Keith Dorton Honored for Half-Century of Race Engine Innovation
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Automotive Specialists, Inc.’s Concord, NC facility, ACL Distribution recently paid tribute to company founder Keith Dorton and his team.
Vanishing V8s: Downsizing Engines
The V8 isn’t dead yet, but storm clouds are brewing on the horizon. Concerns over global warming, CO2 emissions and dependence on foreign oil led the EPA to mandate new Corporate Average Fuel Economy rules. To achieve 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, automakers may abandon the V8 altogether or restricting it to a handful of limited production applications.
Cleaning Engine Parts
Cleaning is a time consuming, expensive process for most rebuilders. According to Engine Builder’s most recent Machine Shop Market Profile, rebuilders say they spend more than 15 percent of their total production time in cleaning. Safer, less toxic methods continue to gain a foothold in today’s professional shops.
How Not to Lose the Race to the Bottom
You know how it feels when you explain something over and over and the person just doesn’t seem to get it? Some seven years ago I broke into the pages of Engine Builder with an article about dealing with what I called walk-in parts. Off and on again I’ve gotten back on that bandwagon because the topic just keeps getting more and more relevant.
Twenty Teams Now Qualified for Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Finals
With five of 12 events complete in the 2015 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Season, 20 teams have earned their way to the Dual Championship roster. The teams continue to pull out amazing performances at each stop, besting times from last year and increasing the intense level of competition at each Engine Challenge.
New Engines Force New Pistons
As engines get smaller, motorists expect the same performance as a larger V6 or V8 but with the fuel economy of a four cylinder. Turbocharging makes little engines breathe big, but it also increases the load and temperature the pistons have to endure. This, in turn, requires pistons made of alloys that can withstand higher temperatures and combustion pressures. Yesterday’s castings won’t cut it for these kinds of applications.
Ford EcoBoost Challenge Returns in 2015
Ford Motor Company is once again giving fans and potential customers in 17 cities across America a chance to get behind the wheel of its latest products, with its third EcoBoost Challenge consumer drive tour launching next month. EcoBoost Challenge will provide five unique drive experiences in Ford products. This year, participants will have an opportunity to win an EcoBoost-powered 2015 Ford Edge.
Race Tuner’s Biggest Challenges from a Piston-Maker’s Perspective
Gibtec may be a new name in competition piston-making, but its leaders aren’t new to the craft. Nick Plantus, one of the three founding partners of Diamond Racing in 1968 and his colleague, Rob Giebas from a younger generation, served roughly 20 years with the same operation, usually involved in development programs for NHRA Pro Stock programs. But when asked where he sees the biggest challenges in race engine tuning, Giebas responds with one word: Nitrous.
Racing Engine Rule Issues for 2015
As a performance engine builder for customers driving in various racing associations, keeping up with rules changes from the numerous organizations can be a challenge. Josh Tennis, head technician at GPM Race Engines in Eagle Rock, MO, and one of Engine Builder magazine’s new advisory board members, said speaking from his experience, it’s up to the shop to investigate engine-related rule updates.
Burton Center for Arts and Technology Wins Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge
The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) Engine Challenge this year was a dual championship format that pitted the two top teams determined at the SEMA Show against the top two finishers at the PRI Trade Show. The Engine Challenge drew a large crowd as the Burton Center for Arts and Technology from Virginia (Team Nitrous Express) came out as national champions, and a new single-round national record of 16 minutes, 22 seconds.
The Unique Engines of ARCA
ARCA uses older style NASCAR Cup cars. Specifically, they are the ones used just before the advent of NASCAR’s Car Of Tomorrow (COT) in 2007. This means teams running ARCA can do so with a safe, well-built race car without paying top dollar.
The Future of Engine Rebuilding
Changing topics from obsolete engines and parts to how these companies see the future of the industry, the conversation surrounded technology, sustainability, the environment and specialization. “Sustainability is the critical driver behind current trends in the passenger car industry,” Newman says. “Environmental concerns are thus the primary impetus behind the study of sustainable development and
Engine Builder 50th Anniversary
The next time you’re on a TV game show or playing trivia with friends, and the question is, “What is the most significant month in the history of the transportation industry?” let me suggest that you answer, “October 1964.” May I present the evidence for my argument? October 1, 1964: The world’s first high-speed rail
The Boxer Engine: Novel Technology or Dying Fad?
In an era where even the once mighty V configuration seems to be giving way to the next generation of in-line fuel savers, many are wondering what this spells for the boxer engine. Going by many names, such as opposed, boxer, and flat, the engine configuration famous to such cars as the Porsche 911 has had a storied run throughout the decades.
Napa Earthquake Knocks Engine Shop Out of Balance
“Now we are in search of a light industrial commercial spot here in Napa. It’s a major challenge – but we won’t give up.” –Rich Oliver While much of the damage attention from the South Napa Earthquake centered around Napa’s wineries and related business, the racing and performance industry did not escape unscathed. According to
Kaase Introduces Boss Nine Engine Kits for Common Ford 429-460 Big Blocks
For engine builders, and enthusiasts with ambitions in hot rod engine assembly, Jon Kaase has introduced the Boss Nine in a new kit form. Among the kit’s more prominent components, Kaase includes his noted semi-hemi cylinder heads with accompanying pistons, pins and rings as well as pushrods, shaft-mounted rockers and induction system. Everything to complete
Vintage V8s: Exploring 100 Years of Cadillac Engines
For more than a century, the name Cadillac has been synonymous with performance, style and passion. And in those early years of the Cadillac Automobile Company, it was a former loom mechanic – Henry Martyn Leland – who was credited with forging the technologies that separated Cadillac from the other automobile businesses that were springing
Dyno-Might: Utilizing a Dynamometer to ‘Boost’ Engine Builds
Some would say that one of the criteria for being a “real” performance engine builder is having your own engine dyno. A dynamometer is not just a tool for measuring horsepower and torque (though some people think that’s all a dyno is used for). It’s a quality control tool that allows you to make sure
Roush Yates To Release Championship Technology to Engine Builders
The same technology used to build winning engines for Roush Yates Engines will soon be available to independent engine builders around the world. Mooresville, NC – Roush Yates capped off their winning season in dirt racing with two National Series Championships in 2013. Josh Richards brought home the World of Outlaws (WoO) Late Model Series
PRI Show to Hold All-new Race Industry Week Events
Known as “The Annual Epicenter of New Racing Technology,” this year’s PRI Trade Show takes place December 12-14 at the recently renovated Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Showcasing more than 1100 exhibiting companies while drawing 40,000-plus motorsports professionals from around the globe, the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show will be better than ever when it returns to
