Auto Books: Tuning

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Gordon Jennings: Do you really want to know about expansion chambers?

Do you really want to know about expansion chambers? is a 2-part article written by Gordon Jennings, who is one of the best technical authors in the two stroke community and the author of Two-Stroke Tuner's Handbook. It covers all the calculations and the formulas that are involved in the designing of an expansion chamber exhaust. In addition to that, the modifications required to the engine and the other factors that need to be considered are also covered.

The article can be downloaded here free of cost.

Tony Foale: Motorcycle Handling and Chassis Design

Tony Foale is considered an expert in the field of building and modifying motorcycle chassis' and this book is one of the reasons why. Motorcycle Handling and Chassis Design is a 500 page successor to the original Tony Foale book - Motorcycle Chassis Design that was published in 1984.

In Foale's words, "It is an attempt to provide the reader with the background knowledge of how and why motorcycles react in the way that they do. An understanding at this level will however, equip the reader to undertake his own design, modifications or setup with greater confidence."

The major topics that the book covers are: motorcycle frame design, various rear end and front end designs (including forkless and wishbone-style designs), aerodynamics, damping techniques, etc. Tony's experiments, which he has been refining over the years, have also been covered in the book in the 'future developments' section along with other detailed contents that also include 2 wheel drive systems and 2 wheel steering systems. The book will allow you to understand the motorcycle you're riding/designing and allow you to accurately predict how each change will affect the handling and dynamics of the motorcycle.

Tony Foale also operates a website with some very interesting articles on the subject. A bunch of software programs for chassis design are also available for download. The book is easily available for purchase from Amazon.

Publisher: Tony Foale, 2006

Contents:

Function and History
- Some basic definitions
- Function
- History
- Front suspension
- Rear suspension
- Spring types
- Load compression
Tyres
- Weight support
- Suspension action
- Tyre stiffness or spring rate
- Contact area
- Area when cornering
- Friction (grip)
- Braking & driving
- Cornering
- Mechanisms of grip
- Under- and over-steer
- Construction
- Materials
- Summary
Geometric considerations
- Basic motorcycle geometry
- Trail
- Rake or castor angle (steering axis inclination)
- Wheelbase
- Wheel diameter
- Other considerations
- Angular motions
Balance and steering
- Balance
- Steering
- Gyroscopic effects only
- Gyroscopic with tyre camber force only
- Gyroscopic with tyre camber and steer forces
- Tyre forces only - no gyroscopic effects
- Body lean only- no steering
- Conclusions
Aerodynamics
- Drag
- Evolution of the racing fairing
- Internal air flow
- Lift
- Airflow evaluation
- Side wind stability (traditional view)
- Steady state directional stability
- Dynamic directional stability
- Summary
Suspension principles
- Springs
- Damping
- Sprung and unsprung mass
- Basic suspension principles
- Other factors
- Lateral suspension
- Summary
Front suspension
- Head stock mounted forks
- Alternatives to the head stock mounted fork
- Hub centre steered
- Double link
- McPherson strut based
- Virtual steering axis
Rear suspension
- Effective spring rate
- Chain effects
- Wheel trajectory
- Structural
- Single or dual sided
- Summary
Squat and dive

Load transfer

Squat and dive
Shaft drive
Chain drive
Aerodynamic squat
Braking reaction (rear)
Dive (front)
Dynamic effects
Summary

Structural considerations

Fatigue

Structural efficiency
Triangulation
Beam frames
Triangulated frames
Tubular backbone
Structural comparison
Fabricated backbone
Monocoque
Structural engine
Conventional multi-tubular
Twin-spar
Other types
Summary

Engine mounting
Braking

The basics

Effects of CoG height
Generation of torque
Hardware
Discs
Calipers
Pads
Linked brakes
ABS

Materials and properties

Typical properties of some common materials

Frame
Wheels
Fuel tank
Brake discs
Bodywork

Stability and control

Under-/over-steer
High-siding
Stability under braking
Instabilities
Damping

Performance measurement

Track side

Laboratory
Strength analysis
Measurement and simulation
Future development

Practical frame building

Welding

Distortion
Gussets
Jigging
Tube profiling
Tube types
Tube sizes
Frame finishes
Design layout

Case study

Measurement

Main frame
Engine mounting
Results
Material
Swing arm
Forks
Caution
Tuning

Future developments

The status quo
Future possibilities
Active suspension
Rheological fluids
Two wheel drive (2WD)
Two wheel steering (2WS)
Feet-forward motorcycles (FF)

Appendices

Experiments with rake and trail

Rake

Trail
Conclusions
Post script

Glossary of terms
Units conversion
Gyroscopic effects
Basic physics of motorcycles

Basic trigonometry

Units of angle
Velocity
Acceleration
Mass
Momentum
Newton's laws
Force and weight
Moments, couples and torque
Centripetal & centrifugal force
Addition and resolution of velocities and forces
Work, energy and power
Nomenclature and sign conventions
Normalization

Analysis of mechanisms
CoG and mass distribution of rider
Typical data

Click here to buy this book on Amazon.com

Wm. C. Mitchell: Roll Center Myths and Reality

If you're into designing or modifying cars, this 6 page document will prove to be very useful to you, even if you end up reading it only once.

Body roll in cars is a common issue. Wm. C. Mitchell, in this document, explains the concept of roll center and the process of body roll in a very simplified form that everyone should be able to understand. It covers the following topics in short but detailed form:

The basic concept of body roll - How much lateral cornering force is converted to vertical force.
The roll center and how it changes dynamically in a vehicle and its effect on its handling.
The interaction of various forces in 3 dimensions and their effect on the handling of the vehicle.
Four myths about Roll Center explained.

Click here to download the PDF: Roll Center Myths and Reality

Carroll Smith: Tune to Win

Carroll Smith's Tune to Win (The art and science of race car development and tuning) is the successor to his earlier book, Prepare to Win. The 170 page book, according to the author, isn't intended to be a step by step instruction manual for decreasing the lap times of a racing car. Instead, he intends it to be a mind opening exercise to promote a better understanding of vehicle dynamics and a fuller appreciation of the problems of control and response at high force levels.

It covers some very interesting topics of discussion. Some of my favorites are: Suspension geometry and design, Aerodynamics, Tires and their contact patches. Also included are competitive driving tips for faster lap times. Recommended for people interested in competitive driving/racing and automobile enthusiasts in general looking to get the best out of their cars.

Publisher: Aero Publishers

Contents:

Vehicle Dynamics - What's it all about?
The Racing Tire
Weight, Mass Load and Load Transfer
Suspension Geometry
Steering Geometry and Self Steering Effects
Rates and Rate Control - Springs and Anti-Roll Bars
The Shock Absorber
External Aerodynamics
Cooling and Internal Aerodynamics
The Brakes
Understeer, Oversteer, Stability and Response
Tuning the Engine
The Drive Line
The Peculiar Case of the Large Sedan
Racing in the Rain
Putting It All Together
Everything Else
The End

Click here to buy this book on Amazon.com

A. Graham Bell: Two Stroke Performance Tuning

Two Stroke Performance Tuning - A Graham Bell

The author viewed 2 stroke engines with contempt until he was persuaded by two of his friends to prepare a 250cc Bultaco motorcycle for National Motocross Championship which ended up finishing 3rd with a B grade rider on board. Here's what Graham Bell says:

"From then on the challenge has not abated as I have strived to unravel the mystery of what makes a two-stroke tick. Instead of looking on the two-stroke with contempt, I now view this little marvel with fascination. Four-stroke engine development has just about reached its peak, but there is much yet to be learned about the two-stroke power unit."

Two Stroke Performance Tuning is a very thorough book aimed at understanding and tuning two stroke engines for maximum power and reliability.

Publisher: Haynes Publishing

Contents:

Introduction
The cylinder head
Porting and cylinder scavenging
The exhaust
Carburation
Ignition
The bottom end
Lubrication and cooling
Power measurement and gearing
Appendix I:
a. Introduction

b. Motocross modifications

c. Enduro modifications

d. Road race modifications
Appendix II - Table of useful equivalents
Appendix III -Speciality suppliers

Click here to buy this book on Amazon.com

A. Graham Bell: Four Stroke Performance Tuning

A very detailed book on engine tuning for greater performance. The author, A. Graham Bell, credited with writing some of the best engine tuning books, explains what each modification does and why, along with dynamometer readings for proof. This almost 400 page book should serve as the foundation for people looking to get the most out of their engines themselves. As of this date, this book is currently in its 4th edition.

Publisher: Haynes Publishing

Contents:

An Introduction to Four-Stroke Engine Tuning Principles.
The Air Inlet System
The Cylinder Head
Carburation
Electronic Fuel Injection
Fuel and Fuel Boosters
Combustion and the Ignition System
The Engine Management System
The Exhaust System
Camshaft and Valve Train
The Bottom End
Lubrication
Cooling
Power Measurement and Tuning

Click here to buy this book on Amazon.com

Gordon Jennings: Two Stroke Tuner's Handbook

Probably the best book you can get on 2 stroke tuning. Gordon Jennings goes into great details about Port 'Time-Areas' and porting your engine according to your power requirements. The book isn't available new anymore but used ones are available online. A Pdf copy of the book can easily be downloaded here.

Publisher: HP Books

Contents:

Fundamentals
The Crank Train
Cylinder heads
Expansion Chambers
Cylinder Scavenging
Port Timing
Crankcase Pumping
Carburetion and Ignition

Click here to buy this book on Amazon.com