Whether or not they'll admit it, everyone loves to customize their stuff to their specific taste preference. Youngsters deck their walls with posters of their favorite actors, sportsmen, and musicians. Similarly, if you ask any web designer, they will tell you of the most absurd designs their clients want them to create for their websites. In short, we humans have the urge to stand out from the rest and we find some kind of joy and solace in separating ourselves through these small endeavors. As shows by the wide range of aftermarket customizations on the internet, car enthusiasts are no different.

Possibly, the biggest and most involved jobs that mechanics undertake on behalf of their clients are modification projects. Some owners like to show off their low ride, some delude themselves with the most questionable body kits imaginable. Then there are those who are not concerned with the visual aspects of their cars but rather how they actually run and perform. This breed of customers will pump an insane amount of cash to extract that last percent of power from their vehicle.

Basically, there is something for everyone to choose when it comes to decking-out cars. However, there is the underlying caveat of increased police attention. Unfortunately for many enthusiasts, the cops take a wholly opposing view on car modifications and it is usually in the customer’s best interests to keep the cop’s best interests at heart. However, keeping within the threshold prescribed by law, and perhaps with some clever camouflaging, it is still possible to achieve your desires at respectable levels.

20 Stripping your interior

Looking at the headline, instant alarm bells must be ringing in your head. Surely, this is a red alert. Fear not, as again, there is no law that states that in no way can you, well, not strip down your car.

Okay, great, but then a question arises: why do it at all?

Well, the simple answer to it would be that it means a world of difference to those who are willing to exceed the extremes in the pursuit of performance. Stripping your interior means taking out excess weight. A lighter car, in turn, can achieve better acceleration, handling, and braking capabilities. Not a bad compromise for ripping out the potential comfort of your ride completely.

19 A cold-air intake

A combustion engine is dependent upon a consistent flow of air to ensure that requisite combustion can be carried out efficiently and effectively. A very useful way of ensuring and improving that is by installing a cold-air intake system. A cold-air intake system allows for a much greater volume of cold air to be inhaled into the combustion chambers for the engine. With a healthy dose of fresh air available, the fuel burns in an improved manner, thereby creating more power to be harnessed by the car. A cold air intake also helps to increase the efficiency of the engine, allowing it to perform at upper levels for longer.

18 Installing a short shifter

A short shifter has the express purpose of boosting the performance of a car. One of the limiting factors of car performance is how quickly the transmission shifts into the next gear. It is possible that a car with a lower peak power output can outrace a car of similar weight and aerodynamics with more power under the hood.

Shifting times can make all the difference.

A key remedy is to install a short shifter. A short shifter, as implied, lowers the amount of time the shifter takes to travel from one gear to the next. It also helps during traffic, when there is a need for a lot of gear shifts in a small time, to minimize the amount of movement you have to make in the case of a manual transmission car.

17 High-Flow exhaust

The exhaust of the car is a system that basically deals with the exhaling of the engine. The exhaust is responsible to eliminate the waste energy from the combustion process. For cars with low fuel economy or very high peak power output, the amount of waste energy is enormous, which means that an adequate exhaust system must be in place. Investing in a high-flow exhaust system allows the engine to breathe much more freely and thereby dissipate waste energy much more efficiently. This results in a little boost in peak performance and can also have a positive impact on the fuel economy of the car. Another neat little side advantage is also better sound.

16 Removing Emissions equipment

In years gone past, it wasn't an uncommon sight to see emissions equipment taken out from a smog-choked car, which coupled with a bit of fine tuning of the carburetor can help a car in obtaining a power output increase from 30 to 40 horsepower or so. Modern fuel injection technology and a number of sensors allow for engines to not only harness extraordinary amounts of power but also ensure that the emissions standards are withheld. The emission standards vary from country to country, though, and it is still highly recommended that you do not tamper with the emissions equipment of your car as it is a crucial part of the car.

15 Tires

Let's start with performance aspects of car modifications. It is common knowledge that with monstrous power, you need the handling capability to not only put down that power efficiently but to enable the car to corner sweetly, as well. Unless it's purely for drag, you need the car to complement the power with adequate steering capabilities. The very first thing that should be done is adding a new set of proper tires to your car. A very important side-effect of this is that it improves the fuel economy of the car, as well. And best of all, there is nothing in the law that states you cannot bolt on a fresh set of tires on, though racing tires may attract a bit of police skepticism.

14 Brake pads and stainless-steel brake lines

Complementing new tires, a customer should very much look into investing in a new set of brake pads and brake lines. It is vitally important to ensure that your brakes are set up in a way that resonates with the way you drive your car. Whether you are more of a serene driver, taking it easy on the throttle and brakes, or have one of those reckless driving styles which not only eats the tires up but hamper the car's fuel economy, as well, brakes are still critical aspects of your car. Try to complement your style with the proper brake pads. While you are looking into the pads, give some thought to some durable stainless-steel brake lines, as well.

13 Replacing suspension bushings

Cars have a number of bushings attached to the suspension. These bushings are small pieces of rubber whose purpose is to minimize stress on the suspension by absorbing vibrations and harshness from the road. As with all mechanical parts, they will start to wear out pretty quickly over a period of time, owing to the softness which makes them important. When they deteriorate, they start to shrink, warp, and crack, and this will start to hamper your drive, although they are one of the common things that are missed out by the drivers. Make a habit of replacing these bushings in a timely manner.

12 Anti-roll or sway bar

A very useful modification to improve the suspension of a car is to add a proper adjustable anti-roll bar to it. An anti-roll bar basically acts as a connection between both the sides of your suspension.

What this does is it inhibits the leaning of the body when the car is cornering, which ensures that proper distribution of weight is carried to all the tires.

It is best to have an adjustable version of an anti-roll bar as this will allow you to fine-tune the suspension settings which will better enable you to configure the car more towards your driving style.

11 Good shock absorbers and springs

A further improvement that can be carried out in the suspension department is by investing in decent shock absorbers and stiffer springs. The shock absorbers, as the name suggests, will better able to absorb load from driving over bumpy and uneven roads, ensuring the tires are kept planted to the pavement. Shock absorbers also have the added benefit of supplementing the springs to keep under control the natural up-and-down motion of the car, therefore enabling good stability. Combining good shock absorbers with lower and stiffer springs will provide a stark improvement in the ride experience of your car.

10 Engine Control Unit

An engine control unit or ECU is an electronic component which is programmed to configure the fuel mixture in the combustion engine, therefore maximizing not only performance but fuel efficiency as well. However, it so happens that the ECU installed in the car from the factory has been set at settings well below par. This is usually done as a safety precaution but it also means that there is a bucketload of performance available to be unlocked. Investing in a proper reprogramming of the ECU can ensure that you not only unleash the latent potential of your car's engine but in a few cases, it can even improve the fuel economy, as well.

9 Wings and Spoilers

The terms wings and spoilers are pretty interchangeable. Both are used to add more downforce to a car, while also attempting to lower drag by improving overall airflow. Spoilers are more inclined to for use in street cars because high downforce levels are only noticeable when traveling at really high speeds, something only achievable by race cars on race tracks. So, spoilers have a nifty little use for streetcars performance-wise and also add that glamorous touch to your vehicle, depending, of course, on what constitutes beauty in one's eye. Some drivers think spoilers look great, while other seem to think they're a bit flashy.

8 Wheels

Ask a layman and he will tell you that wheels or rims have the purpose of only enhancing the aesthetics of a car. However, there is also an underlying performance aspect to wheels, as well, especially big wheels.

The size of its wheels affects how a car handles and corners.

Big wheels are typically coupled with low-profile tires. Low-profile tires roll less when the car is turning, which results in a stiffer ride, thereby making cornering easier. However, make sure that you do not go overboard because too high a size and your car will begin to see decreases in fuel economy, acceleration, and comfort. And that's not to mention that bigger wheels equate to a bigger strain on your budget.

7 Head and Tail Lights

This is purely a visual modification. Modified lamps had a huge impact on tuner culture and after the introduction of internet sales to the market, pretty much every guy and his Honda Civic sported alternate lights.

The clear and chrome structure of the tail lights gave cars a very startling look.

Similarly, headlights featured a variety of carbon fiber application or black paint to give the ride that menacing look. However, if you opt for an alternate look for your lights other than that which ships from factory, be sure they have a competent build quality, otherwise they can lead to a police officer taking note that the lights look funny.

6 Window Tint

Now, this modification is a very subjective and variable one. The laws on how much or to what extent you can tint your car's windows change from region to region. There is even variation in what windows you are and are not allowed to tint. If you're in any nervous about attracting police attention, it is best to avoid tints altogether. However, if you still have an itch to do so, the best thing is to have an in-depth discussion with a reputable tinting shop and work out to what extent you want your car adorned in the shaded feature. Some shops, in fact, completely refuse to install tint which has been deemed illegal by local law.

5 Radar Detectors

Another aspect which fits the mold for subjective "adherence" to the law is radar detectors. Typically, radar detectors are prohibited for use in commercial vehicles only. Most of the trucks and cabs running detectors are actually illegal if they are using a radar detector hidden cleverly. Some states allow you to install a radar detector on your car but restrict you from mounting it to your windshield as it will hinder your view of the road. The best way, as always, is to get proper information from a reliable and competent source about the laws and regulations governing the use of radar detectors in your state.

4 Lifted Rides

A very common and proper car modification is to lower or lift the ride height of your car from its standard, stock position. Lifting the ride height gives your car more ground clearance and this helps stabilize the car over uneven and bumpy surfaces, thus proving beneficial for off-road excursions.

This, of course, comes at the cost of decreased handling capabilities of the car at high speeds.

There are laws that govern to what extent you can raise the ride height of your vehicle, though, and officers can come down hard on you if your vehicle resembles the hybrid of a sedan and a monster truck. Subtle changes will usually go unnoticed so as long as you are within the limits, though, and the patrol officer cannot do much more than glare.

3 Muffler Tips

A previous entry on this list discussed how installing better and bigger exhaust can improve the peak power output and fuel economy of your car. In many cases, the aim of a tuner is inclined towards the secondary aspect of the exhaust, the sound. It may be music to the ears of the driver but it can be considered to be noise pollution by the cops. Up the volume too high and the officer can saddle you with a pretty hefty ticket. Most states have a pretty vague interpretation of what constitutes too much noise, however. For example, the state law of Kansas deems it above a suitable threshold if the muffle is producing upwards of 90 decibels from a distance of 16 meters.

2 Sound Systems

Continuing on with the audible aspects of tuning, it is a fun experience to install ear-splittingly loudspeakers and heart-throbbing woofers. However, the fun stops when you consider that this, unfortunately, triggers cops to head in your direction.

Most states have laws on what they deem to be reasonable levels of noise, usually around 40 decibels.

If you are able to stay within the limit, there is no reason why you cannot have a mega-huge sound system installed under your seat and still fly under the radar of the cops. Sound systems are one of the least dangerous tuning mods so they are definitely one that aspiring tuners should invest in.

1 Underbody neon

Without a doubt, the most dangerous and risky modification on this list is an underbody neon glow that was especially popular in the early 2000s when the import tuner culture was at its peak. The reason for its riskiness is that it is the easiest to spot in terms of being noticed by the police thanks to the visual cues. Again, laws differ on their usage from state to state, however, one law that is singular is that you cannot have a combination of red and blue revolving neon as that gives the impression of impersonating a law enforcement vehicle. Keeping it in vaguely acceptable levels may be considered, but it is strongly recommended that you try and avoid neon, as the potential risk of getting a ticket is definitely still there.

Sources: zeroto60times.com, theengineblock.com, and hotrod.com.