Understanding Dyno Numbers’ Place in Your Business
It is very difficult to cover all of what you need to know about dyno testing in an article of this length, but perhaps I can take a swing at nailing some of the critical information down. Dyno testing is an important part of engine development programs and can provide an improvement in quality control
Piston Options and Opportunities
The sport compact market, it was thought, was going to breathe new life into the performance engine market, and for many years, the rapid growth of the market seemed to indicate that there was no limit to how big those little engines could get. Then something happened: to quote Engine Builder columnist and performance expert
19th AETC: New Theme Is A Winner
You can always expect to do a fair share of “bench racing” while sitting around the breakfast and lunch table at the Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC). This year did not disappoint. Held just before the PRI Trade Show on December 8-10, 2008, at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, the 19th AETC nearly doubled its
Fueling the Need for Performance Fuel Systems
Consider this – a high 10 second drag car will burn up one gallon of gasoline in 25 seconds or less, but a car that can run a 7 second E.T. will burn the same amount of fuel in half the time. The physics involved with fuel flow to create horsepower is difficult for even
SEMA Council Name Change to Reflect Broader Performance Market
As a reflection of thechanging times within the performance and tuning industry, the SEMABoard of Directors announced that the Sport-Compact Council (SCC) willnow be officially known as the Street Performance Council (SPC). Thename change will help to include the diverse street-performanceindustry, which creates a broader market and provides new growth andeducational opportunities for the council.
Get Ready For The Perfect Storm
Prior to $5 per gallon gas many of us wouldn’t have given the sport compact market a second thought. After 13 years of meteoric growth, the high performance sport compact market stalled, nosed over, and settled into a holding pattern. The Fast & Furious crowd just lost interest. The huge sport compact enthusiast books suffered
CSI: Engine Bearings: When Good Bearings Go Bad
Engine bearings have the dual function of reducing friction between a rotating part of the engine (the crankshaft) and the stationary part (the main caps and engine block) and supporting the crank. Because of the stresses caused by the explosions inside the internal combustion engine, the bearing material must be extremely strong, so a durable
Engines That Impact the Compact Performance Market
From SEMA eNews – SEMA’s research department recently highlighted some of the new-vehicle releases and model updates slated to be available to consumers within the next few months. The emphasis of the report was on changes within the compact-performance segment. These are modelsthat specialty-equipment manufacturers should become familiar with.While their potential to change trends
To Dyno or Not To Dyno…That is the Question
The word dynamometer is defined in the dictionary as: Dynamometer (Dy – Na –mom – e – ter) – any number of devices for force measurement or measurement of mechanical power. The word comes from the Greek (dunamis – force) + (metron – measurement) and dynamometers might seem more like Greek than anything else until
Alcohol: It
Article by Norm Brandes and Keith McCord Ethanol, or moonshine whiskey has been used as either fuel or liquor since the mid-15th century. The very first patented internal combustion engine was invented by Samuel Morey back in 1826 and ran on a mixture of ethanol, alcohol and turpentine. Fast forward to 1861 where German inventor
Intake Manifolds, Fuel Injected Engines, Carburetors
An intake manifold is more than the plumbing that connects the carburetor or throttle body to the ports in the cylinder head. It is an integral part of the induction system that has to match the airflow characteristics of the cylinder head and camshaft, as well as the displacement and rpm range of the engine.
AETC Brings Great Minds Together for the Eighteenth Year
The Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) has long been known for bringing great minds together to listen to some of the performance industry’s most noteworthy speakers discuss cutting edge engineering technology. Over the years there have been many fascinating speakers who have divulged some of their secrets, and this year continued with the tradition. This
Fast Lane: Building A Reputation At The Track Will Build Business At The Shop
In the February 2007 issue of Engine Builder we discussed the importance of seeking out new market for your business (Fast Lane: “New Markets Could Give Your Business Hope For Survival,” page 18). In the May 2007 Issue we discussed the importance of getting out to the racetrack to help build your performance business (Fast
Marine Motors: Challenges & Opportunities
On the popular British automotive television program “Top Gear,” the hosts were interested in discovering how hard it could possibly be to build a vehicle that was capable of both being driven on the road and sailed in water. Various types of such vehicles have been dreamed about, designed and even occasionally produced over the
Engine Sealing Lowdown
With engines now lasting as long as 150,000-plus miles, there’s little doubt that the OEMs have created a monster! Gasket technology advances have played a significant part in the longevity and durability of today’s engines. They must be robust and durable enough to withstand a hostile environment for such a long life, and without leading
Dynamometers and Dyno Operating Systems
The data collected while an engine is running on a dyno can be analyzed to maximize the power gains from various modifications (changes in the fuel mixture, ignition timing, valve timing, compression, the induction system, exhaust system, etc.). Performance engine builders use dynos to measure horsepower and torque so they can optimize engine performance. By
Coretalk: Clements Racing Engines Receives First PBM Engine Builder Award
PBM’s Kevin Harrison made the presentation at the Speedway Club at Lowe’s Motor Speedway during the series’ 2006 Awards Banquet. Clements Racing Engines led the series with 10 victories on the season. Among the drivers visiting victory lane with Clements power under the hood were Ricky Weeks, Jack Pennington, Noel Tucker, Royce Bray, Ed Basey
AETC Review
The 17th Annual Advanced Engine Technology Conference (AETC) was held for the second year in a row at the Orlando Convention Center, Dec. 11-13, just days before the opening of PRI. While the weather wasn’t frightful, there wasn’t quite as much Florida sunshine as the previous year either, but the talk around each morning’s breakfast
Performance Notes: EFI Now ‘Doable’ For Every Hot Rodder And Engine Builder
[email protected] It is rare that a new product comes along that redefines a category and a market. Take Apple’s iPod for example. Digital downloading and music file sharing was becoming popular, but a portable device to take your downloaded music with you was needed. Apple’s iPod did just that. Now it’s nearly impossible to go
Diesel Drag Racing, Compression Ignition Engines Smoke The Strip
It is one of the purest forms of American motorsports. One guy pulls up next to another guy at the starting line and revs the engine. A simple glance over, a nod and a green light. In a fury of sound and smoke, the two racers take off down the straight stretch of pavement. If