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| Surround | To enclose on all sides. |
| Sunroof | A movable panel in the roof of a car, which may normally be partially E opened from within the car |
| Supercharger | An induction system compressor component, mechanically driven from the engine, which provides forced flow of the fuel/air mixture into the engine by the generation of positive pressure. |
| Suspension Bushing | A hollow cylindrical mounting component which acts as a bearing, allowing constrained motion, between a suspension component and attachment point. |
| Suspension Control Arm | A beam or frame intended to limit the normal motion of the affected suspension part to predetermined paths. |
| Swaged Pitting | A tubing fitting which utilizes some form of extrusion of the tubing to form a seal against the leakage of pressurized fluid from within the tubing. |
| Sway Bar | See Anti Roll Bar |
| Synchronizer | A transmission component which aids in matching speeds of two gears as they are engaged. |
| System | An assembly of components with an identifiable primary function. |
| T Type Top | A body design in which the roof contains, above the front seats, two (2) removable panels separated by a fixed section which joins to the balance of the roof. |
| Taillight | The running (parking) light assembly at the rear of a car, which may include lights with stop and/or turn signaling functions. |
| Tap (Verb) | To cut threads in a hole to retain a stud or bolt with threads of matching pitch and diameter. |
| Tappet | (Cam follower, valve lifter) An engine component which, in contact with the camshaft, follows its rotating profile, resulting in a programmed reciprocating motion suitable for actuating valves. |
| Targa-Type Top | An automotive roof design in which the area over the front seats is removable. |
| T D C | Top dead center, referring to the rotational position of the crankshaft when the number one piston is farthest from the crankshaft. |
| Thermostat | An engine cooling system regulator device which is intended to control the temperature of the coolant by modulating the flow through an aperture. |
| Throttle Butterfly | An induction system component which may effectively vary the area of the induction port when turned (in response to driver input) from parallel to the flow in the port ("full throttle"), to almost perpendicular to the flow ("closed throttle"). |
| Bearing | A bearing which, in response to driver actuation, accomplishes the application of the force needed to release the friction clutch through the actuation of the pressure plate. |
| Tie Rod | The link connecting a portion of the steering system which is fixed to the chassis to a sprung wheel |
| Time (Verb) | To adjust the phase relationship of ignition and crankshaft, or of camshaft(s) and crankshaft. |
| Timing Belt | A toothed belt used, with appropriate pulleys, to convey drive force in a synchronous manner from the crankshaft to one or more camshafts. |
| Timing Gear | The engine gear or sprocket attached to a camshaft and driven by the crankshaft via gear(s) or chain. |
| Tire Tread | The portion of a tire containing the material intended to be in road contact while a car is in straight-ahead motion. |
| Toe (-In, -Out) | The measure of the position of the wheels on either axle of a car a with respect to each other, with reference to the fore/aft direction. |
| Tonneau Cover | A cover for the passenger portion of an open car. |
| Top (Removable) | A removable covering for an open car, normally supplied for protection against the elements. |
| Torque Biasing Differential | A form of limited slip differential. |
| Torque Converter | An engine-driven power transmission device which couples driving and driven shafts with a variable speed reduction. |
| Torque Suppressor | See Engine Steady Bar |
| Torsion Bar | A bar or beam intended to act as a springing medium, in which the springing" is derived from resistance to twisting along the main axis of the bar |
| Track | The distance between the center of the rims of two wheels at one end of a car, with any angular adjustments at normal settings and steered wheels j in the straight ahead position. |
| Traction Bar | A link to an axle housing or hub carrier which resists torque reaction from the wheel by acting in compression or tension. |
| Trailing Arm | A wheel control linkage locating the wheel in the fore/aft direction, which is attached to the car structure at the forward end of the arm, and to the wheel carrier at the rear of the arm. |
| Transaxle | A component containing the mechanisms necessary to achieve the combined functions of a transmission and a differential. |
| Transistor Ignition | A system of ignition in which electronic components are utilized. |
| Translucent | Permitting the passage of a reasonable amount of visible light. In the case of fluid containers, permitting the visual assessment of fluid levels by observing these through the container |
| Transmission (Gearbox) | An assembly of driver-selectable gears in an independent housing, located between the engine and driven wheels, whose function is to alter the rotational velocity reaching the wheels. |
| Transparent | Offering very little resistance to the passage of visible light, suitable for use in the line of sight. |
| Transverse Engine | An engine located in a car such that the crankshaft centerline is nominally pemendicular to the normal direction of car motion. |
| Trim | Coverings or attachments whose function is solely cosmetic. |
| Trued Tread | The tread of a tire which has been cut after mounting on a wheel so as to ensure that the surface of the tread is equidistant from the center of the wheel at all angles of rotation. |
| Trumpet | See Velocity Stack. |
| Trunk Area | The spare tire and/or luggage region inside the body of a car |
| Tub | The central contiguous assembly of stressed panels which form the basic structure of a frameless car |
| Tube Frame Car | A car intended solely for racing, whose main structure or frame is fabricated from an assembly of tubes welded into the desired configuration. |
| Tuftriding | A commercial surface hardening process for ferrous metals, |
| Turbo Boost Control | An adjustment which causes a change in the degree of turbo boost available. |
| Turbocharger | An induction system compressor component, driven by exhaust d gases from the engine, which provides forced flow of the fuel/air mixture U into the engine by means of positive pressure. |
| Undertray (Belly Pan) |
An attachment to the underside of a car intended to smooth airflow and/or to offer driver protection in this region of the car. |
| Unibody | A type of construction in which the main car structure is fabricated from an assembly of panels and reinforcements, permanently fastened together, generally by welding, into a single unit. |
| Universal Joint | A mechanical drive train component which permits a change in direction of the axis of rotation conveying the force. |
| Unswept Volume | The enclosed volume existing in a cylinder/cylinder head with the piston at its closest approach to the cylinder head. |
| Vacuum Advance Mechanism | An ignition distributor mechanism which, under the influence of manifold vacuum, changes the ignition timing in a prescribed fashion. |
| Valve | A reciprocating engine component which may be opened or sealed in phase with crankshaft rotation, so as to control the induction of fuel/air mixtures or the exhaust of products of the combustion process. |
| Valve Cover | A cylinder head attachment whose function is to contain lubricants and to protect the valve actuation mechanism from outside contaminants. |
| Valve Guide | A sleeve bearing whose function is to provide axial location of a valve, while allowing normal reciprocating motions. |
| Valve Guide | A sleeve bearing whose function is to provide axial location of a valve, while allowing normal reciprocating motions. |
| Valve Keeper | The component, generally two-piece, which secures the valve spring retainer to the valve stem in a cylinder head. |
| Valve Relief | A cutout in a piston crown to allow close approach of a valve. |
| Valve Seat | The area in a cylinder head in which the head of a valve under spring pressure forms a gas seal. |
| Valve Size | The diameter of the head of a valve. |
| Valve Spring Retainer (Collar) | A valve train component which serves the dual purpose of containing the outer end of the valve spring(s), and, by means of valve keepers, connecting the valve stem to the spring. |
| Valve Spring Shim | A valve train component whose purpose is to allow the adlustment of the seated valve spring pressure by effectively changing its seated length. |
| Valve Stem (Engine) | The shaft portion of a reciprocating engine poppet valve. |
| Valve Stem (Wheel) | The attachment to a road wheel through which pressurizing air is admitted/released. |
| Vapor Lock | A condition in the fuel delivery system caused by the existence of vapors, rather than liquid fuel, in the fuel pump, resulting in abnormal fuel delivery. |
| Variable Ratio Drive | A power transmission device in which at fixed input shaft rotational velocity the rotational velocity of the driven shaft is continuously variable over a prescribed range of ratios. |
| Velocity Stack (Air Horn/Trumpet) |
An induction system attachment, generally in the form of a cylindrical flare, used to alter the dynamic coupling between carburetor and the mass of incoming air |
| Vent | An aperture which allows pressure equalization between a semi-sealed volume and the outside of this volume by providing a flow path for gases. |
| Ventilation | Cooling a component by an intentional flow of air, or modifying a component so as to facilitate this process. |
| Venturi | A region of constriction in an air duct of a carburetor in which, through the actions of incoming air flow, a reduced pressure is created to induce the inflow of fuel through one or more jets. |
| Vibration Dampener | Generally a rubber-mounted rotating circular disc or pulley whose function is to reduce the amplitude of vibrations in the mechanism or part to which it is attached. |
| Visible | Capable of being seen, perceptible to the eye, apparent, evident. |
| Voltage Regulator | An electronic or electromechanical device intended to regulate the charging actions of an alternator or generator |
| Watts Linkage | A rear axle lateral location system which employs a frame/ body-mounted central pivoting attachment (bell crank) for two (2) lateral links, whose opposite ends are attached to either end of the axle housing or vice versa. |
| Wave Washer | A thin, continuous spring washer |
| Wheel (Road) | Flange and Rim. |
| Wheel (Complete) | Flange, rim and tire. |
| Wheel (Steering) | The cockpit-mounted control device, normally circular, which allows the driverto exert manual force with which to control the car's direction of motion. |
| Wheel Cover | A removable decorative covering for a road wheel. |
| Wheel Cylinder | A hydraulic component of the braking system, which produces mechanical force at the wheel brakes in response to positive hydraulic pressure. |
| Wheel Fan | An integral part of or attachment to a wheel assembly with blade-like elements, intended to improve brake cooling. |
| Wheel Spacer | A plate of unspecified thickness or material which is mounted between a road wheel and hub to increase the distance from the inside of the wheel to the hub, thereby increasing track. |
| Wheel Trim Rings | Decorative removable attachments to road wheels effectively covering the rim area of the wheels. |
| Wheel Well | The volume under a fender. |
| Wheelbase | The distance between the front and rear axle centerlines of a car, with the front wheels in the straight ahead position. |
| Windage Tiny | An internal baffle attachment to an engine oil pan which is intended to help maintain a sufficient supply of lubricant at the location of the oil pickup under cornering, braking or acceleration. |
| Windows: | A. Door or Side - The opening where the window normally is raised or a
lowered in a door Does not include a "vent" window whether fixed or movable. B. Quarter (1/4) - On a 2-door or 4-door vehicle, the window to the rear of the rearmost door. Such windows are not generally raised or lowered, but the~ may be hinged and open to the mar Quarter windows are not "rear windows C. Rear - Rear windows are positioned at right angles to the longitudinal axk of the car |
| Windshield (Windscreen) | An attachment to the bodywork of a car intended tc dived the flow of air from forward motion without obstructing forward vision. |
| Windshield Pillar | A body component which extends nominally upward from the cowl area, forming one supporting attachment for the windshield. |
| Wing | An aerodynamic attachment to the structure of a car specifically intended to generate downforce from the action of air flowing over the upper and lower surfaces, creating a pressure differential. |
| Wiring Harness | Bundles of electrical wires which provide the electrical links in a car |
| Wishbone Type Suspension | A form of suspension in which the lower (and often upper) locating links are in the form of a wishbone or "A-frame", and provide the lateral and at least a portion of the fore/aft wheel location. |
| Working Chamber | The volume in a rotary engine which is defined by the case and the two adjacent rotor tip seals, and which wilt vary in capacity with position in rotation. |
| Worm and Sector | A steering gear type in which the steering forces from the driver are transmitted to the steering linkage via a worm gear and a sector gear in mesh. |
| Wrist Pin | The one-piece physical link between a connecting rod and a piston. |
| Zerk Fitting (Grease gun fitting) | A small check valve attachment to a bearing housing through which pressurized lubricant may be applied to the bearing. |
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