Table of contents
Introduction
So you want to know how to modify a car? You’re in the right place! Modifying a car is one of the best experiences I have had with cars. Being able to transform a car to your liking and experiencing the performance gains firsthand is amazing.
I dove into modifying a car with my 2001 Acura CL. While it wasn’t the most high performance platform, the Acura gave me a lot of insight. Bolt-on upgrades and suspension modifications provided me with a foundation for modifying a car. From there, I grew my knowledge even more with my Focus ST!
So where do you start with modifying a car? From my experience, you’re going to want to plan. Did I have a plan for my Acura or the Focus ST? Not at all. Did I end up spending more time and money than needed? Absolutely! Fortunately for you, we’ll use my mistakes as a learning tool! Today, we will go over how to modify a car with focus and solid planning!
Planning To Modify A Car
For planning on how to modify a car, you need a vision. If you simply buy a car and throw modifications at it, you may end up with a mess. Randomly adding modifications can result in parts not working together or your car’s performance going downhill.
To keep things simple, we’re going to break down the plan that I would follow for a future project car.
1. What is Your Goal?
Having a goal in mind for your car is the absolute key. What type of car do you want to build? Are you looking at drag racing or would you rather have a show car? Maybe you want to have a car built for handling canyon roads! Regardless of what you want to do, narrow in on the focus of the car. Building a car without a vision may end up wasting time and money. Consider looking at some budget-friendly sports car options to accomplish your goal!
For example, if I wanted a car built for track days, I would look at cars that have better handling from the factory. Then from there, I would look at what modifications I would need to enhance the handling and improve reliability on the track. Lastly, this is where I would try and get knowledge from more experienced owners. The more experienced owners can help guide you towards how to achieve the overall goal of your car!
Regardless of your goal, do it to the best of your ability. Take the time to determine your goal and create your dream car from the ground up!
2. Which Car Should You Choose?
Time for the fun part: Choosing your vehicle! Picking the right car to accomplish your goal is the most important part! Trolling aside, you wouldn’t pick a Prius for a drag racing build or a classic Cadillac land-yacht for road racing.
Take the time to look through car sales ads and figure out what car appeals to you for your build. Take into consideration what the aftermarket parts availability is for the car you want to build. A lack of aftermarket parts means you may need to find someone to fabricate parts and piece things together. While some people may enjoy this, most enthusiasts prefer parts specifically designed and ready to go for their car. Check out some websites we recommend for buying aftermarket parts and see what you can get for your car!
3. How Much Will It Cost to Modify This Car?
Budgeting for a project car may seem easy, but there are things you must take into consideration. When we budget for project cars, we tend to assume everything will go smoothly. Unfortunately, cars can break. Wear and tear on the vehicle can lead to mechanical failures, resulting in more costs for the car. Trust me, its part of the fun of owning a car.
What I would do if I was planning to build a car is have a budget for repairs along with parts and labor. This gives you a cushion for that inevitable tire blow out, pothole damage, or mysterious engine failure after turning up the boost in your car.
To help analyze the costs of modifying a car, compile the list of parts you are looking at upgrading. Check out our list of common car modifications to help guide you in your planning process!
4. Where Will The Car Be Worked On?
Unfortunately, most of us may not have access to a garage 24/7. Having a proper workspace for your project car is needed, especially when a repair or modification is extended. If you aren’t looking into modifying the car extensively, then this may not be an issue. However, if you want to build a car from the ground up or the car be down for an extended period of time, you may need to look at your storage options.
5. When Do I Want It Done?
Setting a timeline for your project car is highly recommended. Having a deadline can help motivate you to finishing the project. No one wants a car to live on jack stands for years on end.
If you are planning on racing the car on a track, try choosing an event and making that event the deadline. Regardless of your end goal, time is always of the essence. If you need more advice regarding project cars, visit our project car guide!
6. Who Will Help Me?
Modifying a car can be a difficult task to take on by yourself. If you aren’t mechanically inclined, consider joining a forum or finding a local car club. This will allow you to get an extra set of hands on an installation or guidance on how to finish your car. Even for those who have mechanical knowledge, having a friend or two makes the process more fun and easier overall.
Lastly, consider looking into local performance shops for assistance. Consulting with professionals who do this for a living give you valuable insight on your car. While paying for labor from a shop can add up, getting the job right the first time avoids lots of headaches down the road.
Conclusion
Modifying a car is an awesome and rewarding process. Knowing how to modify a car comes from establishing a plan to achieve your goals. If you choose to ignore the planning process, you run the risk of buying the wrong parts, the car not driving the way you want it to, or going over budget by having to re-purchase different upgrades. Take it slow and do it right the first time.
Find friends or a community to bounce ideas off of! Car enthusiasts are more than happy to tell you about their car and what they did to customize it. Not only do you gain valuable insight on the car, but you make friends in the process!
Make sure you overestimate the amount of time and money spent when you modify a car. More often than not, installations will take much longer than anticipated. Also, buying cheap parts in hopes of cutting costs can be risky business. Take the time to research the costs of parts, installation hours, and the costs of labor from shops if you need help along the way.
Finally, enjoy the process! There will be times where you wish you never bought the car but it will be so worth it. Whether its a track car, show car, or a fun car to cruise around in, the memories and hours spent creating the car will be ones you look back upon for years to come!
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