Friction is a parasite that consumes energy and craps heat. When you allow friction to go unchecked, it will waste your power, burn your fuel and cook your parts. On the contrary, employing a friction reduction strategy delivers significant benefits. Reducing friction reduces waste and reduces heat. Less waste and […]
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Quick Tech | Automotive Relays
It’s the current that kills you. Currents above 10 milliamps can induce muscle contractions so strong that the victim cannot let go of the wire that’s shocking them. At 20 milliamps, breathing can become labored, while 75 milliamps can cause breathing to cease. At 100 milliamps, ventricular fibrillation of the […]
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Engine Tech | Fuel Flow Bottlenecks
In the previous issue of DSPORT, we addressed all of the possible air flow restrictions that could be serving as bottlenecks. However, simply eliminating all of the airflow bottlenecks only completes half the job. For peak performance and reliability, fuel flow needs to be optimized as well. Too much air […]
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Engine Tech | Boxer, Inline, or V?
We all love making power. Most people know a lot about their engines, from its displacement and configuration, to its benefits and shortcomings. However, many don’t look outside of their engine bays to see what other types of configurations are out there. There are various types of engines that convert […]
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Camshaft Test | B-Series Blox Racing Camshafts
When we last left our friendly-neighborhood Project CRX (Issue #180), we were testing the BLOX Racing 4-2-1 performance headers. These headers allowed our B17A engine to hit the 170 horsepower mark at the wheels. That equates to a very respectable 200 horsepower at the flywheel, pretty impressive for a 1.7-liter […]
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Engine Tech | Air Flow Bottlenecks
In the manufacturing of an issue of DSPORT Magazine, the speed and capabilities of the bindery at our printer represents the bottleneck. You can get faster presses to print more pages and forms per hour, and you can get more automation and labor to box and package the final magazines. […]
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Test & Tune: 2018 Honda Civic Type R | Part 1: Intake, Exhaust, Reflash and Intercooler
Spoiler alert: The Type R doesn’t like making power. Due to a stubborn ECU, this system has set torque tables in place that make it extremely challenging to increase power using popular bolt-ons that have proven to realize gains before. Powered by a 2.0-liter inline-four engine, the Type R delivers […]
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WRX VS BRZ FA20 Cylinder Heads: Part 1 Flow Bench
While they may share many similarities, the differences between the cylinder head on the FA20 engine found in the WRX and the BRZ/FR-S/86 are vast. Instead of taking the “let’s keep it simple” approach to making a turbo and non-turbo variant of an engine, Subaru opted to optimize each engine […]
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Head Torque Plate Solutions | Save Valves and Improve Efficiency
Bent or warped valves and reduced engine efficiency have plagued our 1,300+whp RB26DETT engine ever since we pushed beyond the 1,000whp mark a few years ago. For the longest time, we chalked up the bent or warped valves to extreme temps and the rigors of life at 600 horsepower per […]
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Quick Tech: Dragy GPS-Based Performance Meter
How fast is your car? If you own a performance vehicle that has or hasn’t been modified, chances are you’ve been asked this question dozens of times. If your car is unmodified maybe you respond with the best times recorded by an automotive magazine for your platform. If your car […]
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Brake Tech 201 | Part 1: Understanding Upgrades
If you build enough project vehicles, there will come a time when you either have a need or a want to improve the braking system. In most cases, the parts you need to meet your goals will be available off the shelf. However, you may need a custom solution to […]
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The 2018 86 Challenge Presented by ENEOS
We did it! For the past few months, we’ve been working on the 2018 DSPORT 86 Challenge Presented by ENEOS. The Challenge is designed to explore forced-induction solutions for the popular FA20 engine in the Toyota 86/Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ. We brought five stock cars and equipped them with five different […]
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The 2018 DSPORT 86 Challenge Presented by ENEOS: Mishimoto
You may have a lot of friends on the track, but heat is not one of them. As you increase your engine’s power, parts tend to move even quicker than they once did. This makes components hotter, which is when things tend to go South. All things cooling start with […]
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The 2018 DSPORT 86 Challenge Presented by ENEOS: Toyo Tires
When it comes to the track, tires can single handedly make you or break you. There is no point of reaching for more power if you can’t maintain a solid grip. For each type of motorsports, different tire compounds are used that optimize the given purpose. Tires that last a […]
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The 2018 DSPORT 86 Challenge Presented by ENEOS: ST Suspensions
The world of suspension modifications is enough to overwhelm you and make you reconsider racing. Adjusting camber curves, ride frequencies, roll centers, and about a hundred other things can get frustrating. If you are an occasional-track kind of person, you should worry about a few things first before diving deep […]
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