Shop Solutions – September 2019
Industry Tips and Tricks
All Systems Go!
I know the salt this year didn’t live up to the hype, but the hype and anticipation of racing is half the reason we do what we do. Here’s how I prep for a week out on the salt.
Ode to Jessi Combs (1980-2019)
“It may seem a little crazy to walk directly into the line of fire… those who are willing, are those who achieve great things. People say I’m crazy. I say thank you.”
Tradeshow Season
While the rest of the world tends to slow down in the fourth quarter, our industry is starting to rev up. That’s because it’s tradeshow season, and the excitement for next year is always palpable!
OE Parts vs. the Aftermarket
Many of your customers believe that OEM parts are better than aftermarket parts. We wanted to dispel some of the myths once and for all. Without getting into the mud about which brands are better. It is important to note that not all parts are created equal, and this includes both aftermarket and OE replacement parts.
Circling the Potential of Cylinder Sleeves and Liners
What do cylinder sleeves and a certain rodentary rock band from the ‘80s have in common? You guessed it, the shape. But we’re going to leave the rockin’ to the hair guys and the talkin’ to the car guys, so for the sake of this article, we’ll just be covering the first one.
Air-Cooled VW Engines
The iconic VW Beetle, known by enthusiasts and the industry as the Type 1, is probably one of the most influential and underrated performance vehicles of all time. It’s underrated because the car only produced between 36 and 60 hp, depending on which model you had.
Toyota/Lexus 1UZ-FE V8 Engine
Engine building isn’t necessarily rocket science, but having spent three years working for Rocket Lab, the New Zealand space program, as the leading hand of propulsion responsible for engine production certainly can’t hurt. That’s the background of Tom Hughes, which has translated into many high-end race engines being built throughout his career and at his new engine shop, Hughes Race Engineering. Find out what aerospace engineering went into this Toyota/Lexus 1UZ-FE V8 race engine!
Pro Mod 7.1L Cummins
Ben Shadday got bit by the diesel bug bad. His wife eventually told him he had to make a decision between keeping his powerplant job or opening a diesel shop. He chose the diesel shop and opened Done Right Diesel Performance to build diesel power like this Pro Mod 7.1L Cummins!
Air-Cooled Flat Six Twin Plug 3.4L Porsche 911 Engine
Workshop 5001 owner Marlon Goldberg will argue the air-cooled flat six Porsche motor is one of the best engines ever, and it’s a key element to making a 911 the great car that it is. Workshop 5001 recently restored a ’72 911 using mixed and matched parts from different eras of 911s to create a ‘what if’ car. It features an engine from a 1986 911. “For me it’s all about the motor in the car. The chassis is obviously done to the highest level, but it’s the house for this badass motor,” an air-cooled flat six twin plug 3.4L engine. Find out what went into this ‘holy grail’ of Porsches!
