In 1990, Acura took a chance on a new design, platform, and idea called the NSX. The result was a mid-engine supercar that lives on as one of the best looking vehicles ever produced. While people always mistook it for a Ferrari, the NSX’s naturally-aspirated V6 only delivered 270 horsepower […]
Read More
Engine Tech | Reflash, Piggyback & Stand-Alone ECUs
Twenty-five years ago, “chipping” an OEM ECU for high-performance or racing use left much to be desired. The “piggyback” came to the rescue for some, but others needed to “stand-alone” to unlock the potential of their performance combination. Early stand-alone solutions featured “flying lead” harnesses that required many hours of […]
Read More
532 WHP Acura RSX Type S
Building a car usually comes with a lot of stories. You either went into the project knowing exactly what you wanted, or you had no intentions of starting on such journey before finding yourself all in. Jonathan Ortiz had no plans of building an Acura RSX, but as fate would […]
Read More
Engine Tech | Failure Analysis 101
Henry Ford has been credited with saying, “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” While we often see people trying and trying again after multiple failures, it’s the “this time more intelligently” portion of the advice that many disregard. Not taking advantage of all the […]
Read More
874 WHP Honda Civic Si
Since day one, an Si badge on the back of a Honda Civic meant it was different. This special Civic always came in a manual transmission only, meaning non-car people need not apply. Up until 1999, the Civic Si was only offered as a coupe. Everything about the Honda Civic […]
Read More
163 WHP Toyota Corolla GTS
In a time when most cars were making the transition to front-wheel drive, the Toyota AE86 stayed true to its rear-wheel drive spirit. While it made no real impression at the time, the AE86 became iconic after starring in the Initial D anime. Despite being underpowered, the AE86 serves as […]
Read More
Power Tech | ATI’s 4G63 Damper
Broken oil pump gears, sheared flywheel bolts, loosening clutch cover bolts and damaged bearings are just some of the “fun” that’s in store for your engine if you don’t dampen and control the torsional vibrations in your engine’s crankshaft. The severity and frequency of these vibrations are affected by the […]
Read More
Quick Tech | BOOSTane Octane Booster
While Southern California residents enjoy the weather year-round, the search for high-octane fuel is near impossible. The same struggle can be found in numerous other states. Since what you feed your engine determines its ultimate performance, many enthusiasts make the switch to either E85 gasoline-ethanol mixture, or race gas. The […]
Read More
Engine Tech | Part 1: Stroker & Nitrous 4AGE Build
The 1980s were challenging times for performance. OEMs were experimenting with the transition to fuel injection from carburetors, as increased emission regulations resulted in systems that choked off performance in a big way. In fact, the 5.7-liter in the 1984 Corvette only produced 205bhp at the flywheel. With its 3,200-pound […]
Read More
1,000 WHP Nissan Skyline GTS-T
The world of racing is filled with stories. Each car build brings an entire journey along with it, from cars that were once garage queens, to ones that have never seen tracks. Steve Glassen wrote an iconic tale with his 1992 Nissan Skyline GTS-T. What was once a rolling shell […]
Read More
Quick Tech | PE-Wideband Controller With Bluetooth
If you want to ensure that a vehicle is running right, a wideband air-fuel ratio controller and gauge/monitor is a must. Unfortunately, any installation that requires running wires through the firewall usually leads to hours of positioning your body in contorted positions (that don’t even have names in the most […]
Read More
343 WHP Honda NSX
THE HONDA NSX SUPERCAR DESIGN ENDURED PRODUCTION with few changes over the course of 15 years. Designed at a time when Honda engineers were focused on performance, the NSX featured an all-aluminum unibody, aluminum race-tuned suspension links, a mid-engine layout for balance, a high-specific-output-perliter, variable valve-timing V6 engine and timeless […]
Read More
492 WHP Honda S2000
What does it take to move the spirit and 2,800-pounds too? The roar of 500 horsepower would do the trick. What would move the spirit even more? Doing the work yourself. Corporal Ben Huey’s old Civic was pretty tired, which put him in the market for a new ride. While […]
Read More
1,081 WHP Audi Sport Quattro
When we think of all-wheel drive legends in rally, our minds immediately go to the Mitsubishi Evolution and the Subaru WRX STI. However, well before these two made names for themselves, the Audi Quattro was the benchmark. The Audi Quattro made its way on the scene in 1981 and quickly […]
Read More
Quick Tech | Drag Racing Parachutes 101
The Nissan R35 GT-R had to go through a wind tunnel during testing to ensure there is nearly no resistance as it drives through the wind. The very same car when built for 8-second runs on the drag strip would have to create a lot of resistance in order to […]
Read More