What Engine Builders Build When Not Building Engines
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times – engine building is as much an art as a science. Sure, an amazing sound system, radical suspension and custom wheels are a nice addition to any vehicle, but where is the first place anyone looks at a car on display? Under the hood.
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.
Should I Reuse My Pistons or Order New Ones? How To Tell If Pistons Are Still Good
Freshening an engine has always been a game of careful disassembly and evaluating the components for wear followed by a series of judgment calls that balance the cost of new parts against further pushing the veterans. Evaluating pistons takes a practiced eye, but there are several checking points that any engine builder can use to
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.
MAHLE Motorsport PowerPak Plus Powers World’s Fastest GT-R
The MAHLE Motorsport PowerPak Plus Nissan Skyline GT-R pistons are designed for all-out power, performance and durability. By partnering with some of the best GT-R builders in the business, MAHLE’s PowerPak Plus pistons are being proven on the track.
All-Billet Chrysler Hemi-Based NHRA Pro Mod Engine
When $100,000 was on the line two weeks ago at the World Series of Pro Mod, Carl Stevens Jr., owner of Xtreme Racing Engines, kept his cool and his focus a 1/4-mile at a time. That’s exactly how he handles each engine build too. Find out what went into this all-billet Chrysler Hemi-based NHRA Pro Mod engine built for Rick Hord.
Aeromotive Fuels 50th Anniversary Ford Mustang Cobra Jet Dragster
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Mustang Cobra Jet, Ford Performance unveiled its new limited production, drag racing special Cobra Jet. Fueling this new machine down the track is Aeromotive’s Pro Series Fuel pump.
The Market For Commercial/Industrial Diesel is Thriving
Off-highway diesel engines are designed to perform in many different applications across multiple industries. These engines must be able to perform consistently and reliably in extreme conditions where there’s dust, vibration, high altitudes and generally harsh weather conditions. Such engines can be found in excavators, cranes, backhoes, forklifts and others that perform a particular job.
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
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.
Motovicity’s Speed Ring Returns to M1 in September
Building off the success of its first Michigan event last year, Motovicity’s Speed Ring returns this fall. The weekend will see two race events, a time-attack event and a two-car head-to-head lap battle.
SWEPCO Engine Assembly and Break-In Oil
SWEPCO 350 Engine Assembly and Break-In Oil is designed to provide superior protection and performance during those first critical miles of a new or rebuilt engine.
Why Do Piston Rings Keep Getting Thinner?
The classic Hollywood line is you can’t be too rich or too thin. While full-figured starlets may now be finding favor in tinsel town, the too-thin line is still in vogue when it comes to piston rings. It wasn’t all that long ago when state of the art racing piston ring thicknesses hovered between 1/16-inch
478 cid Small Block Ford
Fletcher Cox may have just won a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, but off the field he’s chasing drag racing victories in NMCA and NMRA. To get to victory lane, Cox relies on the work of Anthony DiSomma and DiSomma Racing Engines. The shop recently built this 478 cid small block Ford with a few thousand horsepower to get Cox’s car down the track in just 4 seconds. Find out what went into this powerful build!
The ‘Original Green Oil’ Gets Rediscovered
A rapidly increasing number of engine builders working on hot-rod, drag, boat, late-model and classic-vintage engines have rediscovered PennGrade 1, “The Original Green Oil,” that is manufactured by D-A Lubricant Company.
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.
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
Out On Open Water
Express Engines Inc. has saltwater on the brain When most engine builders think of the salt, their minds take them to the Bonneville Salt Flats and land speed records. However, if you’re Bruce Baker, owner of Express Engines Inc. in DeLand, FL, you’re thinking of saltwater, water damage and offshore racing. In fact, Baker works
