Trick Flow to Build Big Block Ford For 2013 Summit Racing SuperSeries Top Class Champion
Trick Flow designed and assembled the 565 cubic inch big block Chevrolet engine that was part of the prize package awarded to Tim Butler, the 2012 Summit Racing SuperSeries Top Class Champion. Outfitted with Trick Flow PowerPort 360 cylinder heads modified by two-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Jason Line, the big block Chevy made 1,103
DEI to Sponsor 2013 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge
Design Engineering (DEI) has announced their sponsorship of this worthwhile program designed to encourage high school teens to take an interest in the performance aftermarket by providing a series of competitions that exhibit their skill at breaking down and reassembling a small block Chevy according to event rules. The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: January 2013
Detonation vs. Pre-Ignition (Editors Note: the following is in response to Greg Goss’s entry in the August 2012 issue) A sharp point or edge that can glow in a combustion chamber or on a piston top does not cause detonation. Mr. Goss inadvertently was referring to pre-ignition. Detonation and pre-ignition are two distinctly different terms and
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,
The Best of Engine Builder Shop Solutions Presented by Engine Pro
We’ve narrowed the field to the top 20 Shop Solutions, and now we need your help selecting the Top 5. All you need to do is read the submissions listed below, pick you favorite and click through to vote, it’s that simple! The best part? By voting, you get a chance to win one of
Racing Rocker Arm Technology
The rocker arms play a more important role than ever these days in high performance valvetrains. The rockers are the teeter-totters that translate the upward motion of the lifters and pushrods to the downward motion that opens the valves. It seems like a relatively simple task, but it demands the utmost from the design of
Automotive-Powered Inboard Hydroplanes
They’re fast, have power aplenty, can turn on a dime, and throw a huge column of water behind them. They’re called Inboard Hydroplanes and are one of the most exciting motorsports shows on water with their automotive powerplants. The Inboard Hydroplane The looks of these boats spell speed with fighter aircraft aerodynamics on both the
MAHLE Clevite Honors 2012 MAHLE Engine Builders Of The Year
MAHLE Clevitehas announced the 2012 MAHLE Engine Builders of the Year for the NASCARSprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. The Engine Builder of the Year award is presented to the top engine builder in each of the NASCAR series who has accumulated the most MAHLE Clevite points based on qualifying, laps
Valve Train Adjustment Procedure for Aftermarket Cylinder Heads
Before we begin any of the procedures, there are several things that are needed before proceeding with the project. Project Requirements: 1. Compressed thickness dimension of head gasket being used. 2. Camshaft that will be used for the project. 3. Lifters that will be used for the cam. (If this is a hydrauliclifter, a solid
Camshaft Selection
When it comes to racing, sometimes the belief is that only custom-designed parts are good enough for a winning team. The question here is, do off-the-shelf components automatically have a performance handicap? In order to get to the bottom of the “Custom Grinds vs Catalog Specs” debate Engine Builder magazine reached out to experts at
High Octane Educations
In October, you learned about the teachers at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, OH, involved in the school’s High Performance program. This one-year certification program provides hands-on, certified automotive training for skilled entry-level positions in automotive dealerships, independent garages and motorsports and other auto-related industries. Its auto department is recognized as a leader in training
Building A Top Class 565 Engine
What does it take to put a top-notch Sportsman drag racing engine in the winner’s bracket? Obviously, parts selection, assembly expertise and a talented driver are key. Over the years, Engine Builder has been an advocate of mastering the first two – the last one is always a gamble. But in some cases for that
Breakin-In Is Hard To Do
Before we begin discussing assembly lubes and break-in oils, I would like to emphasize that no one factor is responsible for racing success (or failure). It’s like an algebraic equation with a lot of variables, all of which must be addressed. The same is true of engine assembly and break-in. You must utilize only those
Performance Piston Rings
When you’re building a performance engine, what kind of piston rings should you use? Rings run the gamut from cast iron to ductile iron to steel, with various dimensions, edge profiles and wear coatings. There are a lot of choices available and a lot of questions to answer. Some piston sets come with rings while
Takin
Back in the old days, the late ’90s, when the economy was strong and incomes were high, people had a lot more money to put toward their favorite hobby, which for many was a souped up car that could be driven on the street but maybe also a little on the track as well. Today,
Career Building: Developing Engine Building Experiences in School Starts with Instructors
For some older technicians and mechanics, servicing vehicles and tearing down engines was something learned on the job. For others, automotive skills were developed through an automotive program at a high school or technical college. According to an employment forecast from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), between 2010 and 2020, the nation’s workforce will
Avoiding Flat Cam Syndrome (#6)
Along with the use of assembly lubes, break-in oils with ZDDP (Zinc Dialkyl Dithiosphate), and a lifter bore grooving tool our shop does this; on all flat tappet cam engines our shop has added one step before final assembly. With the block in a bare and clean state we’ll put in the two end cam
Inspection: Vacuum Check That Engine (#14)
I have found a few brand new castings to have porosity holes in them after they were torqued down. All of these heads were aluminum SB Chevy heads and were made overseas. These heads were “good” prior to proper installation. More than once I’ve found brand new water pumps to have leaking seals at
Rebuilding the Buick 3300
This engine was installed in many of the "A" bodied cars including the Buick Century, the Cutlass Ciera and the Cutlass Cruiser wagon. It was also installed in some of the "N" bodied cars including the Buick Skylark and the Olds Cutlass Calais. The engine had a smaller bore (3.70" versus 3.80") and a longer
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