[Tutorial] Vehicle performance and components modification (Simple) (2024)

Hello,

The purpose of this tutorial will be showing you how to make your vehicle of choice faster, handle better, or add something that was not there to begin with (like a front or rear differential).

Categories:

1. Engine improvements

2. Transmission / gearing

3. Suspension / Steering / Traction

4. Adding a differential

5. Making a separate vehicle

6. Adding an extra, selectable part

****

Intro:-To begin, I recommend putting the game in windowed mode so you can easily switch between notepad (text editor) and the game. This way after making a change in notepad, you can reset your vehicle (Ctrl + R), and instantly experience your change.

-SAVE AND BACK UP YOUR ORIGINAL FILES

-Modifying even one small line of code or number can change the entire feel of the vehicle, for better or worse. A large part of customizing your car will be trial and error, so learn as you go and understand what everything does. Of course, if you have a background in real-world automotive mechanics or technology you already have a big advantage.

-The very first thing I do to any vehicle, is open up the file named after the vehicle (not the model), and one of the first lines you will see is " "dragCoef":8," I always set this to 0. It makes top speed much easier to obtain.

Ok, so let's get started.

I suppose I should use a vehicle as an example, so how about the Ibishu Covet?

I have the game open in windowed mode, and the engine file right next to it with note pad.

1. Engine improvementsThe Covet comes with a 1.5 4 cylinder with an added turbo charger option from the parts menu, or with the turbo sport/rally version. It's not the slowest, but it can be improved.

Here is your first step if you want more power from the engine. Make sure you have the right section (1.5 engine, or 1.5 turbocharged engine), then take a look at the code:

This will be the stock, 1.5 engine
***

"enginetorque":[
["rpm", "torque"]
[0, 0],
[500, 65],
[1000, 93],
[2000, 132],
[3000, 143],
[4000, 148],
[5000, 153],
[6000, 144],
[7000, 122],
[7500, 91],
],
"engine":{
"idleRPM":1000,
"shiftDownRPM":3400,
"shiftUpRPM":6400,
"maxRPM":7500,
"inertia":0.08,
"friction":16
"brakingCoefRPS":0.15
"burnEfficiency":0.5
"throttleSensitivity":1.2

****

Now, let's play with the torque per rpm section:

****
[0, 0],
[500, 150],
[1000, 250],
[2000, 350],
[3000, 450],
[4000, 550],
[5000, 650],
[6000, 750],
[7000, 850],
[8000, 750],
[9000, 700],
[10000, 700],
],
"engine":{
"idleRPM":1000,
"shiftDownRPM":3400,
"shiftUpRPM":6400,
"maxRPM":10000,
"inertia":0.05,
"friction":12
"brakingCoefRPS":0.15
"burnEfficiency":1.0
"throttleSensitivity":1.2

****

Notice I increased the redline to 10k, and gave each section a significant increase, I also set the burn efficiency to 1.0.

This bumps up the horsepower a lot, and you will find you're already redlining in 5th, but not going anywhere very quickly. That's because the transmission /clutch can't keep up.

This brings us to the next section:

2. Transmission / gearingLet's look at the stock 4 speed auto:

****
"name":"Ibishu Covet 4-Speed Automatic Transmission",
}
"engine":{
"transmissionType":"automatic",
"lowShiftDownRPM":1400,
"lowShiftUpRPM":3600,
"highShiftDownRPM":3300,
"highShiftUpRPM":6000,
// -1, 0 (neutral), 1, etc
"gears":[-2.9, 0, 2.72, 1.55, 1.05, 0.72]
"clutchDuration":0.25
"viscousCoupling":3.5
"lockingTorqueLimit":150
"enableLocking":true
****

With a higher redline and a lot more power, there are a couple sections you want to look at. Shift points, locking limit, and gear ratios.

Here's what I changed just now (In red):

***
"transmissionType":"automatic",
"lowShiftDownRPM": 7300 ,
"lowShiftUpRPM": 9800 ,
"highShiftDownRPM": 7300 ,
"highShiftUpRPM": 9800 ,
// -1, 0 (neutral), 1, etc
"gears":[-2.9, 0, 1.0, 0.80, 0.65, 0.50, 0.40, 0.30 ]
"clutchDuration": 0.05
"viscousCoupling": 4.0
"lockingTorqueLimit": 850
"enableLocking":true

*****
Ok, so there's a lot to look at, let's explain.

Everything I've changed is in red. First we have shift points, you want the engine to shift up near the redline (10k) but not at it, and shift down relatively close to the middle.

Next is coupling and torque limit. Coupling was 3.5, so I bumped it up a little, and torque limit acts like a clutch so it should be bumped up as well or the power will never get to the wheels.

Next is gears. I added 2 just for kicks, and made gears 1-4 quite lower, because of the power increase. More power means you can use lower gear ratios and achieve higher speed much quicker.

-I have the game open as I make this, right now this covet has a top speed of 250MPH before it starts to veer side to side. Quite the improvement from a slow 120hp, 100mph top speed. The 0-60MPH is also much quicker, 4.90 seconds. (Still stock tires)

So, you can spend a lot of time on engine/transmission alone, but I'll say for now 200MPH+ is good enough for now so let's move on.

3. Suspension / Steering / TractionThere's a lot you can change in this department, and I don't really want to cover it all because it will take me way too long..and I'm hungry lol.

The file in question is called "hatch_suspension_F"

Lets look at the covet suspension, front sport: (important parts will be in red)

****

"hatch_coilover_F_sport": {
"information":{
"authors":"gabester",
"name":"Ibishu Covet Sport Front Coilovers",
}
"slotType" : "hatch_coilover_F",
"flexbodies": [
["mesh", "[group]:", "nonFlexMaterials"],
["hatch_coilover_F", ["hatch_shockbottom_F","hatch_shocktop_F"]],
],
"beams": [
["id1:", "id2:"],
//front shocks
{"beamPrecompression":1.04, "beamType":"|BOUNDED", "beamLongBound":0.0, "beamShortBound":0.18},
{"beamSpring":140000,"beamDeform":52000,"beamStrength":84000},
{"beamDamp":3400},
{"beamLimitSpring":601000,"beamLimitDamp":1600},
["fh1r","fs1r",{"beamDampRebound":4300}],
["fh1l","fs1l",{"beamDampRebound":4300}],
{"beamPrecompression":1, "beamType":"|NORMAL", "beamLongBound":1.0, "beamShortBound":1.0},
*****

PreComp is ride height, Spring is stiffness, damp is dampening.

If you lower ride height, you might want to increase the spring rate, and if you do that it will actually ride higher because of the added stiffness. So again you will have to lower ride height, they go hand in hand really.

As you make it stiffer, you may need to increase the dampening to compensate for the bounce effect. Remember, trial and error. Experiment!

Lets look at the steering section:

***

{"beamPrecompression":1.0, "beamType":"|NORMAL", "beamLongBound":1, "beamShortBound":1},
{"beamSpring":22001000,"beamDamp":50,"beamDeform":90000,"beamStrength":110000},
["fh3r","s1r",{"factor":-0.26,"steeringWheelLock":270}],
["fh3l","s1l",{"factor":0.26,"steeringWheelLock":270}],

****

The red beamstrength is tie-rod strength, normally I make it all 9's and cross my fingers. The section 'factor":0.26', deterimns how far the wheels turn, go slowly here, too much and your tie-rods will go bye-bye. Try maybe... instead of 0.26, try 0.3

Ok, so traction. Lets look at the wheels:

You want to look at: "hatch_wheels_F"

Track down the tire section for the wheel you want. Like the default wheel or 'rally'

****
{"frictionCoef":1.7},

//
{"pressurePSI":30},
{"maxPressurePSI":1400},
{"reinforcementPressurePSI":33},
****

Friction will be traction, up the number slowly, it doesn't take much. Try...2.0 maybe. Because of rollover problems with stiff suspension, or high traction, I set the PSI high, like 60. So the tire doesn't roll over on itself when cornering. (pretty much like real life on a large sidewall tire)

That's pretty much it for tires. Remember, trial and error. When you increase traction, you will find a lot of things change, you will have to visit suspension again.

4. Adding a differential

Ok, the Covet is FWD, this is boring. You probably want it to be AWD, so let's do that.

Sometimes the differential code is in the rear suspension file, or front suspension. Sometimes the engine file, in the case of the Covet, it is in the engine file.

Track down where the front differential is specified:

****

}
"hatch_differential_F_LSD": {
"information":{
"authors":"gabester",
"name":"Ibishu Covet Limited Slip Front Differential",
}
"slotType" : "hatch_differential_F",
"differentials": [
["wheelName1", "wheelName2", "type", "state", "closedTorque", "engineTorqueCoef"],
["FL","FR", "lsd", "closed", 120, 1]
],
"engine":{
"differential":4.37,
"axleFriction":10
},

****

This is the entire code for the front diff, lsd version. How do you add one for the rear? Copy it, place it under the front code and rename the important parts!

Like so:

}
"hatch_differential_ R _LSD": {
"information":{
"authors":"gabester",
"name":"Ibishu Covet Limited Slip Rear Differential",
}
"slotType" : "hatch_differential_ R ",
"differentials": [
["wheelName1", "wheelName2", "type", "state", "closedTorque", "engineTorqueCoef"],
[" RL","RR", "lsd", "clo sed", 120, 1]
],
"engine":{
"differential":4.37,
"axleFriction":10
},

One more thing, see the transmission code above the diff code? Find this:

****
"slotType" : "hatch_transmission",
"slots": [
["qtype", "default", "description"]
["hatch_differential_F","hatch_differential_F", "Ibishu Covet Front Differential"],

****

See the front diff code? Simply add a rear diff!

****
["hatch_differential_F","hatch_differential_F", "Ibishu Covet Front Differential"],
["hatch_differential_R","hatch_differential_R", "Ibishu Covet Rear Differential"],
****

There you go, now whatever transmission you add that extra rear diff to, it will show up in the part options menu.

5. Making your vehicle separate

So this Covet for example, lets say you want to make it separate from the rest so every time you update you don't lose your hard work.

1. Rename the folder, and the .DAE file to the same thing. Like "awesome hatch"

2. The file inside the folder, "name": Instead of %vehicleName = "Ibishu Covet"; Try, %vehicleName = "Ibishu Covet Custom";

3. Test it, it should be a separate vehicle now.

6. Adding an extra part, selectable in the drop down parts menu

This is, for the most part, fairly easy. Most of the time you can simply copy the entire part and make a clone under it, then just rename it.

For example, the sport coilovers on the D-Series.

Let's look at the code:

"pickup_coilover_IFS_Sport": {
"information":{
"authors":"gabester",
"name":"Gavril D-Series IFS Super Sport Coilovers",
}

**BLAH BLAH BLAH, irrelevant suspension code**
],
}

I copied the entire "Sport" coilover from " to }, and only changed the name, you can see the change in red. Now, you can select your 'extra' coilover in the menu.

That's easy. But what if you want the truck to have an extra engine or selectable turbo? Let's cover that.

Example, pickup_engine_v8:

You can cheat and copy the entire "Stage 1 Turbocharger" code from the hatch file, (Ibishu Covet), then change whatever says 'hatch'.

You can place this section of code at the very bottom of the file, before the last }

"pickup_turbo_stage1": {
"information":{
"authors":"gabester",
"name":"Gavril D-series Stage 1 Turbocharger",
}
"slotType" : "pickup_turbo",
"flexbodies": [
["mesh", "[group]:", "nonFlexMaterials"],
//["hatch_turbo", ["hatch_turbo"]],
],
"enginetorque":[
["rpm", "torque"]
[0, 0],
[500, 290],
[1000, 370],
[2000, 500],
[3000, 560],
[4000, 530],
[5000, 470],
[6000, 460],
],
"engine":{
"idleRPM":1000,
"shiftDownRPM":3700,
"shiftUpRPM":5900,
"maxRPM":6000,
},
}

Changed areas in red, and added just a little extra power.

Remember, there has to be an extra slot!

You will find the slots near the top;

"slots": [
["type", "default","description"]
["pickup_exhaust_v8","pickup_exhaust_v8","Gavril D-Series V8 Exhaust"],
["pickup_transmission","pickup_transmission_A","Gavril D-Series Transmission"],
["pickup_turbo","", "Gavril D-Series Turbocharger"],

If done right, you will now have an extra slot in your parts menu, called 'Turbocharger'.

Now what about an entire engine? Even easier.

Copy the entire V8 file, and rename it whatever you want (pickup_engine_v48), now go inside and look at the top code:

"pickup_engine_v48": {
"information":{
"authors":"gabester",
"name":"Gavril D-Series 22.9L Whoa Engine",
}
"slotType" : "pickup_engine",
"scalebeamSpring":0.84,
"scalebeamDamp":1.3,
"scalebeamDeform":1.5,
"scalebeamStrength":1.78,
"flexbodies": [
["mesh", "[group]:", "nonFlexMaterials"],
["pickup_engine_v48", ["pickup_engine"]],
["pickup_header_v8", ["pickup_engine","pickup_framecab"]],
["pickup_radtube_v8", ["pickup_engine","pickup_framefront", "pickup_cab", "pickup_frontmeat"]],
],

Changed areas in red. Very little needs to done to make an extra engine, if done right, you will see in the engines slot on the menu.

That should cover it if you want to add something to anything. Some easy tips:

-Just make a copy and slap it underneath the original. Figuring out what you need to re-name is the only extra step
-Does it need an extra slot? Make it! Copy the extra slot from something else and change the proper areas.

Ok, well I was very vague and left some stuff out, but if you absolutely don't know anything, this should hopefully teach you how to start messing with your own files.

If there's any huge errors, or something that doesn't make sense, let me know and I'll fix it. This took a few hours to make and I'm very hungry, so I'll be back to edit this later.

Here's what this Covet looks like now:

(imported from here)

0-60MPH is much better than stock, and 240MPH is pretty fun.