‘Power & Performance’ Inspired 2018 Gift Guide for Gearheads

Hard to believe, but it’s already that time of the year again. Time to break out the lights and decorations, decide on the menu and invitees for the big dinner, and get ready to enjoy another week of family, food, and football. Yup, it’s winter holidays time again.

To certifiable car nuts, this time of the year brings with it an added demand: automotive gifts for our car-obsessed loved ones, and to figure out what we might want to suggest to them, subtly with hope, that they might be so gracious as to buy for us!

In the spirit of the season, I give you the Power and Performance 2018 holiday gift guide for gearheads. I selected 10 great holiday gifts at various levels of price, so there are options for everyone.

The Edelbrock Pro-Charge Air Filter Cleaning Kit 43600.

Edelbrock Pro-Charge Air Filter Cleaning Kit – $19.99

Got a buddy with a cold air intake with a colored filter? Well, Edelbrock has an affordable and practical gift that they’re bound to appreciate.

The Pro-Charge Air Filter Cleaning Kit (Edelbrock Part # 43600) is recommended for dyed Edelbrock air filters as well as other reusable air cleaners because it features a special clear oil designed safe for all color dyed air filters.

Each kit comes with a 12oz cleaner and 8oz clear oil in pump bottles that ensure the cold air intake is functioning at peak performance while protecting the appearance of the filtering media as well.

For more information, go to www.edelbrock.com.

Zymol Carbon all natural Carnuba Wax.

Zymol Pure Carnuba Waxes – $49.99

I’ve been involved in the detailing game for a long time, and am quite familiar with various methods of protecting a car’s finish. These days, I tend to gravitate towards ceramic coatings for general protection, but when showing one of the vehicles in my collection, there is no question in my mind that a high-quality Carnuba wax is the way to go for that classic, standout, wet-look finish.

In my mind, no line of automotive waxes comes close to the products offered by Zymol. Featuring only natural, organic, fruit-based ingredients, fresh scents and most importantly pure Brazilian Carnuba wax, Zymol’s products require just an easy rub-on and wipe-off application to yield absolutely stunning clarity, shine, and protection for your car’s paint.

From their base Zymol Creame wax at $49.99, to their mid-range, $225 Concours wax, all the way up to their mixed-to-order, high-end products such as Zymol Royale, a favorite wax among car owners who show at the legendary Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance at $9,945 for a lifetime supply, all Zymol products simply blow the competition away.

For a look at the Zymol line of waxes and detailing products, go to www.zymol.com.

The Schumacher FR01333 Automatic Battery Maintainer and Charger.

Schumacher FR01333 Fully Automatic Battery Maintainer – $59.99

Does your loved one have a show car that is primarily a used for Sunday drives? Do they live in an area with inclement winter weather that necessitates storing the vehicle for months at a time? If you said yes to either of those questions then here is a gift I know they will appreciate: the Schumacher FR01333 Fully Automatic Battery Maintainer.

Despite the low price, Schumacher has crammed all of their considerable know-how and cutting-edge technology into the FR01333. It has a microprocessor that monitors and continuously adjusts the amperage rate to maintain the best charge.

Other features that make the FR01333 a true “plug-in and forget” unit include multi-stage charging for added precision, safety, and battery life, in addition to Float-Mode Monitoring that automatically maintains optimum battery charge. The FR01333 has an LED charge status indicator and comes in a rugged molded plastic case that resists gasoline, oil, water, solvents, and acid.

Go to www.batterychargers.com for more info on the FR01333 or the rest of the fine line of Schumacher automotive products.

The Nitrous Outlet 6AN Inline Nitrous System Filter in Silver.

Nitrous Outlet 6AN Inline Nitrous System Filter – $65.00

If you know someone whose prized ride is nitrous-boosted, then Nitrous Outlet has a neat little gift that will be perfect for them, their 6AN Inline Nitrous System Filter.

Mother bottles are known for having large amounts of trash in them, so the only way to ensure that the solenoids and jets don’t become clogged is to filter the nitrous before it reaches the vital components.

This tiny unit prevents trash and debris from making its way into the nitrous system.

Fitting all 6AN Nitrous Feed Lines this filter comes complete with a high quality 7″ 6AN steel braided hose and contains a 40-micron filter for serious filtering capability. The unit is easily disassembled for periodic cleaning.

Head over to www.nitrousoutlet.com for info on this and countless other great nitrous system stocking stuffers.

JBA High-Grade Stainless Steel Mid-Pipes.

JBA Stainless Steel Mid-Pipes – $145.00

So one of your friends has already installed a full cat-back exhaust on their car, yet they’re still not satisfied by the sound or butt-dyno bump it afforded? Headers are expensive and often a severe pain to retrofit, so what else can be done? The most cost-effective and easy solution is a set of mid-pipes from JBA.

JBA mid-pipes are the perfect compliment to a cat-back exhaust system. These pipes open up the flow on exhaust systems for a dramatic increase in performance and improved sound.

Available for many popular applications as a stand-alone upgrade or an addition to existing JBA cat-back exhaust or header system, each set of high-grade stainless steel pipes is optimized for specific vehicles to get a perfect fit every time.

They feature smooth flowing mandrel-bent tubing, heavy duty flanges, factory style hangers and provisions for factory emissions equipment for a simple installation.

Every set of JBA mids comes with O2 sensor provisions and come in either straight-pipe configuration for off-road and racing applications or complete with high-flow catalytic converters for street use. Best of all, JBA mid-pipes start as low as $145.00.

For more information, check out www.jbaheaders.com.

Racing Head Service Dupont Black Wrinkle-Finish Valve Covers.

Racing Head Service Valve Covers – $184.99

Is someone on your holiday shopping list building a late-model race or show car? Racing Head Service valve covers might just be the perfect gift for them.

RHS’s valve covers are perimeter bolt style and include two chrome breathers with laser etched logos, two black rubber grommets and installed baffles. The baffles are welded in place to ensure no oil enters the breathers. The chrome breathers are present on both valve covers which allows for proper crankcase ventilation.

These die-cast covers are finished in a DuPont Black-Wrinkle powder coat with a polished laser etched logo. Additionally, these RHS covers were designed to be tall enough to provide the necessary clearance to accommodate aftermarket valve trains.

Made in the USA, parts begin at a low price of $184.99 and are available for various Ford and GM applications.

Visit www.racingheadservice.com for more information.

The Chevrolet Performance Parts ZL1 Spec Spoiler Kit in Satin Black.

Chevrolet Performance Parts’ ZL1 Spec Spoiler Kit – $449.95

For all those Camaro owners who have focused on power adder mods, you’re going to need to do something to help you get all that torque to the ground. Thankfully, Chevrolet Performance Parts has you covered.

Their ZL1 Spec Spoiler Kit reduces vehicle lift by 61-percent with only a 3-percent increase in drag when installed on the Camaro SS. When paired with the Camaro SS accessory ground effects or front splitter package the gains can be even more significant. The spoiler can also be used to enhance your vehicle’s styling.

The spoiler is available in body colors such as Silver Ice, Bright Yellow, Nightfall Way Metallic, or you can go with a Gloss or Satin Black for contrast on lighter colored cars.

Head over to https://www.chevrolet.com/performance/vehicle-upgrades for more info.

The Bully Dog GTX WiFi enabled Performance Tuner and Monitor.

Bully Dog GTX Performance Tuner & Monitor – $599.00

If you want to give a top-notch tuner to a friend or loved one this holiday season, look no further than the Bully Dog GTX Performance Tuner & Monitor.

Bully Dog’s GTX is the easiest-to-use tuner on the market, loaded with powerful features and advanced hardware. It features a 5-inch capacitive glass touchscreen that rivals the clarity and resolution of today’s smartphones.

With the ability to hold 20 custom tunes for a variety of late-model cars and trucks, the GTX comes preloaded with multiple Bully Dog tuning levels. Customizable gauges and WiFi connectivity add to the unparalleled user experience.

GTX is also the premier data monitoring solution, giving drivers the ability to monitor the industry’s most extensive list of PIDS, or engine parameters, as they drive and play it back later. GTX also can read and clear Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs).

The GTX’s unique “grab n’ go” magnetic mounting system allows the device to be kept front-and-center while driving, and then quickly stowed away when not in use.

For all the information you need on the GTX and Bully Dog’s other fine products, go to www.bullydog.com.

Weld Wheels’ all aluminum Bakersfield GT-S wheels in Gloss Black.

Weld Wheels – Varying Prices

Pretty much everyone loves a hot set of aftermarket wheels. More than anything else, wheels can transform a ho-hum stocker into a personalized expression of one’s automotive taste, improving stance and performance in the process.

There are, of course literally hundreds of aftermarket wheel manufacturers scattered across the globe, but if we at Power & Performance were Santa Claus, there’s one manufacturer that we’d choose for that perfect gift of rims: Weld Wheels.

Street, Pro-Touring, drag and Auto Cross, Weld has it all covered when it comes to high-quality wheels that won’t break the bank.

The two-piece construction of WELD Racing GT-S wheels is a perfect example. They allow for a precise fit and uncompromising style. Aerospace grade spun 6000 series aluminum rim shells coupled with forged alloy centers provide ultimate strength for minimum weight. They’re the perfect wheel for everything from hot rods to modern muscle.

Prices begin at around $600, so if you’ve got someone in your life who hasn’t been naughty, but instead extra-nice this year, give them the gift of Weld.

Check out the entire range of Weld Wheels and automotive products at www.weldwheels.com. 

A ProCharger Supercharger System mounted to a Dodge Challenger SRT 392.

ProCharger Supercharger Systems – Varying Prices

And finally, for that extra-special person on your shopping list – or to treat yourself – we come to some serious holiday hardware: a complete supercharger kit from ProCharger.

ProCharger supercharger kits are widely considered to be the most powerful and reliable supercharger systems available for a variety of vehicles.

For street use or at the track, intercooled ProCharger supercharger systems deliver a substantial increase in horsepower and torque due to the shallow charge air temperatures provided by ProCharger technology. The company’s kits also provide much better engine longevity by protecting your motor from detonation. ProCharger systems are designed with a fundamental understanding of the physics behind supercharging and are engineered to the highest quality standards.

By using CNC machining and nearly indestructible 7075 T-6 aircraft aluminum alloy to produce the strongest impellers in the industry.

Fuel-injected automotive and truck ProCharger Systems come 100% complete, with a high-flow external fuel pump included, as well as all the components needed for an attractive, OEM-quality installation. They are also backed by a warranty.

Systems are available for a wide variety of models and years, and retail prices for ProCharger kits start at around $3000.

Visit www.procharger.com for more information. 

About the author

Rob Finkelman

Rob combined his two great passions of writing and cars; and began authoring columns for several Formula 1 racing websites and Street Muscle Magazine. He is an avid automotive enthusiast with a burgeoning collection of classic and muscle cars.
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