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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Engine Tech | O-Ring Measuring and Material
There are numerous small parts on your engine that are always overlooked, and O-rings are definitely on that list. “What can go wrong” is usually the mindset when choosing a small rubber seal; however, choosing the right O-ring for the task is critical. The wrong O-ring could be the cause […]
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Performance Tech | Drag Racing 102
So you finally made it to your first drag strip. You launch your car, get to the finish line safely, and on your way back, the track employee gives you a receipt. Your friend tells you that it’s your time slip, so you take a photo of it pointing at […]
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Performance Tech | Drag Racing 101
Drag racing is one of the truest forms of racing. After all, there are no points for style and you certainly don’t have to go around a circuit for hours before you’re announced a winner. Instead, a quarter-mile is all it takes and the rush is real. Not too long […]
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Engine Tech | Supertech’s S54 Cylinder Head Spit Shim Solution
Of all the common engine configurations, the inline-six-cylinder design outshines all others in terms of strength and reliability. The reasons are simple. Each and every connecting rod has its dedicated rod journal (no sharing like V6 and V8s), and a total of seven main caps hold the crankshaft in place […]
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Engine Tech | G54B Head Development
Simple answers deliver convenience over accuracy. The simple answer to why Mitsubishi’s 4G54B engine struggled to deliver serious performance while its 4G63 engine shined is usually attributed to the number of valves per cylinder. While this answer is convenient, it’s far from accurate. The number of valves per cylinder is […]
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