Have you ever looked down at your phone and thought “How the hell did I survive before this amazing invention?” Seriously, I probably know two or three people’s phone numbers and get step-by-step directions to at least 50-percent of the places I go. Put aside the constant social contact through […]
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Three Ways to Fix a Damaged Thread | Insert Tech 101
Strippers can be expensive. Stop thinking rap stars, lap dances and sports celebrities. We are talking about a “stripper” in terms of a hole that has had its threads stripped out or damaged. In addition to being expensive to repair, strippers also require a great deal of time and usually […]
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Alignment Tech | Optimize Your Handling Performance
If you’re running “hellaflush” levels of negative camber on your streetcar and deem it fast, you should be ashamed of yourself. Extreme camber and an ultra-low ride height may sound like a good idea to some, but there’s a harsh reality that too often goes unknown. This kind of setup […]
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Dyno Tech Guide Part One: Choosing the Right Dyno
Nearly 20 years ago, I was fresh out of college and working for Turbo & High-Tech Performance magazine. Back then, so little was known about import performance. There was no information and no resources to turn to as no one had pushed import performance as we would. The racers, enthusiasts […]
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Dyno Tech Guide Part Two: The Test Cars
Project Patience: Supra is Waiting for it’s Time to Shine Waiting for a project to be completed ranks high on the list of enthusiast anxieties. Delays seem almost unavoidable and often add to the frustration and anticipation. For Brent Huckaby, a certified American Petroleum Institute inspector, dealing with these issues […]
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Dyno Tech Guide Part Three: The Verdict + Dyno Showcase
Is the Percent of Power Gained Going to Be the Same From Dyno to Dyno? NO While some dynos showed comparable gains at specific RPMs, other engine speeds showed much different gains. Since different dynos have varying algorithms on how the load is applied, the boost curve is affected. Hence […]
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Fuel Tech 201
Attention to detail is often the difference between winning and losing. Fuel Tech 101 explored the basic components that make up the fuel system: fuel tank, fuel filter(s), fuel lines, fuel rail, fuel pressure regulator and fuel injectors. Fuel Tech 101 also detailed the math behind choosing pumps and injectors […]
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Valvetrain 201: Flow, Seal, Expel and Repeat
Click Here to Read Our 101 Guide to Understanding the Valvetrain Control the flow in, seal the Cylinder during compression and combustion then expel the exhaust and repeat. An engine’s valvetrain is responsible for establishing the exact timing and magnitude of each of the four cycles. The camshaft(s) and the […]
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Engine Tech 201: Bottom End | Pistons, Rods, Cranks, Bearings and Sleeves
It’s been said that “You have to start from the bottom, if you want to get to the top.” The same can be said about building a top-performing engine. One needs to start building up the bottom end if they wish to realize top-level performance. Whereas turbochargers, superchargers, camshafts and […]
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Suspension 201: High-Performance Coilovers
BOOKS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ILLUSTRATING THE MATH, SCIENCE and design of suspension systems. In the case of coil-over suspension systems, buyers must consider price, application, construction and adjustment capabilities when selecting the best coil-over system for their vehicle. If the objective is to simply achieve a decent ride on a […]
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Shock Tuning 101: Dyno your Dampers for Optimized Handling
Like the elegantly simple yet intriguingly complex rubik’s cube, setting up automotive suspension is a bit of a mystery that’s difficult to decipher. When analyzing an original 3x3x3 Rubik’s cube, there are a daunting 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 combinations in which you can orient the little squares. Even with over 43 quintillion combinations, […]
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A Stiffer Chassis? Vehicle Torsional Rigidity Explained
When a new generation of a vehicle is released you will always hear “The new chassis is XX-percent stiffer.” Instead of saying “That’s impressive,” the more common response is to simply think “So what?” While 99-percent of automotive buyers understand the advantage of more power, nearly the same percentage wouldn’t […]
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How to Properly Tune your ECU for Power, Efficiency, and Reliability
Before the advent of plug-and-play engine management systems, affordable UEGO sensors, and open-source reflash programs, the number of engine management “tuners” were limited. Before plug-and-play, a stand-alone system required hours for proper installation of the flying-lead harness. The complexity of the install deterred many from learning the skills necessary for […]
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Fuel 101: Race Gas, Octane, and Alternative Fuels Explained
What you feed your engine determines it’s ultimate performance. The nutritional performance needs of an engine are influenced by a number of factors. Some of the most important factors include compression ratio, rpm potential and boost pressure (on forced induction applications). Engines that run higher compression ratios (above 10:1), operate […]
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Monitoring Engine Vitals 101: Are You in the Data Loop?
Every vehicle on the road has gauges. From entry-level compact cars to ultra high performance vehicles, monitoring the most basic to the most complex engine and chassis vitals is essential. Typical gauges cover basic information such as fuel level, coolant temperature range, and engine and vehicle speed. High-performance vehicles go […]
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