This is probably the #1 question that people love to hate.  Performance upgrades to the DSM cars have been extensively discussed since 1989, resulting in a easy-to-follow and initially inexpensive upgrade schedules for our machines.  These schedules, when followed, will eventually make your car the Godzilla you've always dreamed of owning.

Before posting questions, please do the following:

• Check out the Go Faster Recipe for Turbos (1G cars)
• Check out the Go Faster Recipe for Non-turbos (1G cars)
• NTers (Non-turbo owners) should also check out the 1G NT Home Page, and/or the 2G NT Home Page.
• Check out the Go Faster/Turn Faster/Look Faster Pages for Turbos (2G cars)
• Road Race Engineering's suggested 2G DSM upgrade path
• Even more tuning guides at DSMtuners.
• Check out Luis Haddock's Newbies Page.
• For handling, read Benjamin Sabini's Shocks & Springs FAQ.
• More handling in the Race Car Dynamics series, written by Dennis Grant.
• A quick reference guide to handling can be found at this FAQ page of the Calgary Area DSM site (mirrored on this site here).
• Auto owners: check out Club DSM Automatic.  (Recommended for MT owners, too.)
• Look at the staged upgrade series from Buschur Racing, Extreme Motorsports, Doug's Dynopower, Archer Racing, and Diamond Star Specialties.
• Look around at the other vendors.
• Read the Club DSM archives.
• Read the VFAQs at Tom's site or Brad's site for information on common upgrades.
• Use the FAQ Locator to research more specific questions.
• Finally, a brief guide to how to drive your new beast can be found at rallycars.com.

The Last Word: Given the current age of these cars, you'd better be prepared to invest in a lot of replacement stock parts to keep everything together during the upgrades.

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This is the pretty much same question as 'What should I do to make my car faster, or handle better?' above.

You will also want to check the Fastest DSM Drag Times page, maintained by James Heck, to see who is running times similar to those you want.  Auto owners can check out the Club DSM Automatic pages for more auto times.

You will likely also need practice.  As one Digest member said:

"The single best investment you can make ... is *seat time* as the adjustment range on the nut behind the wheel is really large. :)"

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These questions have no easy answer as they are all related to how you wish your part/system/car to perform and how much money you are willing to spend.  Also, the sheer variety of upgrade parts available prohibits even a partial listing here.

Before posting questions, please do the following:

• Look at the staged upgrade series from Buschur Racing, Extreme Motorsports, Doug's Dynopower and Diamond Star Specialties.
• Check out the product info from other vendors.
• Go to the Product Review Pages to read opinions on the parts you want.
• 2G non-turbo owners will also wish to read the 2G NT Product Review Pages.
• Read the VFAQs at Tom's site or Brad's site for information on common upgrades.
• Use the FAQ Locator to research more specific questions.
• Search the Club DSM archives for information on the product(s) you are interested in

For information on which parts to buy first, look at making your car faster, above.

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There are obviously many choices for sources.  Local shops often have common items such as plugs, wires and fluids.  Don't forget specialty speed shops for more esoteric stuff, such as clutches and fuel pumps.  Other retail chains handle audio, cosmetics and accessories.  Non-automotive outlets, such as industrial supply stores and aviation equipment vendors, often have equipment which can easily be adapted for DSM use at a fraction of the cost.  For a good example, see Brad Baur's Westech EGT installation page, where he installs an EGT originally means for airplanes.

Several vendors specialize in equipment for DSM cars; many have comprehensive online catalogs.  Between them all, they offer just about every possible upgrade for both first and second-generation cars.  Look around!  Check the archives, too, as many people have posted good deals on various parts.

For those who are interested in used parts, be certain to check out the DSM Parts Trader and DSMtrader.com.  These classified ad databases specialize in DSMs only, and good deals are not hard to find.  Some vendors post their current specials there, too.

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With so many companies offering to part you from your money for these accessories, I sincerely hope you don't need to ask this question. Hundreds of shops sell these types of accessories world-wide. Start with your local Yellow Pages. Failing that, a quick web search would have netted you the following manufacturing companies:

• G.T. Styling - headlight/taillight covers, sunshades, etc.
• Wings West - body kits, spoilers, etc.
• Squidskins (Canada) - hoods and parts for DSM and motorcycle.
• Aero FX - spoilers, wings, rims, etc.
• Factory Wings
• Sportwing
• Wholesales Hyperformance - body kits
• FX Designs
• Taboo Speed Shop
• On-Der-Ground Designs
• Spoilers-4-Less

There are dozens of other manufacturers, and thousands of retailers. Look around!

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Probably.  Over the past 16 years people have applied a lot of thinking and a great deal of innovation to DSMs.

Before posting questions, please do the following:

• Check out the How-To section at Club DSM.
• Look for comprehensive install information at the Toms VFAQ site and Brad's VFAQ site.
• More FAQs are located at Club DSM Automatic, as well as various regional groups.
• Don't forget the FAQ Locator.
• Search the Club DSM archives for information on the product(s) you are interested in
• Check out the product info from vendors to see if the product you want is commercially made.  Also check at local vendors that specialize in the item(s) you are searching for.
• Read further down in this FAQ for information on specific components, products or upgrades.

The simple answer to this is to buy a shop manual.  The manual contains all the information you will need on disassembly, repairs, and maintenance of the Diamond Star vehicles.  Go here for information on how to purchase your very own copy.

However, despite their value, not everybody has a shop manual.  Additionally, most upgrade procedures, which deal with non-OEM parts, are obviously not covered in the manual.  The DSM community being what it is, though, many nice folks have written FAQ and VFAQ files which detail many common upgrades.  Take a look at "Has anybody installed a component?", above, for information on upgrades.

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This is essentially identical to the installation question, above.  If you are having problems with something that you believe is unrelated to your modifications, also check out the NHTSA recall information, and the TSB page to see if there is a Technical Service Bulletin (see the Glossary) about the problem.  Don't forget the FAQ locator, and take a look at David Gawlowski's Turbocharger Troubleshooting diagnostic chart for a good look at some common problems and their causes.

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Most aspects of DSM operation have been thoroughly discussed over the past decade, so most of these questions have already been answered at least once.  Please check the main archives, or do an archive search to locate the answers you need, before posting questions to the mailing list. Most answers come from the owners of the shop manuals, which should tell you something.  See below for information on how to order your very own copy.

Some popular questions regarding turbos and other components have been answered in Benjamin Sabini's Top Ten FAQ page.  Dennis Grant posted an excellent Turbo Fundamentals series, which is a must read on turbo theory and operation.  You can also read the Race Car Dynamics series, which details the basics of suspension components.

Having said this, however, there are questions which have not been asked, or perhaps have been asked but not answered in the Digest.  Should you find such a question, please do ask, and summarize the responses in a [SUM] posting.
 

It depends on the component, and what you are trying to do with the car.  In most cases, the component (or something similar) is a requirement if you are to meet the performance levels you want.  Other parts are a requirement so you are able to accurately monitor the automobile in it's modified condition, and prevent serious problems from destroying your car.

Sometimes the stock components are simply not able to fulfill their requirements, once the automobile has been modified.  Prime examples are the 'boost gauge' on turbo models, which does not really measure boost, or the blow-off valve on 2G cars, which is often unable to hold anything more than factory boost levels.  Not replacing the blowoff valve will result in a loss of performance, but no real damage.  However, altering the turbocharger system without a replacement boost gauge is a recipe for disaster, and is absolutely not worth the risk for a lousy $30 gauge.

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A 'boost' gauge is actually a pressure gauge, measuring the amount of pressure in the intake manifold.  Problem is, none of the DSM cars actually have a pressure sensor anywhere along the intake path, so the car cannot directly measure intake pressure.

The stock 'boost gauge' actually reads out an educated guess from the ECU as to what the boost should be.  The guess is based on RPM and airflow into the engine, both of which the computer does monitor for other reasons.

The guess is reasonably accurate, but is based on the stock engine.  As soon as the engine is modified, the intake/RPM relationship changes and the guess is no longer accurate.  This holds true even if the only modification is a K&N air filter.

Technically, you do not need to replace the boost gauge unless you are planning to add modifications which change the amount of boost, such as modifying/disconnecting the wastegate solenoid, installing an electronic or manual boost controller or a bigger turbocharger.  In this case, you absolutely must have an aftermarket boost gauge installed in your car before proceeding.  Failure to install one means you will be changing critical aspects of engine operation without having reliable feedback as to if the changes are safe or not.  However, the stock boost gauge will still be unreliable with other engine modifications, such as air filter, exhaust, downpipe, and cat modifications which have only a peripheral effect on intake pressure.

Overboosting the engine can be extremely damaging, even to the overbuilt 2.0 Mitsu four-bangers.  Tom Stangl had an unfortunate experience when he accidentally overboosted his engine, resulting in very serious and expensive damage.  See here for details.  Because of the potential for this type of damage, it is highly recommended that an aftermarket boost gauge be #1 on any DSMers list of modifications.

For more on this topic, see Danny Yoo's boost gauge page, which contains more details as well as links to installation information.

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In the United States, it does not do so automatically. According to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has made it illegal for modifications to automatically void your warranty.  The important point is that the dealer has to be able to demonstrate that the modification was the cause of the failure.  More information can be found at the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) site and the Diesel Injection Service page.  You will also want to search the archives for posts by Scott Borders and Jeff Fritz for important highlights of the Act.

However, some dealers are not keen on modified vehicles and may claim that the problem is somehow related to the vehicle modifications.  Plus, it is usually better to avoid the entire mess rather than enter an antagonistic relationship with your dealer.  Most people recommend talking to the service managers and finding out which ones dislike modifications, and which ones don't mind.  Other people install modifications that can be easily reversed, so the car can revert back to stock for each trip to the dealer.

Sometimes, however, you will find yourself in a serious dispute with the dealer. Should it come to this, you will probably need the phone number for either the FTC or SEMA. The FTC, on request, will send out legal information regarding warranty claims. SEMA is actively promoting the MMW Act; more information can be had from SEMA's Steps To Take if Your Warranty Claim is Denied page.

[Tip: you would have already found the SEMA FAQ if you had checked the FAQ Locator.

For audio or electronics enthusiasts, there is also a < href="http://www.cemacity.org/gazette/files/knyrights.htm">warranty information page from the Consumer Electronics Manufacturer's Association (CEMA). This page deals specifically with aftermarket mobile electronics and their effect (or, rather, their non-effect) on automotive warranties.

Also keep in mind that different states have different emissions laws in place.  By modifying a component that may affect emissions (read: everything engine-related) you may have difficulties with smog checks.

Members outside of the United States may have similar legislation in place; you will have to check with your local authorities for details.

The Last Word: Warranty? What warranty?

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Components are largely interchangeable between 1G [1990-94] and 2G [1995-98] cars.  However, it is best to check the aspects of a specific component, as detailed in 'Has anybody installed a [component] on a [DSM]?', above.  There are a few gotchas between various model years that you have to be wary of.  Component swaps between 1Gs and 2G, with few exceptions, should be researched carefully before the attempt is made.

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Tread carefully on this one, as there are now additional differences between the automatic transmission and manual transmission cars to worry about.  Some components from some years will be interchangeable, but do double-check before buying.  Also see "Can I use a [component] from a [model year] on a [different year]?", above.  However, as 90% of the stuff is the same between M/T and A/T, the outlook should be viewed as hopeful.

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This class of products generally includes those products which promise significant improvements in engine power, longevity, durability, economy, and emissions in one convenient package.  They either utilize proprietary formulae added to gasoline or oil, or provide some type of 'improvement' in the engine intake systems.

The pervading opinion on the Talon Digest, as well as on most other automotive mailing lists, is that these products provide few or none of the improvements they claim.  Few people have been able to verify these claims through real-world dyno or track testing.  Many of them cost as much or more than parts which have been shown to work, over and over, by the Club DSM membership and specialty vendors, so you may wish to spend your money elsewhere.

As oil additives are generally the most pervasive "magic" product, they deserve special attention. Commercial engine oils are already formulated with several additives in them. The formulae are usually referred to as "synergistic" - that is, the combination of additives work together to produce greater effects than any single additive alone.

Engine oils are already manufacturered with great attention to detail. It is not likely that any separately formulated additive will greatly improve the oil characteristics. At best, the additive will have no effect; at worst, the additive might upset the chemical balance of the oil and actually degrate its performance.

Those who remain convinced these products do, in fact, provide significant benefit are generally unaware that the U.S. Federal Trade Comission has brought suit against dozens of companies selling these types of products, with a uniform result - the companies settle without contesting the charges. This means they do not have to admit any wrongdoing, but are prohibited from making further unsubstantiated claims about their product(s).

This type of federal action is a sure sign of a 'magic' product that even the manufacturer cannot prove to be genuine. Up until recently, this information was hard to come by, but the FTC website now provides a lot of useful information direct to the public - some of it is listed below. Among others, the FTC has taken action against the following brand names: Prolong , Valvoline, Slick 50 and STP.

While the manufacturer's information extolling the unparalleled virtue of these products is easily come by, there is also a lot of information available on the web that casts doubt on the claims of many of these products.  A quick search for trade names will often come up with as much bad information as good.

A few rebuttal links are

• a skeptical look at Slick 50
• the Slick 50 question from Miata Net
• a Federal Trade Commision summary of FTC vs. Quaker State / Slick 50, or the complete record.
• FTC vs. Blue Coral / Slick 50.
• a Federal Trade Commision cease and desist order against Blue Coral / Slick 50 (also PDF version.
• An FTC document describing actions against Ashland / Valvoline for their TM8 Teflon additive.
• Another FTC news release, this time against STP / First Brands for the XEP2 additive.
• Yet another FTC news release detailing how the makers of Dura Lube and Motor Up products were forced to discontinue their advertising. Dura Lube had to pay $2 million dollars in this case.
• The FTC search engine (try searching for "Slick 50" and/or "engine treatment" for more details on the above cases).

• Read the FTC's own words on gasoline additives and gasoline saver products.

• Try Fred Rau's article on Slick 50, originally from Road Rider.

• a search of the Club DSM archives for information on fraudulent ECU upgrades ('chips'), described below.
• if you can, check out the October 1998 Consumer Reports test on Prolong (subscription required).
• The Engine Oil Bible by Chris Longhurst.
• Finally, the Club DSM Fluids FAQ has some information on how to obtain some of the 'proof' claimed by certain additive manufacturers.

Those looking to restore their outlook on life after reading this information should visit the Kaleco Auto home page - I'm sure you'll find their products quite interesting. (Read carefully.)

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Other cars have "chips" (ECU upgrades) available.  Is there a chip for DSMs?

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Superchips, Cyntex, Jones Electronic Technologies (JET), GP Performance, and other vendors claim to sell ECU upgrades.  However, few DSMers use them.

Many vendors have offered upgrades which are clearly fraudulent.  Some vendors, such as Superchips and Richie Broden Racing, have been guilty of selling 'ECU upgrades' with manual boost controllers as part of the kit.  In reality, the chips sold with these kits were identical to the stock chips; the performance gains were all by virtue of the MBC.  Other vendors have pulled the same trick without including the MBC, counting on human nature to fool the purchaser into believing there is a significant difference between 'their' chip and the normal chip.

Examination of several DSM and non-DSM ECU 'upgrades' by responsible Digest members have revealed no less than seven (7) fraudulent products.  Needless to say, trust in these vendors has diminished to nonexistence.  Read all about it!

In addition, there are several items that work against ECU upgrades:

• Many DSM ECUs do not have external memories that can be easily swapped out.
• Most vendors do not support non-external-EPROM ECUs; they require much more work.
• ECU upgrades typically assume the car is stock - modified cars may realize zero performance gains, or actually run slower.
• Most vendors do not offer meaningful features, such as fuel cut elimination.
• Zero documented evidence that such upgrades work.
• High cost.

Special disclaimer for non-turbo cars: no DSMer has ever examined the chip upgrades for NT cars in detail, so no opinion on NT ECU upgrades can be drawn from the above information.  However, these are the same vendors which sold the 'upgrades' described above.  Evidence supporting the effectiveness of chip upgrades for any year, make or model of automobile is scarce; of this, little of it is the result of well-designed and well-documented experimentation.

Fortunately, Technomotive has come up with solutions that actually work, and are accurately aimed at the needs and desires of the DSM performance enthusiast.  They also offer the apothesis of all tuning tools: a true DSM datalogger.

XS Engineering also offers legitimate ECU upgrades. Nobody knows how effective they may be, however, and their upgrades are reportedly expensive - about as much as a PMS unit.

The Last Word: Most of the above-mentioned vendors are long since out of this business. TMO used to sell chips, but stopped some years back. Try DSMchips.com, they're the real deal.

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Maintained by Sean Costall. Changes and suggestions are welcomed!  If you have any information on the answers to any of these questions or wish additional questions, please mail me.

This page is an extension of Club DSM .