Land Speed Racing Takes Flight
The East Coast Timing Association (ECTA) might be a mystery to some motorsports fans. For nearly 20 years, its vehicle and motorcycle racing venues have been held at two defunct airports east of the Mississippi. But those in the know will tell you that the Speed Trials group is one of a number of automotive land
World Products Gen VI Compatible Big Block
World Products is offering a new Gen VI Big Block compatible design. This block uses a one-piece rear seal, and has the Gen VI style oil pan rail and front cover bolt pattern. The block can utilize either the OE type roller lifters or +.300″ tall tie bar lifters. It also features a Mk IV
The Inner Workings of Variable Valve Timing
Variable Valve Timing (VVT) is a way to advance/retard valve timing, and change duration, overlap and even lift in some applications while the engine is running. VVT is computer-controlled and typically uses oil pressure to change the position of a phaser mechanism on the end of the camshaft to advance or retard cam timing. VVT
Future Alternative Fuels Could be a Gas
Alternative fuels such as E85 and biodiesel that were once considered fringe fuels are now mainstream. You can burn any mixture of gasoline and E85 in any vehicle that is Flex Fuel capable. As for biodiesel, blends ranging from B05 (5% biodiesel) to B100 (100% biodiesel) are being used in all kinds of diesel applications.
Learning To Race Pro Stock
My transition in 1975 from bracket racing a 122˝ wheelbase mid-eleven second, two-ton ’57 Mercury to racing in a low nine-second 99˝ wheelbase, Pinto Pro Stock car, was quite a jump. I was jaded with bracket racing and wanted to run heads up – all out with a door car. So, Pro Stock was it.
Racing “Spec” -tacle: Engine-Related Rule Book Changes for 2014
When it comes to racing, some say rules are meant to be broken (or bent). Names that come to mind here include the legendary Smokey Yunick, Darrell Waltrip and even NASCAR technical inspector Gary Nelson (from his days serving as a crew chief). Of course, other times, rules just so happen to get changed by organization
Hamburger’s Performance Takes the Drama Out of LS Swaps
Thanks to its light weight and highly efficient design, GM’s LS-engine series has become the go-to replacement for the traditional Chevy small block or big block. However, swapping one of these updated powerplants into a classic vehicle presents a number of fitment issues with the factory oil pan. Now Hamburger’s Performance has made swapping a
Lunati Voodoo Crankshafts
The backbone of your engine and the foundation of your bottom end is the crankshaft. Voodoo Crankshafts from Lunati are engineered from 4340 non-twist forged steel that is known for its durability and strength in high-performance applications. All Voodoo Cranks are nitride heat treated with micro-polished journals to add even more durability. Lightening holes in the rod
Thermal Cleaning a Cast Iron Intake Manifold
John Edwards at Costa Mesa R&D Automotive Machine Shop shows you how to perform thermal cleaning on a Small Block Chevy intake manifold using the Sunnenn TCS (thermal cleaning system).
Building a 392 Magnum for the Independence Fund
Ever since the column I did in about stroker motors a few years ago (“Love the One You’re With,” Engine Builder, March 2010), the idea of building one of these engines, a less than everyday stroker combination, has been on my mind. To recap, the premise of the article was simple — Look at the
Building Blocks: The Foundation of Any Engine Build
Every engine project starts with the block because the block is the foundation for everything else that follows. The block determines bore and stroke, camshaft and lifter location, oil pump location and oil galley configuration, what kind of main bearing caps can be used to support the crankshaft, and what kind of cylinder heads, oil
Blast From the Past: Learning to Race Pro Stock
My transition in 1975 from bracket racing a 122˝ wheelbase mid-eleven second, two-ton ’57 Mercury to racing in a low nine-second 99˝ wheelbase, Pinto Pro Stock car, was quite a jump. I was jaded with bracket racing and wanted to run heads up – all out with a door car. So, Pro Stock was it.
New Magnum Performance Gaskets Welcomed at PRI Show
Indianapolis, IN – The 2013 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, held December 12-14 at the Indiana Convention Center, was undoubtedly the biggest and best in the show’s long-running history. It was the perfect opportunity for the “who’s who” of the racing and street performance business to get acquainted with the new line of Magnum Performance
MSI Introduces Lineup of Magnum Performance Gasket Sets
High performance enthusiasts now have a new option for top-quality performance gaskets. MSI (Modern Silicone Technologies Inc.) has introduced a lineup of 80 new retail-packaged Magnum Performance Gasket sets. These cover the most popular Chevy, Ford and Chrysler small block and big block V8s, as well as the GM LS family of engines, which are
Manifold Matchmaker – Tips for Selecting the Right Manifold for Your Engine Build
Every engine needs some type of intake manifold to route air into the engine’s cylinders. With carbureted engines, the intake manifold has a wet plenum and runners because the manifold has to flow air and atomized fuel at the same time. Consequently, the manifold runners can’t turn or twist too sharply otherwise the heavier fuel
Hydrocarbon Heartburn? — Effects of Sulfur Reduction in Motor Oils
Let’s face it, things change. Not only have the prices of gasoline, diesel and motor oils changed in the last decade or so, the chemical makeup of these products have all changed, too. The reduction of sulfur in diesel fuel, gasoline and motor oil has had measurable effects on fuel injectors and other vital engine
Fuel Feature: Eliminating Poor Throttle Response
Impact of Today’s Gasoline on Carbureted Engines The pump gasoline sold at gas stations around the country has changed quite a bit over the last several decades. The first major change was the removal of lead from the gasoline. The next major change was to reformulate the gasoline to reduce both the evaporative and exhaust
Shop Solutions: October 2013 Issue
Balloons Belong at Birthday Parties Not in Transmissions I rebuilt a 454 GM engine that went into a motorhome application. It ran well, and no problems immediately appeared. But later on, it was towed in with a main bearing failure in the thrust area. I gave the customer another engine, and a month later it
Maintaining Your Balance: Engine Building Tips to Reduce NVH and Increase Life
A high revving racing engine obviously needs a good balance to minimize these destructive forces, but balancing can be just as beneficial to low revving engines, too. Nobody would argue with the fact that engine balancing is right up there with “blueprinting” an engine. The goal is to equalize the reciprocating and rotating forces inside
Impact of Today’s Fuels on Carbureted Engines
The pump gasoline sold at gas stations around the country has changed quite a bit over the last several decades. The first major change was the removal of lead from the gasoline. The next major change was to reformulate the gasoline to reduce both the evaporative and exhaust emissions from vehicles. Then, the federal government
