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Introduction:
This is an autotoys.com installation. One of several
hundred by the staff of autotoys.com
This article is a sample of knowledge gained by working on real
cars for over 18 years.
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Products:
If you have an interest in any of the products
in this article, everything featured (electrical tape, connectors,
radio, alarm, wire ties, rca cables, diodes, screws --- everything is available 'now' (FOR SALE!) through our storefront).
Remember, there may be many manufacturers out there who sell similar
products as the ones featured in our articles, but if you want
a problem-free smooth professional install, your only guarantee is to buy the same parts we use (see our storefront).
Any slight difference in any of the parts and your install is
ruined (plus you won't have access to our post sale support or
forums). Especially important for alarm, radio and OEM changer
products.
Sales People (be careful!)::
Everyday, we get dozens of requests through
our chat & ticket support system, request for forum passwords,
questions on installation problems or questions. We can only focus on questions from our customers. The questions are simple..
the answers are simple - but these people, because they did not
buy from AUTOTOYS.COM cannot get an answer. Dont make a mistake
by buying through auctions, fly by night operations or new pop
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with absolutely NO EXPERIENCE.
No experience installing in cars, no experience what-so-ever!
They barely know the products they sell! Don't make that mistake!
Make sure your purchase is from autotoys.com. These articles are
proof we know what we are doing and that we WORK IN CARS! We work on the newest cars with
the newest products.
TOUCAN & RACTIVE AUTOTOYS.COM
- RACTIVE
- ROADBOY
- EUROLITE
- EVOLUTION
Some reasons why you should chose Toucan products for your automobile.
Selling Toucan Industry products for over 7 years!!!
- RACTIVE SUPERFLOW AIR FLOW INTAKE SYSTEMS
Increases horsepower and torque
SF 007 heat shield filter, universal for any 3 inch diameter pipe!
Package superflow custom intake systems includes quality aluminum pipe with standard filter (SF100), Hoses and stainless steel clamps and bracket.
SF 007 CONE FILTERS
Improves performance giving more horsepower and torque
Air is quickly forced in, reducing pressure and resulting in a drop in temperature
Conical front design with heatshield filter
Acts as a cooling system
Universal for any 3 inch Diameter pipe
Quality assurance / Dyno tested
RACTIVE STRUT BARS
Stabilizes the fram, which reduces frame twisting
Comprised of 6061 T-6 Aircraft aluminum
Higher stiffness to weight ratio
Tubular design increases stiffness while saving considerable weight over the conventional elliptical cross section bar
Tighter fitting tolerances are possible due to more compact design
Allows great clearances from under the hood
All RACTIVE strut bars are built using triple chrome plated fasteners for durability in corrosive conditions
RACTIVE color bars are powder coated (most competition is just painted)
Tubular design and quality of bracket and fasteners
RACTIVE IGNITION WIRES
Finest quality ignition wires available anywhere
Dynotested
Increases horspower
Easier start ups
Less carbon build up
Better fuel consumption
US PATENDED triple magnetic core
Lowest possible OHMS resistance without compromising RFI and EMI
9mm triple magnetic core wires
Six layers of material to optimize performance
Comprised of pure silicone outer jacker, fiberglass braiding, pure silicone, high conductive wire, magnetic tube and kevlar/fiberglass composite core
Lowest OHMS resistance
High conductivity
CHOOSE TOUCAN RACTIVE, EUROLITE, ROADBOY AT AUTOTOYS!!
SHOP NOW!!!
RACTIVE MUFFLERS
Dual layer aircraft quality stainless steel inside and out
Seamless mufflers and tips
Straight through flow design
Comprised of T-304 Aircraft quality polished stainless steep for corrosion resistance
Mufflers and tips stainless steel inside and out
Straight through design maximizes flow producing power
Seamless, no welding marks
Large diameter perforations and stainless steel mesh for high temperature durability and maximum flow
- RACTIVE SPORT PEDALS
pickive patented designs
Available in standard and automatic
Unique styles and colors in carbon fiber and carbon kevlar
Powder coated styles in RED, YELLOW and BLUE
Can be color coordinated with other RACTIVE accessories
Easy to install
Matching foot rests
High quality
RACTIVE SHIFT KNOBS AND BRAKE HANDLES
Patended exclusive soft touch styles
Custom feel
Matching brake handles and pedal
Real carbon fiber or kevlar available
Unique designs
- RACTIVE WHITE FACE GAUGES
White background with red lettering
Red lettering illuminates when dash lights are on
Easy to install
Clear and easy to read
High quality
- ROADBOY
Patented multi position bracket for easy installation
Hard multi coated lenses for extreme durability and clarity of light pattern
All lights are universal
All bulbs are E MARK - Higher standard than SAE approved
High quality harnessnes, switches and relays for easy installation
Color of the light is in the lens, easy to replace standard clear bulb
EUROLITE
Due to small size, eurolites will fit in many smal spaces
Some models available in die cast chrome aluminum housing
High quality harness, switches
- EUROLITE BULBS
High quality for extra long life and durability
Several colors of bulbs for gauges, domes, corner and more
Xenon bulbs give the look of HID systems
- EUROLITE
NEON AND STROBE LIGHTS
Headlight strobes in many colors and include transformer and on/off switch.
Neon lights have pre drilled end tabs and includes transformer and cig lighter adapterCHOOSE TOUCAN RACTIVE, EUROLITE, ROADBOY AT AUTOTOYS!!
SHOP NOW!!!
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Can the filter be cleaned
A. Yes, the filter can be cleaned. The Ractive filters (both SF-I00 & SF-OO7) were designed to be re-usable. Like all cotton fiber type air filters they are designed to be charged with oil before initial use and when the filter appears dirty they are to be cleaned and then recharged with oil. Cotton fiber / oil bath filters are the
safest filters known, extracting more and smaller particles from intake air than any other filter type, all while allowing maximum air flow (the reason all diesel highway tractors operate with them).
To charge the filter with oil simply spray a light oil (automatic transmission fluid works well) over the cotton element (don't soak it) & install the filter. The excess oil will be inhaled by the engine on start up leaving a film of oil in the cotton to trap all particulates. When the filter appears dirty simply remove the filter and gently wash it with Varsol (or whatever you call mineral spirits where you are ) and then gently blowout the Varsol with compressed air and let the filter dry , then re-charge with oil.
3. How much heat will the shield take?
A. The shield is manufactured of a high thennally stable plastic similar to all the other under hood plastics utilized today. The shield will withstand all underhood temperatures short of a fire or contact with the exhaust manifold (intakes should always be routed away from all exhaust systems).
4. Can these he used on other applications?
A. Yes, these filters be used on other vehicles. Both of the Ractive filters may be used on engines up to 2.5-3.0 litres. The opening on the filters will allow them to fit on most of our competitor's intake pipes. 5. Will it supply sufficient horsepower? A. Yes. Actual dyno tests on a stock Honda Civic, have shown an increase in both power and torque of 5-8% for the Ractive basic intake system. The torque increase was most significant in the middle RPM range. Further tests showed that the SF -007 filter increased both horsepower and torque a further 4% over the basic RACTIVE system (utilising our intake pipe and simply replacing the filter only). The secret to the power increase is in the shape of the filter itself (that part inside the shield) and the shield itself. It one looks at the filter straight on, the opening looks reminiscent of the intake of a jet engine. This is not simply for cosmetic purposes, there is an aerodynamic reason for this. Bernoulli's Principle combined with one principle of Thermodynamics can explain the resulting power increase. As air enters the filter, the blunt cone shape forces the air to speed up (Bernoulli's Principle) thereby reducing ambient pressure. This drop in pressure causes a dramatic drop in the temperature of the air now being ingested by the engine (This principle of thermodynamics is used everyday in common appliances such as refrigerator or air conditioners). The temperature drop causes an increase in air density, thereby increasing the intake charge density, which equates to more power. All of this takes place even though the SF-007 filter is physically smaller than the filter it is replacing. The shield while aiding in the aforementioned effect also maintains the charge density by limiting hot underhood air entering the intake system and nullifying the effect of the filter shape. At the open end you will notice a lip or flange. 6. Will water ruin the inside? A. No, water will not damage the inside of the filter.
7. What material is the cone made of!
A. The shield is made of high temperature ABS plastic, and the filter is made of automotive grade cotton fiber in a stainless steel mesh with s.s. reinforcement. The base plate is polished stainless steel.
8. Will the base plate rust?
A. No, the base plate will not rust.
RACTIVE IGNITION WIRES QUESTIONS
I. What kind of metal is the magnetic core made oj?
A. The magnetic core is comprised of ferrite particles embedded in a silicon jacket. "Magnetic core" is an improper teffi1, the low impedance wires being the actual core of the Ractive wires and the ferrite layer is the insulation layer or tube surrounding the wires.
2. ]s it corrosion resistant?
A. Yes. Ferrite is already a fonD ofrust, but encapsulation in silicon makes it chemically inert.
3. How many volts does the spark have compared to an average wire?
A. The voltage produced at the spark plug is almost the same as that produced at the ignition coil due to the low losses in the wire itself, The losses now are limited to the rotor / distributor gap and the resistance of the spark plug itself. Voltages from the ignition coils vary but range typically from 25,000 -50,000 volts.
What is more significant is the current (amperes) emanating at the plug end of the wire.
The typical perfonI1ance ignition wire has -2.5-3.0 k .Q impedance or resistance to electron flow. The Ractive wire has an impedance ofO.OOl-k .Q impedance. (Do the math) There is a 3000 x difference in the internal resistance to electron flow in the wire. The result is obvious.
The real secret to the wire is how it is able to maintain so low a resistance and still prevent RFI (radio frequency interference) and EMI ( electro-magnetic interference) leakage to the radio and other on-board electronics. The ferrite surrounding the conductors acts as a magnetic shield. Current running down the conductor induces a magnetic field in the ferrite particles thereby trapping any RFI & EMI.
4. What type of rubber is the hoot made of?
The boot is comprised of silicon modified butyl rubber .
What type of silicone is the wire made of?
Irrelevant.
6. What type of metal are the terminations of the wire made of!
A. Solid brass as opposed to the crimped on sheet brass terminations of conventional wire sets. The cheaper crimped terminations are a major problem as the wire sets age. If they are less than a perfect fit, the current flowing through them will arc across the gap and eventually erode the thin metal fitting causing misfiring.
7. How hard is the plastic when it heats up?
A. It does not melt if that is the question. Heat also does not harden the plastic (Silicon) over time. The Rockwell or Shore hardness numbers are unknown.
8. How durable are the wires -heat wise?
Extremely durable. Silicone is used to bond aircraft engine baffles.
RACTIVE STRUT BARS
Before reaching a decision please consider the following:
The actual bar of the Ractive strut bar is comprised of a billet blank of 6061 aircraft grade aluminum. The bar is then machined and mandrel bent (where necessary) to its final configuration. At this point it is chemically treated to reach its final strength in the T -6 condition and then and only then is it polished to its final luster. Polishing aluminum is not merely a cosmetic, it is very important in the stress relieving process by reducing the stress risers produced in earlier forming processes.
Brand "x" strut bars are comprised of billet blanks of unknown aluminum alloy or where the alloy number is stated, the bar is not fully treated to the T -6 temper. This makes a significant difference in the tensile strength and flexural modulus of the product.
Brand "x" strut bars are polished prior to the machining and forming process because it is easier and more cost effective to polish straight blanks rather than the hand finishing that is necessary of the formed pieces. This leaves significant stress risers particularly in mandrel bent bars. These stress risers can be seen on the outside radius of the bend as a dulling and slight dimpling of the surface. The strength of the strut bar has been seriously compromised.
2) All Ractive strut bars are built using triple chrome plated fasteners for durability in corrosive conditions and/or superior cosmetics.
Brand "x" uses less expensive cadmium plated fasteners that will do the job but will dull & show corrosion quickly in the naturally corrosive environment under the hood (especially in winter).
3) Ractive mounting plates are constructed (where possible) of a complete ring of steel that encircles the shock tower providing the maximum surface area to distribute the cornering loads. These loads are now transferred into shear and torsion forces as well as tension and compression. This translates into increased chassis torsional rigidity which is the reason the strut bar was purchased in the first place.
Brand "x" utilizes the minimum ofbracketry, thereby increasing the load in areas that may not be designed to take the stress. The loads are now transferred in tension and compression only, which is adequate if the vehicle is moving in only 2 dimensions instead of 3 dimensional real world conditions. The worst case is the tubular steel type, which is fastened by sheet metal screws to the chassis. These strut bars transfer all the loads to the very small contact area that the screws make with the sheet metal of the chassis. The tensile and pullout strength of 18 Ga. sheet metal is very low, and also the new corrosion possibilities at the intrusion point of the sheet metal screws at a critical chassis point should make this strut bar a non-starter .
Ractive mounting brackets are constructed (where possible) of a single piece of die stamped steel This costs more but produces a stronger and cosmetically superior bracket less susceptible to corrosion.
Brand "x" utilizes brackets that are sheared and welded.
Ractive steel components are powder-coated with a matte black finish, combining consistent cosmetics with superior corrosion resistance.
Brand "x" is finished with a spray prime and paint application which is more economical but produces less consistent finishes, resulting in voids in welded joints, leaving them open to corrosion.
CHOOSE TOUCAN RACTIVE, EUROLITE, ROADBOY AT AUTOTOYS!!
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installer if you need help.
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Missing
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