Choosing the Right Oil Pump
Choosing a replacement oil pump for an engine you are building or modifying is a process that requires some thought. Original equipment oil pumps are usually adequate for most stock applications – but some are not, especially if an engine is being modified.
Building for Biodiesel
Some people have a negative view of biodiesel. They say it gums up the fuel pump and injectors. They say it gels in cold weather. They say it’s diverting food resources to make fuel. They say it’s too expensive and can’t compete economically with conventional No. 2 diesel fuel. Then they hear that diesel engines burning biodiesel are winning pulling championships, drag races and setting new land speed records. Maybe biodiesel isn’t so bad after all.
Parts Coatings
Whether it’s more horsepower, better throttle response, or better durability, everybody is looking for an edge when it comes to building a performance engine. Any of these can win races. So what kinds of tricks are winning engine builders using to get an edge over their competitors? Many are using highly specialized coatings.
What Does Ethanol Mean To Your Shop?
Although ethanol alcohol is mostly made from corn, it seems to be a real hot potato! Almost all pump gasoline today contains 10 percent ethanol (E10) because the Renewable Fuels Standard Act requires it. The reasons why are partially practical, partially political and partially economic.
1,500 HP Turbo Mustang Runs 8-Second Quarter Mile
This Mustang is a freak of nature pushing out more than 1,500 hp. The car uses an improvisation of Ford’s 5.0L Coyote V8.
New Engines Force New Pistons
As engines get smaller, motorists expect the same performance as a larger V6 or V8 but with the fuel economy of a four cylinder. Turbocharging makes little engines breathe big, but it also increases the load and temperature the pistons have to endure. This, in turn, requires pistons made of alloys that can withstand higher temperatures and combustion pressures. Yesterday’s castings won’t cut it for these kinds of applications.
PRW Sponsors Orlando Speed World
PRW Industries, Inc. has announced the new strategic alliance and sponsorship of Orlando Speed World. PRW has a dedicated lane and timing board at the Orlando Speed World Dragway. This extensively upgraded track is located at 19164 East Colonial Drive in Orlando.
Selecting Pushrods, Rockers and Springs for Your Build
Everybody knows you need the right combination of valvetrain components to maximize an engine’s power potential. The trick is figuring out which components are the “right” ones for a given application. A high revving engine with an aggressive cam needs lightweight rocker arms and stiffer valve springs to keep up with the cam.
Speed-Pro Crowns Performance Engine Builder of the Year
Tom Nickerson, owner of NVR Racing, in Butler, WI, was named the 2014 Performance Engine Builder of the Year, sponsored by Speed-Pro POWERFORGED Pistons and Engine Builder magazine. Nickerson was presented the award by Engine Builder magazine publisher Doug Kaufman at a press conference Friday at the Performance Racing Industry Show (PRI) in Indianapolis.
Fel-Pro MLS Head Gaskets Help Seal Erica Enders-Stevens’ Historic NHRA Championship
Erica Enders-Stevens became the first woman to win the NHRA Pro Stock class championship when she out-dueled series runner-up Jason Line in the final round of the Auto Club Finals at Auto Club Raceway, Pomona, Calif., in mid-November. Enders-Stevens joins just two other women to have won NHRA Championships.
The Unique Engines of ARCA
ARCA uses older style NASCAR Cup cars. Specifically, they are the ones used just before the advent of NASCAR’s Car Of Tomorrow (COT) in 2007. This means teams running ARCA can do so with a safe, well-built race car without paying top dollar.
Ed Pink Receives Prestigious Robert E. Petersen Award
Legendary engine builder Ed Pink is this year’s recipient of the prestigious Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award, presented at the recent SEMA trade show in Las Vegas. At the breakfast awards ceremony, Pink was introduced by Meguiars Car Care founder and host of the “Car Crazy” TV show, Barry Meguiar.
When to Upgrade a Performance Head Gasket
A rule of thumb for performance engine building is that if you are doubling an engine’s power output, or are going much over 550 to 600 hp, you should upgrade to some type of aftermarket performance gaskets. Upgrades usually require no additional modifications. You just swap a performance MLS gasket for the stock head gasket.
Engine Break-In Oil and Assembly Lube Needs
Engine building is a process that should go well when everything is done correctly. A lot of things can go wrong during those first few minutes following the initial start-up of a freshly built engine. The engine has to build oil pressure quickly so all of the critical wear surfaces will receive lubrication.
Head Surfacing and Straightening
Clean, smooth and flat have always been requirements for proper head sealing whether you are building a stock engine or a monster motor for a ProStock drag car. Head gaskets can only accommodate so much distortion and roughness across the face of the cylinder head and deck. Resurfacing the desk surface on a cylinder head and/or engine block should restore flatness and achieve the required smoothness.
Benefits of Electric Fans for Engine Cooling
Electric cooling fans can deliver a number of important benefits to a wide range of vehicles and driving situations. Optimizing the air movement across the fins of the radiator is essential to prevent overheating, a task that electric fans can often handle better than engine-driven fans.
K1 Crankshafts and Connecting Rods for GM LS Engines
Forged from 4340, the tough, shock and impact resistant alloy steel, K1 Technologies has introduced a new range of high-performance crankshafts and H-beam connecting rods for racing and high performance LS engines.
Head Gaskets and Fasteners
The relationship between head gaskets and head bolts is an intimate one. The clamping load applied by the head bolts is what allows the head gasket to maintain its seal. For this marriage to last, there has to be constant tension – not too much, otherwise the bolts may stretch or break, and not too
Enthusiasts Set Sights on Wilmington Mile Records
In the December issue of Engine Builder, our cover feature examined the unique one-of-one engine build-ups to maximize performance in all-out speed runs. The article also noted the presence of a new land-speed location at the former DHL facility at the Wilmington, Ohio airport. The super-smooth 9,000-foot runway is perfect for this high-speed activity and
