Archive for August, 2008

GM and Ford Playing A Little TOO Nicely

General Motors and Ford Motor Company may be on the road to collaboration on new engine and powertrain development, according to a report by the Detroit News. With gas prices reaching unprecedented heights and pick-up and SUV sales hitting new lows, the collaboration could be the one bright spot in both companies’ dismal financial outlook.

Neither company confirmed or denied the report, but insiders from both are providing information on the joint meetings and possible discussion points.

If the rumors play out, it won’t be the first time the two ailing giants have successfully shared technology. GM and Ford worked together two years ago on a fuel-saving, six-speed transmission that is now an integral part of both companies’ powertrain line up. This joint venture saved each company nearly half a billion dollars in R&D. In that light, the advantages of working together to develop an engine are obvious. New engine development costs can run as high as $1 billion – splitting the check makes a lot of sense.

When you consider that GM has already cut back on product development and R&D in order to cut costs, and it’s a near certainty that GM is going to work with someone to design and develop a new engine. But arch-nemesis Ford? Hard to imagine.

Popularity: 5%

Tundra Tops 2008 J.D. Power Long Term Dependability Results

J.D. Power and Associates recently published their 2008 long term vehicle dependability study, and the Toyota Tundra was rated as the most dependable truck in it’s segment.

Long-term dependability is based on the “reported problems” per vehicle over the course of 3 years. So, the 2008 study is based on 2005 models, the 2009 study will be based on 2006 models, etc. It’s information about a vehicle that was made three years ago. While it’s nice to talk (cough-brag) about the award, we’re not sure that this study by itself is particularly meaningful.

Popularity: 2%

Bed Bounce Treatment: The Willybar

As we’ve mentioned before, some Tundra owners have trouble with “bed bounce.” While it’s a problem that effects only a small percentage of Tundra owners, it’s a big deal for the people it does effect. To be clear, bed bounce is NOT bed flex that you can see out your rear-view mirror as you’re driving down the road. Bed flex is normal – every truck bed “floats” separate of the cab by design. True bed bounce is not just seen but actually felt. SO, if you aren’t feeling it, then you don’t have a problem.

This video from Willybar demonstrates their product pretty nicely, but it also demonstrates real bed bounce quite well.

We haven’t reviewed the product, but this video makes a compelling case for checking it out. Here’s a link to Willybar’s website.

Popularity: 8%

K&N 63 Series Air Intake Kit Review

When it comes to air intake kits, K&N is like Coca Cola. Everybody who’s ever talked about performance knows about K&N. They invented the re-usable cotton gauze air filters that have been the basis of every performance air filter and air intake since they went into business 35 years ago. K&N literally founded the market for performance air intakes and filters, and they deserve a lot of credit for bringing proper engine breathing to the forefront of the consumer’s mind.

We were invited to test both K&N’s performance air filter and their 63 series air intake, and if you follow this site closely you’ll know that the K&N performance air filter passed our tests with flying colors and received our whole-hearted endorsement. Yet it’s hard for us to make the same recommendation about K&N’s 63 series air intake.

The K&N 63 series intake installed in a 2007 Toyota Tundra with the 5.7L.

Popularity: 8%

TundraHeadquarters Request For Links

Are you a fan of our website?

Do you have a website of your own? What about a myspace or facebook page? Do you regularly post on popular automotive forums? Do you post links to Digg, Propeller, Delicious, etc.?

If the answer to any or all of these questions is “yes”, would you consider posting a link to Tundra Headquarters? If you would, we’d appreciate it! You can link to the main page, your favorite post, whatever you want.

Links help us grow and make sure that people find our website when they search on Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. Over the last year and a half, we’ve grown quite a bit. We’ve been able to use the advertising revenue from TundraHQ to reinvest in the site – we’ve increased the number of product reviews we do, hired some writers, etc. We’re also going to add some new features soon (like a marketplace with user generated product reviews, a place to buy and sell trucks, parts, etc., and some other stuff).

In other words, thank you to everyone for helping us grow over the last year and a half.

Thanks for reading – we promise not to beg for links more than once a year!

Popularity: 2%