Hot Engines for Hot Wheels – the Reality of Building Engines for TV
If one of the most recognizable hosts of one of the most popular automotive-based reality TV shows came calling and asked you to build a blown big block to squeeze into a vintage collector car to help celebrate the history of an iconic toy, would you blink? For Jammie Wells, it’s just another day in the shop.
Hot Engines for Hot Wheels
If one of the most recognizable hosts of one of the most popular automotive-based reality TV shows came calling and asked you to build a blown big block to squeeze into a vintage collector car to help celebrate the history of an iconic toy, would you blink? For Jammie Wells, it’s just another day in
Following the Funks – Aircraft and Tractor Engines
Joe and Howard Funk were born just 30 minutes apart on September 17, 1910 in Akron, OH. Both brothers seemed to have a knack for all things mechanical, and both excelled in drafting and shop classes in school. The brothers took an immediate liking to flying machines, which were becoming quite popular in the Akron area during that time.
Winning With Your Own Engines
As a tech official at RT 66 Drag Strip in Joliet, Ill., since 2004, I have had the opportunity to see hundreds of bracket racing engine combinations. As a bracket racer myself early in my drag racing career I’ve been able to build my own. I’ve had unique opportunities to learn how to build winners that can translate into dollars off the track as well.
Edelbrock Rollin’ Thunder Camshaft For Small-Block Chevrolet Engines
Edelbrock is now offering a new Rollin’ Thunder camshaft for small-block Chevrolet engines. Edelbrock Rollin’ Thunder camshafts are designed to improve horsepower and torque, produce a great sounding performance idle and provide sufficient vacuum.
The Crate Is Dead
Well, maybe not yet. But can you think of anything more boring than the same old 350 Chevy motor in every hot rod at the burger joint on a Friday night? I mean really? I was in a shop recently and commented about the Chrysler Hemi heads on the bench. The shop owner said, “Yeah,
Muscle Car Engines: What’s Old Is New. And The Greates Of All Time
Baby boomers wanted to go fast even if they were just driving to the grocery store. The open road was calling and America answered. But the government intervened and quickly started killing the culture in the early to mid-’70s. Then the gas crisis of the late ’70s put the final nail in the coffin. Or
Building Ford Strokers Engines: Make Most of a Windsor Block
Nijssen, the Apple Valley, CA-based engine builder, operates strokerengine.com and builds domestic V8 engines for the U.S. and international (primarily Australian) enthusiast markets. He says he doesn’t try to push his desire onto the customer. “I don’t sell you what I like, but rather you and I figure out what you really need for power
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
IMCA Engines: Building Engines to Modified Racing Rules
We will point out any differences in rules for the other organizations as we go along. As always, it is a good idea to check with your local track regarding rules in ANY of the divisions you are building engines for. IMCA is the oldest active automobile sanctioning organization in the U.S., which started in
Building Engines for the Street and Strip
A lot of engine builders who sell crate engines as well as custom engines promote “street/strip” engine packages. The implication here is that such engines will run well on the street and still be competitive on the drag strip. These engines are typically rated anywhere from 450 hp up to 650 hp for small blocks,
Building Hot Rods & Muscle Car Engines
Sometimes the best opportunities are cleverly hidden in plain view. As one example, when Chris Lafferty of Lafferty Engine Creations was asked why he opted to expand beyond race engines into the hot rod and muscle car arenas, he snorted, “Just look outside.” His North Carolina facility sits squarely in the middle of both NASCAR
Drag Racing Engines
From the early days of drag racing up until the recent past, racers built everything for their cars themselves, from the engines and chassis to the shop equipment. Most racing teams pulled their racecars to the track behind the family station wagon or pickup truck. The personalities who participated in the sport were as colorful
Custom Rod and Bike Market Reality:Is There a Place in for Custom Engines?
Have you ever dreamed of starring In your own reality television show? Is the human drama and bickering in your shop great enough to hold America’s attention week after week? Well, you may not impress the Nielsen families, but you could guest star as a custom rod or bike engine builder in your own local
Performance Notes, How To Compete With The Crate Motor Business
If you are a regular reader of the performance automotive consumer magazines you may have spotted a trend – many of the feature cars and tech articles are focused on crate motors. To an engine builder specializing in custom high performance engines, and for engine builders looking to get into the performance arena, this could
Holley Gen III HEMI EFI Harnesses
Holley has announced the release of plug-and-play wiring harnesses to use its HP and Dominator EFI systems with Gen III HEMI engines, including the ’03-’10 5.7 & 6.1L, ’11-present 6.4L “392”, and Gen III 426 crate engines. These Holley EFI harnesses provide a plug-and-play solution for the main, injector, ignition coil, and drive-by-wire harnesses needed to fire up your Gen III HEMI with Holley EFI control.
1,004-HP 632 cid Big Block Chevy Engine
While much of the new car talk these days surrounds conversations of eliminating the internal combustion engine from existence for battery-powered EVs, there’s still a few OEMs looking to wet the appetites of us engine lovers. A perfect example is Chevy Performance’s new ZZ632/1000 big block engine – more than 1,000 horsepower and 632 cubic inches of gas guzzling performance!
ProCharged 1,600-HP LSX Engine
Founded in 1929, Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center or (SDPC) is a fourth generation, family owned and operated, wholesaler of GM parts and engines located in Lubbock, TX. Scoggin Dickey Parts Center also has advanced engine machining equipment within its SDPC Raceshop, where complete ground-up engine builds and modified new crate engines are built. The Raceshop can
Karl Kustoms Sponsors Bristol Dirt Nationals
Karl Kustoms, a national retailer of GM crate engines and a specialist in Chevrolet Performance, is the new title sponsor for the Bristol Dirt Nationals in Bristol, TN. The dirt race is taking place March 15-20. The Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals will showcase more than 1,200 racers throughout eight racing classes and multiple sanctioning
ProCharged 400 cid LSX Engine
With a chassis built by Miller Race Cars for a drag racing application, an SDPC Raceshop customer recently got this ProCharged 400 cid LSX engine built, which runs on race gas and methanol. Find out what helps this engine make 1,600 horsepower!
