Big Bore LS Engine
Jeff Ginter didn’t have intentions of getting back into the racing industry, but that quickly changed when a customer asked him to build an off-road endurance engine. Now, Jeff Ginter Racing Engines almost exclusively builds LS engines like this big bore version for endurance racing applications. With roughly 800 hp on tap and north of 600 lb.-ft. of torque normally aspirated, who can blame him for coming back to engine building.
Vibrant V-Twins
Capitol Speed Shop keeps Harley-Davidson motorcycles running two cylinders at a time At just 23 years old, Marty Smestad became one of the youngest people ever to reach Harley-Davidson’s Master Technician level. He attended Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Phoenix straight out of high school to focus on Harley and Honda engine work and that background allowed
Cylinder Sleeves – Not Sexy, but Necessary
Sleeve installation continues to be a solid market for engine builders and machine shops Sleeving – at its crudest definition – is fixing a round hole. However, you better believe there is much more than that going on, and the opportunity for engine builders and machine shops to make money is tremendous. Whether a block
588 cid Big Block Chevy-Based Marine Engine
Daryl Hameetman of Hameetman Racing Engines didn’t have to build one, or two, or three, but rather eight engines for a customer in South Africa with two 50-foot boats that house four engines each! The eight identical 588 cid big block Chevy-based marine engines allow these boats to cruise at 140 mph! Find out what went into the logistics and an engine build of this caliber.
Vintage British Leyland Engine
When a repeat customer came to Fowler Automotive with a vintage Mini Cooper and its British Leyland engine looking to race with it, Ladd Fowler was eager to help make it a winning combo. The job wasn’t easy, but once Fowler was done with the rebuild, the car was no longer at the back of the pack. Find out what went into bringing this British Leyland engine back to life.
540 Big Block Chevy Marine Engine
Tyler Crockett Marine Engines might dabble in some monster truck and drag race engine building, but nearly 95 percent of the shop’s work is reserved for marine engines like this popular 540 cid big block Chevy built on a Dart block with a 4.250˝ crank in it. Find out what else goes into making this marine engine crank out 950 horsepower!
440 cid LT1 Engine
Late Model Engines in Houston is powering a lot of the highest horsepower, fastest LT engines in the world. Expecting to be added to that list, a recent customer came to LME with a 2017 Camaro and its LT1 engine. In turn, shop owner Bryan Neelen delivered this rebuilt 440 cid LT1 that will fly down the drag strip and make grocery runs.
Building Buicks
Under the Hood with Buick Specialist Keith Diabo of Gran Sport Autobody Back in 1970, Keith Diabo’s father came home with a new Buick Riviera GS and sparked what would be Keith’s calling in life – restoring classic muscle cars and engines. Not to be outdone by his dad, it wasn’t long before Keith got
Enter Now for Engine Builder of the Year Consideration
As of May 1, 2018, engine builders, customers and fans have been able to nominate their favorite custom engine builder for one of the titles of Engine Builder of the Year. Together with our title sponsor Fel-Pro Performance Gaskets and several other iconic brands from Federal-Mogul Motorparts, we will announce the names of our Race,
All-Aluminum 535 cid Pontiac Engine
We all know this is an industry built on word-of-mouth reputation and recommendation, and no one knows that better than Bill Ceralli of Ceralli Competition Engines. He recently had a customer come to him on a recommendation from All Pontiac to build him this all-aluminum, 535 cid Pontiac engine for drag racing. Find out how this brand new build ended up churning out more than 1,000 hp!
438 cid Small Block Chevy Dirt Super-Late Model Engine
Cresap Automotive Machine is a well-diversified machine shop, and according to owner Dean Yatchyshyn, that means they’re not working on your run-of-the-mill 350 Chevys. Recently, the shop finished up an all-aluminum, dirt, super-late-model motor that’s sure to impress. Find out the details in our latest Engine of the Week.
ACL Distribution Names Larry Berger, Jr., Gasket Product Manager
ACL Distribution, Grand Rapids, MI, has named Larry Berger, Jr., as product manager of the company’s new line of Ajusa brand gaskets. According to ACL Director of Sales and Marketing, Dennis Fox, Berger has responsibility for selling, marketing and procurement of the gasket line for the US and Canada and will oversee the sales activities
454 cid Twin-Turbo LS Engine
With plenty of power and great reliability, this 454 cid twin-turbo LS engine keeps customers knocking at Redline Performance’s door whether they’re here in the States or overseas in the Middle East. Find out what makes this 454 LS Redline’s most popular engine package.
Petty’s Garage Brings Classic Camaro Back to Life
Petty’s Garage Breathes New Life Back Into a Classic Camaro Typically, a 50th birthday party is an occasion to remind the celebrant that his better days are behind him, he’ll never catch up to the younger crowd, that he is, in fact, now over the hill. Luckily for one 50 year old, the attention is
Birthdays With a Zero Really Are Better
When you’re young, birthdays matter. That first one? Pretty important, especially because they give you a cake that you get to eat all by yourself. After that, the parties are goofy fun, and for a few years in your teens, it’s really good. At 16 you get your license, at 17 you can get into
Surfacing Equipment For Today’s Engine Shops
Your shop owns many thousands of dollars worth of machining equipment, but if the newest one is more than a dozen years old, is it still up to the task for the jobs today? Looking back on some of Engine Builder’s past articles on surfacing equipment, one thing you’ll notice is that the OEMs have
383 Ford Asphalt Engine
Nicknamed the Equalizer, this 383 Ford asphalt engine was designed and built by Dewaine McGunegill of McGunegill Engine Performance (MEP), not to dominate asphalt late-model racing, but to be a great option for racers. Over the years, the Equalizer has become the popular option and MEP’s best-selling engine package. Find out what makes the 383 Ford tick.
Three’s Company: Understanding Rod Length, Piston Compression Height and Crankshaft Stroke
The relationship between connecting rod length, piston compression height and compression ratio is often misunderstood, largely due to the misuse of the term “compression”. In all honesty it probably shouldn’t be applied to piston terminology at all except as it relates to the shape of the piston crown surface. Compression is a volume related term
Pat Musi 959 cid Nitrous Engine
Pat Musi and Pat Musi Racing Engines have been well-known in drag racing for a long time. However, six years ago the shop moved from New Jersey to Mooresville, NC to focus even more on drag race engines like this 959 cid nitrous engine capable of some mind-bending horsepower. Find out what goes into these boosted beasts.
455 Ford Trophy Truck Engine
After 543 miles of endurance desert racing, there are only a handful of engines that complete the journey, unless of course that engine was built by Kevin Kroyer of Kroyer Racing Engines. The engine shop’s 455 Ford Trophy Truck engine nabbed three of the top four spots at the 2018 Baja 500. Find out what goes into making this 455 Ford one tough performance engine.
