Choosing Valvetrain Components: Lifters, Pushrods, Springs & Rockers
The type of parts you ultimately choose will depend on the application (street performance, circle track, drag, marine, etc.) and any rules that restrict the type of camshaft, lifters or other valvetrain components that are allowed. But don’t overlook your customer’s budget. Affordability often limits your choices if a customer just doesn’t have the bucks
Kevin Harvick Announces Finalists in $100,000 Search for a Champion Contest
The contest finalists – announced recently at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver and Champion spokesperson Kevin Harvick – will each receive a $10,000 Champion racing sponsorship for the 2012 season. Selected from more than 330 contest entrants, the finalists will now compete for the $50,000 grand prize sponsorship, which will be
Crate Engine Opportunities
To many engine builders, saying the words “crate engine” can leave a bitter taste in the mouth. The perception is, thanks to the wide assortment of ready-to-run packaged engines available from the OEMs, custom engine builders have difficulty competing. In an attempt to reduce the high cost of racing, many sanctioning bodies and racetracks began
Fel-Pro Performance MLS Head Gaskets Now Available for 12 Additional Popular Combinations
Developed with the insight and support of leading engine builders in NASCAR, NHRA, IHRA and other racing series, PermaTorque MLS performance head gaskets provide the robust seal needed to contain extreme combustion pressures and temperatures common to naturally aspirated, turbo/supercharged and nitrous-equipped performance engines. Each gasket is composed of multiple layers of full-hard stainless steel,
Designing and Building a World-Record Beating Porsche V8
We would build for the Blown Gas Modified Sports (BGMS) class where the record is currently 231.5 mph. Another record we were after was the Porsche marquee record for the 928 of 205.6 mph. Our math told us that – because we knew our final drive ratio, tire diameters and engine redline; and if our
A Million Here, A Million There
First, Fisher’s a former winning sprint car driver running with the top-gun World of Outlaws and All-Star groups. Then, there’s the fact that he’s got the mind of a skilled surgeon when he probes the innards of his engines looking for more performance. The guy is a graduate engineer (Ohio State – 1975), but his
Smooth Moves: Today’s Surfaces Often Demand Different Finishes
When multi-layer steel (MLS) head gaskets became commonplace a number of years ago, there was a lot of concern that aftermarket surfacing procedures might not be able to reproduce the mirror-like finish that the vehicle manufacturers said was absolutely necessary to seal MLS head gaskets. The challenge was to duplicate the factory finish using out-dated
Michigan Man Wins $20,000 Engine Pro Race Engine Giveaway
Rick Baad of Mattawan, Mich. beat out 19 others for the engine that was supplied by Engine Pro, Dart Machinery, Performance Engineering and others. Performance Engineering built the motor and already has an appointment set up with Baad to get his new engine on the dyno and placed into his 2008 dragster. Brooke
Mallory Ignition Partners with Roush Yates
Mallory Ignition, a Prestolite Performance brand, and North Carolina-based Roush Yates will collaborate to offer new products and post contingency programs. "With this partnership, Mallory Ignition can extend its reach into NASCAR, drag, truck and circle track racing," said Prestolite Performance President Steve Campbell. "We are excited to see two celebrated brands work together
Tips for Hotter Street & Strip Performance
Long’s HO Enterprises Performance Auto (www.hoenterprisesclassics.com) in Birnamwood, WI, sells hot rod parts, but his once traditional view on performance is changing as he sees his sons working on late-model imported cars with port fuel injection and “coffee can” exhausts. “Yeah, I think it’s all electronics now, but at least they’re car guys” Long points
Holley Names Ricky Best Technical Sales Representative
Best will handle sales and support for all of Holley’s brands, but will be specialize in Holley EFI, Holley carburetors, and Earls plumbing. Best is a "hands on" sales representative who can offer a high level of technical expertise to engine builders, tuners, race teams, and specialty car builders. He will be attending many race
Sprint Car Engines: The Current State-of-the-Art
Sprint Cars are just about the fastest machines in racing, often running two or three seconds faster per lap than late model stock cars. There’s no time to just tool around in this form of racing, no pit stops, and it’s over before you know it. Everything is to the limit with engines pushing between
Coughlin Brothers Announce New Pro Stock Engine Business
Coughlin Brothers Racing, an entity owned by drag racers John, Troy, Mike and Jeg Coughlin Jr., has announced a partnership with Nick Ferri and Roy Simmons to build a state-of-the-art engine shop that will produce Pro Stock racing motors for consumers around the world. "We are extremely excited to align ourselves with Nick and Roy,"
Today’s Cylinder Block Choices Broader Than Ever
In this case, “best” power means that the engine does exactly what the driver – regardless of racing type – wants it to do, when he wants it to do it. It also helps the driver’s winning percentage if the engine makes it to the end of the race. Remember that old saying: “To finish
2011 PRI Trade Show Booth Count Surpasses Previous Year
PRI Trade Show officials said that buyer attendance has remained strong and stable, despite the sudden downturn in the economy that shocked everyone at the end of 2008. There was even an uptick in buyer attendance at the 2010 PRI Trade Show over the previous year. For 2011, it’s expected that 40,000 buyers will attend.
Dyno Decisions Depend on Business Model
If you need a dyno only three or four times a year, you’re probably better off renting dyno time from another facility. If you build race engines for a living, an engine dyno is an essential part of how you do your job and ultimately the value you provide to your customer. So what are
Boring and Honing Tips and Tricks
One of the goals of boring and honing cylinders is to size the bores to a specific dimension. If an engine is being remanufactured to meet specific criteria, that usually means boring and honing to achieve a standard oversize (.010?, .020? or .030?). The oversize will depend on the thickness of the casting, how much
Lingenfelter Performance Engineering
Nathan Sheets, marketing manager for Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, explains that the company today offers engine building, engine and chassis tuning components and installation for vehicle owners; component product development; services to manufacturers, aftermarket and original equipment suppliers; prototype and preparation of product development vehicles; late product life-cycle performance improvements; durability testing; and show and media
Nailing Down The Buick Nailhead
Likethe Small Block Chevy, the Rocket 88 Olds, the Ford Flathead and the ChryslerHemi, the Buick Nailhead engine is one of those that has the immortal smell ofhistory all over it. Yet,unlike its more familiar brothers, cousins and even competitors, the Nailheadhas an aura of mystery about it as well. TheNailhead had a
Michigan Racer Wins $20,000 Engine At US 131 Motorsports Park
Dave Lorentz says winning the 565 cid Big Block Chevy motor in the Engine Pro-Dart Machinery-Performance Engineering Engine Giveaway will make it possible for him to move from his 1970 Nova into a dragster. This is the third year that Engine Pro, Dart Machinery and Performance Engineering have teamed up with other engine parts