Mazda to Race with New MZ-2.0T Engine
The two-car Mazda Prototype race team will be powered by the new gasoline-fueled MZ-2.0T engine this season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The engine has been in development for much of the past year and has completed nearly 4,000 test miles.
Oiling Systems for Grassroots Racing
Priority one when choosing an oiling system for any type of racing (grassroots or professional) is to establish what the rules allow and prohibit. Somebody has to read the rule book. Whether that’s you or your customer it doesn’t matter. The oiling system has to fit within the framework of the rule book. Period.
My Cheating Heart
Like most racers, I was not keen on tech officials and some of the rules they enforced during my drag racing career. But in 2004, as my racing career was winding down, a friend named Chris McMahan, Operations Manager of RT. 66 Drag Strip in Joliet, IL, talked about having me come work for him on his tech official staff. That bizarre idea intrigued me – so I did it.
Ford Boss 429 Versus Today’s FR-9
NASCAR’s longtime Labor Day event, the Southern 500, is back home at Darlington (SC) Raceway this year, complete with throwback ‘70s and ‘80s paint jobs to celebrate its rich history. The entire race weekend has become the retro event of the year for NASCAR and Ford Performance talked about race engines with none other than Robert Yates.
Choosing the Right Oil Pump
Choosing a replacement oil pump for an engine you are building or modifying is a process that requires some thought. Original equipment oil pumps are usually adequate for most stock applications – but some are not, especially if an engine is being modified.
Allison Power
In December, we discussed the use of Allison engines – originally designed for use in WWII fighter planes – in watercraft applications. Now, we’ll pick up the story of these versatile powerplants finding success on dry land.
Edelbrock E-Force Stage 1, 2 and 3 Systems for 2015 Corvette Stingrays
Edelbrock has expanded its E-Force Stage 1 Supercharger systems for the Corvette Stingray to now include 2015 models. Edelbrock is also now offering complete Stage 2 and Stage 3 systems for enthusiast’s looking for even more performance.
Modified Ford Model Bs
It was known as the Model B engine and was produced for only four years beginning in 1932. Sporting only four cylinders, it was basically an upgrade of the earlier Model A powerplant. The “B” engine sported an impressive 200 cubic inches of displacement. Its compression ratio was a super-low 4.9-1. The paltry 50 horses it produced came at about 2,200 RPMs. The engine certainly didn’t appear likely to be a candidate for upgrading, but that wouldn’t be the case.
Engine Break-In Oil and Assembly Lube Needs
Engine building is a process that should go well when everything is done correctly. A lot of things can go wrong during those first few minutes following the initial start-up of a freshly built engine. The engine has to build oil pressure quickly so all of the critical wear surfaces will receive lubrication.
Front-Mounted Oil Pumps: Good or Troublesome?
On late model engines such as Chevy LS, Ford modular V8s and Chrysler 5.7/6.1/6.4L Hemis, engineers have moved the oil pump from its cozy location inside the oil pan to the front of the engine under the timing cover. Traditionally, most wet sump oil pumps have been mounted under the engine inside the oil pan
Replacing Crankshafts, Connecting Rods and Bearings
The crankshaft, connecting rods and bearings are extremely important in every engine build, whether mild or wild, because they convert the reciprocating motion of the pistons into rotational torque. The longer the stroke, the greater the leverage effect and the greater the torque output of the engine. There are three things that need to be
New Mercedes M178 V8 Engine Unveiled
Described as “a quantum leap into the future of technology,” Mercedes’ new M178 V8 engine is being heralded as one of the most innovative and advanced engines of its time. The new M178 engine will be placed in Mercedes’ new flagship AMG model, the AMG GT, which will be replacing the SLS AMG upon its
Engine Reboot: Chevrolet’s LT1
For the past several years, word on the street was that GM would be bringing back the highly recognized RPO code LT1 for 2014. The reason for the comeback was due to more power and efficiency with fewer emissions. At the time of hearing the rumor, thoughts of the 1992 through 1996 ill-fated “Optispark” seemed
Land Speed Racing Takes Flight
The East Coast Timing Association (ECTA) might be a mystery to some motorsports fans. For nearly 20 years, its vehicle and motorcycle racing venues have been held at two defunct airports east of the Mississippi. But those in the know will tell you that the Speed Trials group is one of a number of automotive land
Building Blocks: The Foundation of Any Engine Build
Every engine project starts with the block because the block is the foundation for everything else that follows. The block determines bore and stroke, camshaft and lifter location, oil pump location and oil galley configuration, what kind of main bearing caps can be used to support the crankshaft, and what kind of cylinder heads, oil
Oiling System Technology
Oil is the lifeblood of every engine. Any significant loss of oil pressure can destroy an engine in a split second so the oiling system must provide a constant supply of oil under all operating conditions. With performance engines, keeping the engine lubed with a steady supply of oil can be a challenge because
HPBG: Ed Pink Racing Engines
The staff of Engine Builder and a panel of industry professionals, including presenting sponsor Driven Racing Oil have selected Ed Pink Racing Engines of Van Nuys, CA, as their choice for the inaugural “Performance Engine Builder of the Year” award – and for good reason. With a body of work going back over 50 years,
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: September 2012
Editor’s Note: This coming October will mark the 5thanniversary for the Shop Solutions column, and to help Engine Pro celebrate, we’re putting plans into place to have a “Top Five from the Past Five” contest where you get to choose your favorite Shop Solution from the past five years. Send your favorite Shop Solution to
Stock Car Engines and Sanctioning Bodies: Different Groups, Different Rules
But for engine builders, keeping up with these groups, and the many sets of rules, can be quite a task. How do you stay on top of what’s legal AND competitive? We will take a closer look at a number of groups that are off NASCAR’s beaten path and see what they have for rules.
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: April 2012
Cold Air Tool Cooling For Machining We have been using cold air cooling in our shop for cast iron machining for several years. It does several things: it keeps the tool cool without the use of wet coolant, it blows away the dry chips, and it eliminates having the mess of coolant everywhere. Also, we