SEMA: TOP 15 Plus 2

From hundreds of new performance products, we find 17 that amused and fascinated us

The cars may be the stars at SEMA, but the annual Las Vegas show is also an incredible showcase for all the aftermarket gadgets on display. Here are some of our favourites to emerge from the 2013 event:

1. Lighter, Stronger from AP Racing

AP Racing releases a new forged caliper that is 20 per cent lighter with aluminium pistons asymmetrically sized to extend pad wear. Anti-raddle springs eliminated pad knockback and pad movement for predictable braking feel. The caliper also features a forged bridge easily removed for quick pad swaps for road and weekend lap sprints. Billet rotor hats are also available through AP Racing for Euro – Japanese-Aussie performance cars.

2. Steel Tubing Repair

Instead of replacing a faulty line (steel, aluminium or nylon), Kledge-Loc just received a patent for its aluminium billet sleeve system which allows quick and permanent repair of a fuel, air-con, or transmission line. The sleeve is compressed (not crimped) to form a secure repair tested to well beyond 1000psi. Designed for professionals and retailing for $299 (US), the Kledge-Loc kit suits five sizes ranging from 5/16 to 3/4 inch tubing.

3. EFI Surge Tank & Pump

Ford, Mopar and GM all offer affordable performance from their range of crate engines. A modern engine powering an old car is a common combination, and Squash Performance saw a market for a weld-in surge tank (available in steel or aluminium) to house an electric high volume and high pressure fuel pump. It makes for quick work, so save yourself the headache and visit the company's website. It will be available soon in Australia.

4. V12 Espresso

Enthusiasts of cars and caffeine, here is a piece of functional art that looks damn better than a toaster. Sized at half-scale, these little engines are light in weight and milled from billet aluminium and titanium by Espresso Veloce. Add water through one camshaft cover, drop in a coffee cartridge in the other camshaft cover and espresso is delivered through an exhaust pipe to your cup. Pricing … we’re talking F1 inspired and a bargain at $14,000 to $17,000. Learn more at the company's website.

5. Wired for Repair

A bit of wire and a $60 Clamptite can fix a lot of things. The best use for this cool stainless steel tool is creating a very clean aesthetic wire wrap to replace the clumsy hose clamp. How it works is hard to describe but it is about the size of a writing pen. For more information, go to the company's website.

6. Ancillary Power Supply

Smaller and lighter than a brick, the Power All has the power to jump start your car by delivering between 200-400 cranking amps. Or use Power All as a flashlight, a strobe light and with two UPB ports, it can recharge a smartphone, camera and most pocket electronic stuff. PowerAll is recharged from an AC wall socket (100-240v). You’ll find Power All on Amazon for about a hundred bucks.

7. Ford Approved Panels for ’32 Coupe

Looking back, 1932 was a good year for Ford with the launch of the V8 and the ’32 coupe. Eighty years later and it is time to restore granddad’s ’32 five-window Ford with real pressed steel panels available through Ford North America. A new skin costs $20,999.

8. Lights on CAT

The LED is a great invention, and CAT puts a handful of high intensity LEDS together to create a great pen light that will brighten your day for hours. Pricing will settle at around $15 in Australia in a few months.

9. Wombat Fur or Rim Skins

Rim Skins, like chrome-plated plastic, is a clever Aussie invention. The soft plastic strip adheres to the lip of your expensive alloy wheel to protect it for kerb wear. SEMA marks its launch in the US and Canada and new car dealers and detailers really like Rim Skins because it provides an added sell from the showroom. The Skins are offered in a range of colours from bright yellow to dark blue.

10. Magic Orange Heat Barrier

RCF Technologies supplies NASA and the aerospace industry with this unique flexible and high heat resistant elastomer. NASCAR and ALMS teams recently discovered this orange stuff works extremely well as a barrier to heat (from -112 to 450 degrees C), vibration, noise and is resistant to oils and solvents. Learn more at the company's website.

11. Stewart Warner Time Gauge

Timedrivers and Stewart-Warner bring to your wrist the classic Greenline face series in a timepiece backed by a Citizen movement and stainless case. Banded with silicon, leather or cloth, Timedrivers offers several SW classics including the very early SW ‘wings’ face. Retail pricing is $149.

12. GPS for KM/H from VDO

Packaged in a little black box, VDO has adapted GPS satellite technology to drive your car’s electronic speedometer. Almost the same as your navigation system on a smartphone, the VDO receives satellite positioning and uses it to calculate as many as 200,000 pulses per mile to accurately control the speedometer. If you regularly drive the Melbourne CityLink Tunnel or Sydney Harbour Tunnel, the system maintains the last calculated pulse rate so your speedometer needle drops to the peg. Pricing will be around $190.

13. Electric to Mechanical Converter

Dakota Digital’s black box does just the opposite – it takes the electronic speed signal from a modern transmission and uses it to drive a mechanical speedometer. The black box is weatherproof and mounts under dash or in the engine bay so you can use the car’s original speed-o-gauge.

14. Brilliant Little Boost Controller

Enclosed inside the AutoMeter 52mm gauge housing are three processors that autonomously regulate turbo boost through referencing engine speed and vehicle speed. The gauge, packaged along with wiring harness, bleed valve and 3bar map sensor (Delphi type), sells for $500. It is programmed through the three buttons on the gauge’s face; nothing else is needed.

15. Graphite Reality

Ed Tillrock’s original pencil sketchings of hotrods, classic bikes and Can-Am racing are beautifully shaded with exact detailing. His reprints on museum paper with archival ink are exceptionally good. He’s located in Riverside, California or you can travel by internet to his online story at his website.

16. A Throat Per Cylinder

The Chevy LS3 V8 makes good power. It makes better power with Pro-Comp Electronics multi throttle-body intake system with eight individual throttle bodies and mechanical throttle. So if you want that Weber look on your LS3, the system is priced at $1295.

17. Borla Barrel-Valve Throttle for Ford 5.0-litre V8

A few years ago Borla Exhaust bought TWM Induction, a specialist manufacturer of EFI throttle bodies. Last week, they finished initial development of a high-flow barrel throttle assembly for Ford’s new 5.0-litre V8. “The throttle bodies were developed for drag racing and maximum air flow at wide open throttle, so we don’t yet know how they’ll work on the street at low throttle input,” said Garry Polled, throttle-body designer. The complete assembly with injectors, fuel rails, barrel valves, carbon fiber air horns, and throttle position sensor will be priced above $10,000.

In other SEMA news:

SEMA: Commodore by Jeff Gordon

SEMA: Chevy reveals new Camaro dragster

SEMA: Mopar revives 'Shaker'

SEMA: Hottest Scion tuners challenged

See more photos in a SEMA Gallery at www.motoring.com.au

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SEMA: TOP 15 Plus 2

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