Pimping out a car means adding to, modifying, or customizing a car. Modification or customization is typically used to personalize a car, make it louder, faster, etc. When you buy a car you typically get it stock, and have a few additional options or upgrades you can do to the car, like tinting the windows, adding a CD player, etc. Pimping a car means taking it to a whole different level. Pimping a car usually involves a lot more than just a few upgrades, it usually involves major overhauls, cosmetic make-over, and more. The following is additional information about pimped out cars, and what it means to pimp out various parts of your car.

Pimping out the engine:

Generally when someone decides to pimp out their car they start with the part that matters the most---the engine. This is the most commonly customized part of a car. It is important to note that should you customize an engine of a car under warranty, the warranty is usually voided. Modifications to the engine are designed to ensure better, or at least more specific performance. For example, higher speeds, faster pick-up, etc. Generally people who choose to pimp their cars will do a lot of the work themselves, which means they are typically familiar with the mechanics of a car, and what it takes to enhance performance. If you want to pimp out your car and are not handy with the engine, then it is best to hire a professional to make the changes for you. However, it is possible to learn, and there are plenty of blogs, discussion boards, and forums dedicated to altering your engine to increase torque, horsepower, and more. So, if you want to maximize performance, remove speed stops, add horsepower or torque you can learn, or hire someone else to do it for you.

Many people will add electronic fuel injection to improve the speed of their cars. It will increase performance, but it also means that you know how to install, maintain, modify and tune electronic fuel injection. Your increased performance will not last long if you do not know how to keep them in good condition.

Air intake systems are also very easy to modify, and will affect the engine performance. When people pimp their cars, they often try to streamline the air intake system as well as possible to allow for proper airflow, better furl ignition, and faster cooling for better performance.

Another very common upgrade or modification people do on their own is to the exhaust systems. Adding a larger exhaust means the air exits the car more quickly and efficiently, thus boosting performance. However, you have to make sure that the changes to the exhaust system still meet minimum requirements for emissions, or you won't be able to legally drive your pimped out car.

One popular modification to an engine is to modify an engine intended for a different car, such as for a muscle car, and alter it some to fit a different car, different model, make, etc. This can mean you get a small car body with a different look, and an impala engine, or a mustang engine. However, in most cases, people will simply employ different levels of engine tuning to increase power. People who pimp out their engines for professional reasons, such as professionally racing their cars, may make changes to increase reliability and durability at high level speeds.

A common form of engine pimping involves modification to the camshafts or cylinder head porting. The way the camshaft interacts with the engine can greatly change the way that it performs too, so as a result, people will change valve timing, camshaft timing, or change the angle of the camshaft to change output. If you were to pimp your engine with one of these techniques you would want to make sure your car could still meet common emission testing.

One popular form of pimping is to alter your engine so that nitrous oxide is injected into the engine. Nitrous oxide systems, often referred to as NOS, means that you get more thrust, and speed. Of course the gas nitrous oxide is highly volatile, so should you pimp your car out with this you would want to be careful.

One of the easiest engine pimping strategies to apply at home in your garage is to add a turbocharger or supercharger to your engine. Both superchargers and turbochargers are types of forced induction systems, meaning they compress the air that flows into the engine resulting in more air in the cylinder. The more air in the engine, the more fuel that can be ignited and burned at a time by the spark plugs. In essence, this means that you get terrible fuel economy, but far more power for each action the car takes. So, in other words, more engine power. A normally aspirated engine will function at about 14.7 PSI but with a turbocharger you get closer to 20+ sometimes even more. Of course, the more you spend the more PSI you get. Some very advanced systems can nearly double the amount of PSI, resulting in a large engine boost. If you install a supercharger or turbocharger it is important to know how to tune the turbo so that there is minimal turbo lag and so that all the systems of your engine are working well together. Otherwise you will get a stronger engine, but at the cost of the engine systems.

When it comes to pimping out your car's engine the sky is the limit on the price tag. However, if you know enough about cars, and are careful to find parts for a good deal, you can pimp out your engine for a relatively reasonable rate.

Pimping the exterior and interior of your car:

While pimping out your engine is the most important part of pimping out your car, if you do not pimp out the exterior, you do not have any flashy signs that say you have a high performance vehicle on your hands. Pimping out the exterior of the car is how you make it unique to your personality, and add the flair that makes it so fun.

A lot of times people will start their car pimping with the surface, making only aesthetic change, as they are often far cheaper than pimping out the engine.

Some typical exterior pimping elements include the following:

Chrome trim, rims, or grills: These are intended to make the car look more refined or flashy. Adding fancy rims is a very popular way to pimp out a car. Many people will add rims with spinner so that the wheels look like they are standing still when moving.
New wheels or tires that are larger, have deeper tread, or a funky tread pattern is also a way to add some unique flair when pimping out your car or truck. Again, larger tires means lower fuel economy, but the idea behind pimping out a car is not fuel efficiency as much as it is getting a flashy, high performance, fast vehicle.

Other common improvements to the exterior of the car is through the paint job. A custom paint job with special features, like flames, lightening bolts, etc. is a great way to infuse your personality to your car. You can start with your favorite colors, or add your own designs. A custom paint job can be expensive, but it is also the surest way to make a car unique to you.

An additional popular feature for pimping out your car is adding a spoiler. It is easy to install on your own. Other popular pimping features include: undercarriage lights or neon, hydraulics, custom opening doors, vertical or scissor doors, lift kits and lowering kits, and more.

As for interior pimping, again the sky is the limit in options and pricing. Most people start with the basics like adding a really high end stereo system, alarm system, etc. They then usually will change the seat covers, or even replace the existing seats with a race car seat, or different model of seat, such as a special bucket seat. Dash covers, interior lights, mirror hangs, and other features just add to the level of pimped out-ness of the car. For example, you can add neon lighting around the doors, TV monitors in the headrest, a sound system that vibrates the seats, massaging chairs, cup warmers, cup coolers, and a hundred other things. There really are no bounds to what you can do when pimping out your car, especially if you have a large budget to do so.

Consider items like navigation, dvd players, back-up cameras, phones, iPod ports, automated cruise control, mini fridges, etc. You can add anything that makes it a more comfortable and convenient ride.

Pimping out your car is a way to make a unique statement about you, who you are, and what you like, so whether you love the features of the classic car, or of the super-race cars, what you do to pimp out your car should reflect you.