Every car enthusiast loves the sound of an engine starting. We all look forward to starting the combustion process so we can hear that sweet sound from our engine – but not the way I experienced it. Roughly two months ago, I got in my car to get to DSPORT so […]
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Engine Tech | Choosing the Right Head Studs
Today’s import-performance engines are generating more power per cylinder than ever before. On the street or at the track, it is not uncommon for these engines to be modified to generate four to six times the original horsepower output. There are now four-cylinder engines generating over 1,500 horsepower while six-cylinder […]
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Quick Tech | RB26 Cylinder Head and Valvetrain Survival Guide: Part 1
While the recent influx of RB-powered GT-Rs has caused a flood of RB engine builds, DSPORT has been developing the RB26 engine for the past 20 years. While others are relying upon an abundance of misinformation on the internet, we know what works and what doesn’t and we’ve been the […]
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Engine Tech | Dumb Ways to Die…for your Engine
You finally get back your valve cover from the powder coater with the sick new finish that sets off your engine compartment. Days later, your engine has spun a rod bearing and needs to be rebuilt. Can these seemingly unrelated events be connected? Can a simple cosmetic upgrade kill an […]
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Engine Tech | Maximizing 10th Gen Civic Si Performance
All Honda Civics are happier turbocharged and the import performance aftermarket figured this out back in the mid ‘90s when a DRAG turbo kit was king. It took Honda nine generations of the Civic to finally concede that Boost is Best! Today, the 10th-generation Civic relies upon the efficient and […]
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Quick Tech | Drive-By-Wire Throttle Systems
Drive-by-wire (DBW) throttle is a technology that is hated by some and praised by others. Purists often claim that DBW throttle bodies disconnect the driver from the engine. They argue that throttle response is slower than a cable throttle and that the OEM uses DBW throttle bodies to limit the […]
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Quick Tech | SAFR Paint Remover
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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