USAC Names New President, Senior VP of Racing Operations
The Board of Directors of the United States Auto Club (USAC) has appointed Kevin Miller as CEO and president of USAC, and Jason Smith senior vice-president of racing operations. “USAC is excited to start a new era with Kevin and Jason on board,” said Johnny Capels, USAC Chairman. “Kevin brings a proven track record of
Stroker Engine Kits
For more than 50 years the old saying “There’s no substitute for cubic inches” has been the credo of nearly every racer and hot rodder. Whoever created this unwritten universal law could never have imagined to what extremes today’s speed enthusiasts would take it. Now, unless you have a 420cid-plus small-block or a 550cid-plus big-block
Tech Notes
Engine Builders: Everyone who works with cars or trucks is familiar with the terms Torque and Horsepower. But do you understand the difference between the two and can you explain it to your customer? It’s important to have a sound understanding of both and the ability to comprehend what defines each measurement of output. By
Engine Parts ETs Drop From Inspiration to Installation
It’s a simple process for those down in the trenches. An engine builder will make a phone call or click on a computer and within days, the latest parts show up at his shop, ready to be installed. But the traditional Stork method of delivery notwithstanding, exactly where do new engine parts actually come from?
Shop Line
We’ve had customer complaints about recurring MILs (malfunctioning indicator light) on some Chrysler 3.2 and 3.5L engines. Any idea what’s going on? The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding a revised valve spring for 1998-2004 Chrysler 3.2 and 3.5L VIN J, G, K, M & V engines. This revision is the result of
Tech Notes
Engine Builders: Synthetic oils have been available for almost 30 years and a number of inaccurate myths have developed during this time. Some areas of misunderstanding are clarified below, including manufacturer requirements for using synthetics, how to switch from conventional to synthetic oil and the effects of synthetics on an engine. Myth 1: Synthetic oils
Coretalk: House Approves Bill To Increase Ethanol Fueling Pumps At Gas Stations
At this time, only 800 gas stations have E-85 pumps installed, less than one percent of all gas stations. Automakers incur about $20 million in CAFE fines annually. Supporters hope this money could double the number of pumps available to dispense ethanol or other alternative fuel. The bill would provide grants of between $30,000 and
The Enthusiast’s Motor Market
Street Rods, customs, muscle cars; even their names are different. When it comes to cars – and we’re including light trucks – from the early 1900s on up into the ’70s, it’s not enough to just call them old cars. How cars from this time span are rebuilt can often make them their own separate
Fast Lane, Is Diversification Your Key To Performance Profits?
In past “Fast Lane” columns I have talked about how important it is for a shop to start slowly when entering the high performance and motorsports field. Starting slowly would mean starting with just one type of engine, or racing “class” or organization, so that you can become very good at what you do. To
Shop Line
Bedplate removal and replacement procedures for 2003-’06 Chrysler /Jeep 3.7L V6 VIN K engines are very detailed so follow carefully to avoid unnecessary component replacement. Removal Remove oil pump. Do not pry on the oil pan gasket when removing the oil pan. The oil pan gasket is mounted to the cylinder block in three locations
The Lives of Lifters, What You Need to Know
It’s like any other mechanical part in an engine. It has a simple yet specifically designed function, it’s not overly complicated and it’s definitely not the proverbial rocket science, tricked-out part. But there’s more to know about the valve lifter than you may think. First off, there are two distinct styles of lifters used in
Building Drag Racing Engines and Modification Work
Although drag strips are far outnumbered by oval tracks in the United States – approximately 1,043 oval tracks to just 295 drag strips – the number of competitors in drag racing nearly equals those in the circle track ranks. The NHRA alone has more than 35,000 licensed members. One reason might be that virtually any
Crankshafts:Stock and Performance
The crankshaft is the working arm of the engine. All the force generated by combustion and the downward motion of the pistons is focused on the crank throws. The leverage effect of the force exerted on the crank journals twists the shaft and converts the up-and-down reciprocating motion of the pistons into rotational motion of
Tractor Pulling: It’s Not Your Granddad’s John Deere Anymore
Tractor pulling has been with us for as long as there have been tractors. Farmers used to pull their horses, mules or oxen and, just as today, each bragged that he had the biggest and strongest. Today, at the top echelons of pulling, the technology is equal to anything else in motorsports. Although you won’t
PERA Core Corner
The planned demise of all LA Chrysler engine configurations was already in the wind for some time when the Power Tech 4.7L SOHC engine was introduced in the Jeep Grand Cherokee in 1999. Not only was it the first clean sheet design V8 for Chrysler in 41 years, but it was the first full production
Ford Y-Block Engine Tricks
The Y-Block Ford is the successor to the flathead and Henry’s first OHV V-8 engine. They were built from 1954-’64 and installed in Fords, Mercurys, Edsels and Ford trucks. They came as 239, 254, 272, 292, and 312s. All along there were just enough cracked heads to become a nuisance, and efforts were made to
Dirt Track Dollars In the Shop and On the Track With Malcuit Racing Engines
It’s sometimes said that racers have motor oil or high octane racing fuel in their blood. Fearless drivers are accused of having ice-water running through their veins. For Strasburg, OH’s Brad Malcuit, the most likely ingredient pumping through his bloodstream is dirt, a fact he’ll happily attribute to family heritage. Malcuit is owner of Malcuit’s
Performance Valve Jobs Are Easy With The Right Tools And Specifications
It is easy to do a performance three or four angle valve job, but it is very difficult to find a shop to properly do one for you. Well, I will explain to you the proper way to do a great performance valve job either using stones or pre-shaped three or four angle carbide
Making A Big Splash In The Marine Market
The average individual that would have owned a performance car in the 1960s, and the baby boomers that did, in many cases no longer have a modern affordable toy they can tweak to their own satisfaction. Serious performance today is often available to only a few with large checking accounts or extra good credit, and
The 1995 Camaro That Served As The Basis For Project Road Rocket
As noted previously, the 1995 Camaro that served as the basis for “Project Road Rocket” received a change in rear end gearing and that, in combination with the repair of an exhaust system leak really brought the car to life.From a best quarter-mile performance of 12.87 at 109.27 miles per hour the Camaro blasted to