374WHP Miata Lightin’ Fires, Smokin’ Tires
Trade ups can sometimes be disguised as trade downs, but in desperate times, running machines beat broken ones anytime. In fact, the trade down can sometimes be downright embarrassing. Jeff Guillote shared his experience with such a trade down and how it changed the course of his brand loyalty going […]
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The World’s Most Streetable 8-second Nissan R33 GT-R | Project RH8
When are you going to put your car on the cover? I’ve been asked that question since we started the magazine 13 years ago. Our venerable Project RH8 that started life as Project RH9 has served as a regular project vehicle since the launch of DSPORT. In fact, the vehicle […]
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Twin Turbocharged VQ-powered Datsun 240Z
Technology is about progression, not regression. It moves us forward, and with each advancement, improvements in efficiency and performance are realized. Newer engines generally benefit from new technology, and making more power efficiently can be seen as a win-win situation to the enthusiast. The idea of modernizing a classic by […]
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Wraps, Coatings & Treatments | Getting the Extra Edge
Sometimes using the best parts made of the highest quality materials isn’t enough. Fortunately, specialized coatings and treatments can be used to increase performance and reliability from your engine and the components it contains. These new technologies not only allow additional power and torque to be produced but also increase […]
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600 HP Turbocharged Honda S2000
There’s something in the air in Colorado, and it’s not smoke clouds. We’re talking about the impeccable tuning culture of Coloradans. During DSPORT’s latest visit to the Centennial State, for the IDRC’s Street Tuner Mayhem event at Bandimere Speedway, we quickly took notice of hundreds of high quality modified imports. […]
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Exhaust 101: Moving Up By Moving Out
Turbo exhaust manifolds, headers, downpipes and cat-back exhaust systems are all designed to increase performance by improving the exhaust flow out of the engine. On “all-motor” applications, the proper header and cat-back exhaust can reduce pumping loss, increase scavenging and improve cylinder filling to maximize volumetric efficiency, torque and power. […]
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1,188 HP RB30 Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R
RB26 or 2JZ? Which is the best six-cylinder import performance engine of all time? Nissan fans will tell you about the legendary breathing ability of the RB cylinder head and the incredible 10,000-plus RPM potential of its short-stroke design. Toyota 2JZ fans brag about the displacement advantage that the longer-stoke […]
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Intake Manifold 101: Ensuring the Cylinders are Working Their Best
Every cylinder in your engine is a member of the same team. The goal of this team is to make maximum power. When every member of the team is putting forth an equal effort, the engine runs smoother, stronger and more reliably than ever before. When one or more cylinders […]
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Jotech Racing’s 948whp E85 Nissan R35 GT-R Daily Driver
Leave well enough alone.” For tuners, this is nearly impossible, especially when working with high performance vehicles. The temptation to modify turns seemingly innocent bolt ons into full-tilt engine builds. Just ask Jotech Racing’s Kenny Tran. Tran has built many high-horsepower cars for professional drag racing in addition to Japanese […]
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715 whp Daily-Driven Street/Strip Acura Integra
There was a time when a turbo Integra was the epitome of import performance. A GS-R with a bolt-on DRAG kit would deliver about 300 horsepower to the wheels which was enough to smoke the tires at will. Sawing off Corvettes and 5.0s at a time when import performance wasn’t […]
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The Automotive Valvetrain and How It Works
“Nobody gets in or out unless I say so,” said the camshaft to the valves. The valves represent the doors into and out of the cylinders of the engine. How wide these doors are opened, for how long they’re open and when they open and close are all dictated by […]
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The Science Behind Modern Performance Engine Bearings | Simple Complexity
They look simple enough. They are just half circles of thin metal usually sporting a semi-dull finish. Nowadays, some even sport a coating. In reality, those simple-looking engine bearings are the result of complex sciences and manufacturing processes. Understanding the function, the history and the ways of optimizing the performance […]
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Daily-Driven 451 WHP Mitsubishi EVO IX
“I love it when a plan comes together!” Hannibal Smith states it best and Brian Nguyen couldn’t agree more. Brian, a UCR accounting graduate, analyzes every angle before embarking on his projects. When he purchased his second EVO IX, this 2006 SE, he had several objectives in mind. He wanted […]
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Cylinder Head 101: Getting the Chambers and Ports In Shape
Like the cylinder block, the cylinder head is also responsible for holding a number of other components, namely the valvetrain. The valve guides, valve seats, valves, valve springs, valve retainers, valve locks, buckets, followers, lash caps and camshafts are all fitted to the cylinder head. In addition to this responsibility, […]
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