One-thousand horsepower, four-cylinder engines are today’s reality in import drag racing. This reality includes the leading-edge forced induction and engine-management technologies that make power production the easy part of building a racecar. Today’s performance engines are running at higher boost pressure levels and higher compression ratios than ever before. Understanding […]
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How to Properly Tune your ECU for Power, Efficiency, and Reliability
Before the advent of plug-and-play engine management systems, affordable UEGO sensors, and open-source reflash programs, the number of engine management “tuners” were limited. Before plug-and-play, a stand-alone system required hours for proper installation of the flying-lead harness. The complexity of the install deterred many from learning the skills necessary for […]
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Clearing Up Your Headlight Restoration Concerns
Cloudy and hazy headlight lenses make your car look like it’s suffering from a terrible case of cataracts. Not only do they look weathered, they also reduce the amount of light being projected and potentially impede the ability to see as well at night. This was hardly an issue prior […]
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Fuel 101: Race Gas, Octane, and Alternative Fuels Explained
What you feed your engine determines it’s ultimate performance. The nutritional performance needs of an engine are influenced by a number of factors. Some of the most important factors include compression ratio, rpm potential and boost pressure (on forced induction applications). Engines that run higher compression ratios (above 10:1), operate […]
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Monitoring Engine Vitals 101: Are You in the Data Loop?
Every vehicle on the road has gauges. From entry-level compact cars to ultra high performance vehicles, monitoring the most basic to the most complex engine and chassis vitals is essential. Typical gauges cover basic information such as fuel level, coolant temperature range, and engine and vehicle speed. High-performance vehicles go […]
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Engine Cooling System 101: Keepin it Cool
Enthusiasts purchase aftermarket performance products for two main reasons: 1) to make the vehicle perform better and/or 2) to improve the vehicle’s toughness and reliability. For some enthusiasts, it’s all about performance; for others, reliability is the key. However, the vast majority of tuners address both performance and reliability in […]
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Engine Lubrication 101: Controlling the Flow
The human body can’t live without blood. Blood delivers oxygen, nutrients and other essential substances to the body and its organs. Similarly, oil serves an essential role in the performance and operation of the engine. Oil is responsible for lubricating, cooling and removing contaminants for nearly all moving parts. However, […]
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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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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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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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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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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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Engine Fasteners 101: Keeping It All Together
The power potential of an engine platform increases as you increase the redline potential of the engine. However, one would assume that doubling the engine RPM doubles the load on all of the reciprocating components. In fact, the actual relationship between engine speed and load is as follows. The load […]
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Head Gasket 101: The Ultimate Matchmaker
Metal. liquid, or composite, the main function of any gasket is the same: seal the deal. Depending on the pressures to be contained, the flatness of the mating surfaces and the fluid being transferred there’s an ideal material and design for the gasket. Nearly all critical sealing surfaces on high-performance […]
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