DSPORT Issue #254 By Michael Ferrara // Images by Jun Chen Why copper? With the increasing availability of high-performance, multi-layer-steel (MLS) head gaskets, one might question why anyone would want to use something different. While MLS head gaskets might make sense on the majority of high-performance engine builds, copper head gaskets […]
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How To | Electrolytic Rust Removal
DSPORT Issue #249 Text by Michael Ferrara Rust sucks, but it’s a Reality foR iRon and many steel alloys that encounter moisture and air. Once you have a part that develops rust, you’ll probably want to find a way to remove the rust. While there are numerous chemical, mechanical and even […]
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Tech Series | Nitrous Basics and Beyond: Pt. 2
DSPORT Issue #252 Text by Michael Ferrara // Photos by Joe Singleton Feeling a little hot? Under some massive pressure? Chances are that you act differently in hot and high-pressure situations versus cooler, low-pressure circumstances. Like most chemical compounds, nitrous oxide also behaves differently based on the temperature and pressure of […]
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Tech Series | “L” is for LEGAL, The Ultimate Swap?
DSPORT Issue #267 Text by Michael Ferrara No matter how new you are to the performance market, chances are you know something about engine swaps. Old hot-rodders swapped small block Chevy (SBC) engines in place of Ford flatheads beginning in the late 1950s. This trend continued for the next 40 years […]
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Tech Series | Nitrous Basics and Beyond: Pt. 1
DSPORT Issue #251 Text by Michael Ferrara Dollar for dollar, there isn’t another “power adder” that can deliver the power increases of a nitrous-oxide system. In the early days of the import performance movement, hidden “dry” single nozzle nitrous kits were the reason why a few cars were killing it at […]
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Quick Tech | Cooling System Pressure Check
During the chase for more horsepower, we often neglect the rest of our systems. While our engines could provide us with plenty of power to put smiles on our faces, failing to address other systems that keep our engines running reliably could quickly eliminate these smiles. Since heat is the […]
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How To: Tuning Wastegate Actuators for Twin-Turbo Duty
There is nothing more frustrating than being part of a two-man team where you are doing more than half the work. When subtle hints don’t get the lazy half up to speed, the end result can be a very vocal argument. Each of the turbos on a twin-turbo engine feel […]
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2000 Honda S2000 | McLeod Street Tuner Clutch Installation
2000 Honda S2000 Clutch Install Our project Honda S2000 clocks in with 366,000 miles on the odometer, with only two clutch changes in its whole life. As put together plans to bring the car back up to snuff, a new clutch was added to the list. Given that the car […]
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2000 Honda S2000 | Energy Suspension Polyurethane Bushings Installation
2000 Honda S2000 Polyurethane Bushings Install In Issue #170 of DSPORT Magazine, we upgraded our project 2016 Mazda MX-5 from factory rubber suspension bushings to Energy Suspension’s Hyper-Flex polyurethane bushings. Although the car was new and the stock bushings were in perfect condition, we still discovered significantly improved lap times […]
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How To: DIY Paint Chip & Scratch Repair
It’s going to happen. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, there’s going to be an incident that causes a paint chip on your vehicle. It can happen in your garage, at the track, in a parking lot…anywhere. Recently our GT-R received a nasty chip on the edge […]
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2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata ND Energy Suspension Polyurethane Bushings Installation
Polyurethane Bushings: Getting the Most Out of Your 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata If you’ve had a look at issue #170, you’ve seen the benefits of making the switch over to polyurethane suspension bushings. When we tested Energy Suspension’s Hyper-Flex polyurethane bushings on our 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata, we found notable […]
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How To: Five Ways to Build a Bulletproof Engine Block
What is bulletproofing? In terms of high-performance engines, bulletproofing refers to increasing the power handling capacity of an engine beyond the desired power level. Depending on the design of the engine and the magnitude of the power handling increase desired, the bulletproofing process will vary. The parts and processes needed […]
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Why and How to Degree Your DOHC Engine | Proper Camshaft Timing for Peak Performance and Minimal Headaches
Have you decked your block? Resurfaced your head? Installed an aftermarket crankshaft or camshafts? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, your camshaft timing may not be what the camshaft manufacturer specified. Improper cam timing can lead to reduced performance, increased fuel consumption and an increased likelihood of […]
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Dry Ice Tech: Doesn’t Fit? Freeze It!
Sometimes tough luck will find you at the worst possible moment. The only thing you can do is assess the situation, formulate a game plan and execute it. Project Silvia’s SR23 presented an unusual hurdle as we prepared for a NASA HPDE track event. During a routine oil change, an […]
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