Browsing: Projects

D’Garage | Project Budget Luxury Tow

At some point in your project building career, you are likely to come to a realization that having a tow vehicle is a good idea. Back in 2005, DSPORT purchased a RAM 3500 pickup with a Cummins diesel. This vehicle proved to be an excellent choice for hauling merchandise to trade shows and events or trailering a project car. However, it’s only during those outings that we really use “the truck.” Since it doesn’t make sense for everyone to have such a specialized-use vehicle in their stable, we started thinking about the concept of a budget-oriented, luxury vehicle that could…

LA Sleeve Subaru BRZ Build Part:3

When LA Sleeve tasked us with building a company demo car that would have broad appeal, the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 platform was the obvious choice. The aftermarket support for these models is second to none. It’s a great platform that can be made to do just about anything. When LA Sleeve also asked us to make the project both unique and impressive, that’s when things got interesting. Text by Michael Ferrara / Photos by Joe Singleton Let’s Force It While we could have explored building an all motor FA20 engine, a great deal of effort and expense may have…

LA Sleeve’s Subaru BRZ Build Part:2

While many have encountered challenges with FA20D development, we’ve experienced the exact opposite. Our Club DSPORT FA21D (2.1-liter stroker variant) engines are thriving with turbocharged examples delivering over 560 horsepower to the wheels on E85 or Japanese premium pump gas (98 RON). In fact, Phoenix’s Power recently used one of the Club DSPORT FA21D short blocks in a street car to set the top speed record for an 86/BRZ in Japan. While the Club DSPORT FA21D engines use the original 86mm bore size (and no sleeves), Club DSPORT concurrently developed its FA225D engine program that features a sleeved 89mm bore…

D’Garage | Supreme Power BMW M2

Manufacturers may label their performance vehicles as “sports cars,” but 99-percent of the time these cars are hardly ready for a performance driving environment. What does everyone tell you to do before you take any car to the track? They give you a checklist, usually suggesting at minimum to replace the brake fluid and brake pads, then swap out wheels and tires, then suspension, and the list goes on. When the receipts start adding up, no one can blame you for feeling cheated that your sports car required so much money and effort to just survive a track day. Very…

LA Sleeve’s Subaru BRZ Build Part:1

If you decide to do it, do it right! When it comes to demo-cars, companies cannot afford to cut any corners. Such builds are made to be the cutting-edge of what can be done with that platform. There are no limits. Every part for that car is intended to be the best one possible, showing that the company is only in it to outdo everyone else’s build. To display the essence of its business, LA Sleeve asked DSPORT to build a demo-car that will represent them properly. LA Sleeve has been in the business of sleeving engines for both performance…

D’Garage | Part:1 REMARK / GReddy VW Golf GTI MK7

DGARAGE Remove the games of drafting behind other cars, playing chicken in braking zones, or sharing the road as you battle in tight corners and you have time attack racing; one of the purest forms of motorsport. The goal is simple: build the fastest car possible and put a capable driver behind the wheel. When the winner is determined only by the quickest lap time, there are no politics and no excuses. While Time Attack racing in the United States doesn’t hit on the glitz and glamour of IndyCar or NASCAR, it still serves as a premiere proving ground for…

Engineering the 2ZZ-GE For Boosted Performance

Bigger, better, stronger, faster. It’s a simple mantra spoken by many performance enthusiasts. When it comes to increasing an engine’s performance, making it bigger (increasing displacement), better (more efficient), stronger (capable of sustaining higher power output) and faster (capable of higher peak RPMs) is a solid plan to follow. While there are a number of aftermarket companies that offer the stroker kits and valvetrain upgrades to build a “B.B.S.F.” engine, there are times when one may want or have to engineer solutions from scratch. Custom crankshafts, custom pistons and custom rods are sometimes the only path for a specific goal.…

D’Garage Project KA S14 | Building A Bulletproof Turbo Testing Machine

FOUR CYLINDERS, IRON BLOCK AND READY TO ROCK. NISSAN’S KA24DE engine sports a 2.4-liter displacement, dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.5:1. In many ways, the design of the KA24DE makes it the perfect candidate for a high-horsepower, turbocharged setup. For that very reason, we’ve been beefing up our Project KA to become the solid foundation for an extreme test of turbocharger technology. Text and Photos by Jun Chen The Goal For every person that understands how a turbocharger works, there are likely hundreds of others who don’t. Even owners of turbocharged vehicles may…

D’Garage Mazda MX5 | AVO Turboworld’s Solution for the ND Miata

There are only two types of people on this earth. Those who love driving Miatas and those that make fun of people that enjoy driving Miatas. While the ND Miata has an emerging new fanbase, no one can argue that more power would make the car more fun. Unfortunately, the basic bolt-on intake, exhaust and header provide only a snack for those hungry for more power. For those with a real appetite for performance, AVO now offers a complete turbo system solution for the ND MX-5. Designed to provide an OEM fit, feel and finish, AVO touts the system as…

Project Fiesta ST Part Five | E85, More Boost and More Fuel Equals More Power

Often overshadowed by the big power members in the D’Garage, our Project Party Time Fiesta ST takes this month’s spotlight as we check in on its quest for 400whp. A switch to E85, an additional port fuel injection system and some dyno time pushed the 1.6L EcoBoost closer to its goal. While we are going to feel a great deal more comfortable once the built engine is in place, getting as much tuning on the stock engine completed will only be a benefit in the future. By Michael Ferrara History Back in issue #170 (August 2016), we introduced the Full-Race…

New Brakes, Tires, Aero, & Chassis Parts | Project Mazda MX-5 Miata Part Four

You don’t know the meaning of handling unless you’ve driven a go kart, a formula racecar, or a Miata. Many like to boast the handling capabilities of a new platform on the market or their personal track car, which very well could be excellent handling cars. The difference with something like a go kart or a track-prepared Miata, however, is that experiencing these vehicles at their limits around a race track is near violent. Stand on the brakes before a corner and you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. Throw the steering wheel into a hard turn and you’ll…

Fuel Pumps, Lines, Injectors & ECU Make it E85 Ready | Project Time Capsule R34 GT-R: Part 3

Everything changed when E85 came to town. The days of having separate tunes for pump gas versus race gas are now just a memory for many. Every day, more enthusiasts make the switch to E85. If you are blessed enough to live in an area that has access to this fuel, why wouldn’t you make the switch? You can crank up the boost to make the same power as most race gasolines, yet the cost is less than pump gas. Adding a flex-fuel sensor to the mix provides total fuel compatibility so not having an E85 station on your route…

The Right Combination: Suspension, Wheels & Tires for Quicker Lap Times | Project MX-5 Miata ND Part 3

Many auto enthusiasts seem to think that they have a good idea of their car’s capabilities, but the truth is many of them haven’t even come close to finding the limit. After taking our 2016 Mazda MX-5 around the track for its first D’Garage feature, the Miata came back to the DSPORT shop for its next round of upgrades. In anticipation of future track days and race events, the ND MX-5 took to some new solutions to improve its cooling and handling, exceeding expectations of what the car could really do on a racetrack. Text and Photos by Cameron Parsons…

D’Garage Project Mazda MX-5 Miata Part Two | Power and Handling Upgrades Shave Lap Times

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is the ultimate example of the saying “don’t knock it ‘til you try it.” Many car snobs look at a vehicle’s list of specifications, skimming past items like suspension design and curb weight, only in search of power output, interior amenities and its ability to make them feel manly. With the MX-5, Mazda treats automotive enthusiasts with a return to the fundamentals of performance – a lightweight platform on a well-balanced chassis that delivers a ton of fun on-track. For our 2016 ND MX-5 project, we chose to exploit its strengths for track use and eventually…

New Turbos and New Personality | Project Time Capsule R34 GT-R: Part 2

When it comes to the R34 GT-R’s RB26 engine, its personality is established by the choice of turbo system. For two decades, turbo upgrades for the RB26 provided either a solid mid-RPM performer for street and track use or a top-end screamer for drag racing. If you were content with 500-600 horsepower, there could be some semblance of response. If you wanted more power, the laggy boost response of a larger turbo would mean that low and mid-RPM performance would be sacrificed. Fortunately, technology has provided a solution. Text by Michael Ferrara // Photos by Joe Singleton and Staff The…

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