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The tricked-out cars from The Fast and the Furious, and its sequel 2 Fast 2 Furious, were some of the sexiest cars ever to careen onto the silver screen, complete with insane paint jobs, see-through hoods and sick superchargers. They were all the work of Eddie Paul, an automotive guru who's been designing kick-ass cars for Hollywood for more than three decades. A renowned engineering expert -- he's even built underwater robotic sharks for Jacques Cousteau's grandson Fabien -- Paul finished the monumental task of finding and upgrading 50 cars for The Fast and The Furious in only two months. In his new book, The Cars of The Fast and the Furious, Paul takes you into his garage in El Segundo, California to demonstrate the right way to turn a mediocre machine into a blazing-fast chick magnet. We caught up with Paul to find out some of the secrets of rebuilding your own ride.
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Taking on too many projects at once is the most common rookie mistake, according to Paul. "Many beginners tear into the engine, and it soon becomes overwhelming and they never finish," he explained. "I can't tell you how many times I've seen projects gone bad go straight to the junkyard." Having an ordered approach that starts with simple goals, like small modifications to the body of the car, saves you a lot of time and grief. |
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Just because it worked for Dr. Dre doesn't mean you need to get huge rims and lower your car. In fact, those modifications can be difficult to complete and cause serious problems. Big rims can inhibit your turning radius and make tires pop easier. And if you lower your car, you might be inviting serious safety hazards. "I've seen a lot of cars go so low the gas tank is actually dragging on the ground," said Paul. "It could easily ignite and become a ball of fire." |
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You don't have to work at West Coast Customs to learn from the professionals. Paul recommends beginners check out Eastwood (www.eastwood.com), an auto parts supply company that sells a series of instructional videos covering everything from simple modifications to advanced metalwork. Many seemingly simple projects, like repainting your car, can become messy unless you learn the correct procedure. |
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Paul says nitrous oxide is the absolute simplest way to add extra horsepower to your car. It was a different story in the past. "We used to use nitrous in stunt work, like if we wanted to get a stunt car to hit a pipe ramp," said Paul. "But it was a last ditch effort. The nitrous would blow up the engine within a day." Today, improved technology guarantees your engine won't be flooded with gas, making it a safe and reliable method to get a little more kick. If you really have a need for speed, most kits can be installed in half a day. |
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Today's automobiles utilize computer technology to run smoother and smarter, and many people try to take advantage and soup-up their cars digitally with aftermarket computer chips. According to Paul, amateurs shouldn't tinker: "It's tough to install and you have to be a computer genius to make it work. I wouldn't mess with that stuff." |
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Though some modifications, like lowering your car and tinting your windows, are illegal in many states, Paul has driven custom cars his whole life without getting a ticket. He attributes that to not having an attitude when he gets pulled over. "Most of the time police are just curious about your car," said Paul. "A lot of people get pulled over and develop an instant attitude, which leads to an instant ticket." |
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If you're looking for inspiration or advice, you don't need to go any further than your local newsstand and the many auto magazines on the rack. "They are the best resources out there," advised Paul. "When I do a project I go out to the magazine stand and read up on every subject." If you come up with a great design Paul recommends you send it to a magazine, since many periodicals will publish photos of tricked-out cars. "That's where guys like me look for cars." |
photos: courtesy of Eddie Paul and Universal Studios |
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