Often times, the simplest tasks could be the cause of extreme issues. Something as simple as removing some old paint using a traditional paint stripper could cause serious damage to humans when methylene chloride fumes are inhaled. After more than 64 horrific cases since 1980, something had to be done […]
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Quick Tech | Piston Skirt Abradable Powder Coating
While you might’ve had the time of your life rocking out at an AC/DC concert, your engine won’t be having the time of its life if its pistons are rocking excessively. While all pistons exhibit some amount of “rock,” modified engines are more likely to have a more significant “rocking” […]
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Quick Tech | Stainless Steel Brake Lines
Saving $10 or $20 on a part or two may not sound like a big deal. However, if you could save an average of $10 on 20 different parts then that adds up to $200. Now, if you could save that $200 on 500,000 occasions, you would save 100 million […]
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Power Tech | New Engine Oil System Priming
With the original small block Chevy engines, priming the oiling system was an easy affair. A priming tool was sent down the hole where the distributor was normally located and a connection to the oil pump shaft was made. From there, you would fill the engine with oil and then […]
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Quick Tech | Turbo vs Supercharger
More power. We all want it and there is usually more than one way to get it. Serious solutions will involve a “power adder” in the form of a supercharger, turbocharger or nitrous-oxide injection system. These power adders can add anywhere from 30-to-300-percent more power. For those looking for big […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Engine Tech | Part 1: World’s Quickest Air Cooled Bug
Get ready for me to piss off a bunch a people again. Making a big peak power number on a turbo engine is easy. It does not take a genius. The recipe is simple. Simply select a big turbo (enough airflow capacity), crank up the boost, add enough fuel and […]
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Quick Tech | Tomei USA Titanium RB26 Front Pipe
Titanium. It not only delivers exceptional performance, it also sports an unmistakable look. Even the name “titanium” sounds cool. For years, titanium parts have been something that everyone wants, but not everyone can afford. A few years back, TOMEI USA started offering titanium cat-back exhaust systems at pricing that was […]
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Engine Tech | DART SHP LS Next Pro : Part 1
An LS engine swap usually provides double or triple the displacement of the four or six-cylinder engine it replaces. All other factors being equal, more displacement translates into more torque and horsepower. While a good number of LS swaps are done with junkyard parts on a budget, choosing the right […]
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