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 | 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 | 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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Quick Tech | Cryo 101 Part:1
Over 20 years ago, I was promised the world. Send me your Talon’s center differential and I’ll cryo treat it and it won’t break anymore. The factory two-spider gear center differential is a known weak link once the transfer case and axles are upgraded on the 1G DSM. Guess what? […]
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Quick Tech: The Ins and Outs of Copper Head Gaskets
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 still have a place. Today, many Top Fuel engines and […]
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Quick Tech: Performance Engine Break-In the Right Way
High oil consumption, excessive smoke through the exhaust, high blow-by, lower than expected power output and increased oil contamination are just some of the possible results of an improper engine break-in or run-in. While production engines in new vehicles are already “broken-in” at the factory, any high-performance “built” engine requires […]
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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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Beyond Blueprinting | Stroking and Poking the Mitsubishi 4B11
Trying to fill the shoes of what many believe to be the best four-cylinder production engine of all time is no easy task. Yet, this is exactly what the 4B11 was asked to do. More modern by design, the 4B11 has its advantages and disadvantages compared to the 4G63. We […]
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Quick Test: HKS GT1000 R35 Twin-Turbo System
Considering what tuners across the world have accomplished, the Nissan R35 GT-R may be the greatest mass-production sports car of all time. In stock form, you would need to spend double to find a competitor that could go toe to toe. With the right mix of bolt-on performance parts and […]
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Quick Tech: Paint Retouch 101
The cars in the D’Garage don’t spend their days sleeping under the covers, they are daily driven, dyno-tested, and tracked on a regular basis. However, with heavy use comes heavy wear, so the flawless new car shine never lasts long. Sometimes there are factors that you can’t do much about, […]
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Quick Tech: The Ultimate Electric Fan Solution
Popped fuses, smoked relays and melted wires are telltale signs of big current draws. Electric cooling fans have traditionally been the biggest current hogs on any electrical device on an automotive application. Huge startup currents and high continuous currents can often cause fuses to blow, relays to fail and wires […]
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Quick Tech: Thermal Barrier Coatings for More Power
What is horsepower? If you are into performance, you may only know that it’s a good thing and it never hurts to have more. If you appreciate the science, you may know that one horsepower is the energy transfer rate required to raise a 550-pound object by one foot every […]
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Quick Tech: Polyurethane Bushings Put To The Test
Many of the most performance-enhancing parts of a car are also the most inconspicuous. When looking in an engine bay, high performance pistons or camshafts hide behind the veil of the engine block and valve covers, wearing no badge on the surface of the power these parts help produce. The […]
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