actually advanced turbo technology to that point.  I wasn't saying it was cheap or a bargin, in fact it is far from a bargin, some of the best technology money can buy  isn't cheap.   

There are twin turbo setups for the F bodies and the Mustang. These setups can do what Paxton and Vortec could only dream of.

Besides, not everyone can afford a muscle car guys.

First off, I own a 1990 Eagle Talon TSi AWD, and a 1986 Monte Carlo Sport Coupe, that came with a 305, and which soon is going to be sporting a nice mildly built 350. I've had alot of cars, and even a 1992 Corvette (pretty good for a 20 year old). I absolutly hate rice, but don't underestimate these guys with turbo 4 bangers, they are pretty quick. My good buddy runs low 12s on pump gas in his AWD Eagle Talon turbo, and he hasn't got much more than $4500 into the whole car. And guess what? No decals, no neon, no "bumpin" stereo, no wing...... just power!

So give props to the guys pulling sick times at the track with half the displacement as you, he's a hot rodder just like you and me, he's just got a different style.

Check it out, my Monte project and DSM project: http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/650679