Performance Exhaust Systems: Pipe Shape

by Mike Mavrigian (Taken from Performance Exhaust Systems by Mike Mavrigian) There’s no rule that says a pipe must be round. Specialty dies are available that allow an oval profile to be created. Why would you want an oval pipe? This shape is favored primarily when you have clearance issues....

Honda K-Series Engine Swaps: AN Plumbing

by Aaron Bonk (Taken from Honda K-Series Engine Swaps by Aaron Bonk)    Almost any K-series engine swap exposes you to specialty fluid components, such as steel-braided hose and anodized-aluminum fittings, and they might lead you to the home improvement warehouse’s plumbing aisle in search of enlightenment. At first, it all seems...

Jeep 4.0 Engines: Piston Pins

by Larry Shepard (taken from Jeep 4.0 Engines: How to Rebuild and Modify) All 4.0 inline-6 Jeep engines use pressed piston pins. The amount of interference fit between the pin and the rod is .0006 to .0021 inch. An arbor press is used to disassemble and reassemble pressed-pin rod/pistons. Heating...

Jeep 4.0 Engines: Fuel Injection for 1981–1990 258 (4.2)

by Larry Shepard (taken from Jeep 4.0 Engines: How to Rebuild and Modify) In the early 1990s, Mopar Performance engineered two kits that used the 4.0 hardware to convert the earlier 1981–1990 258 (4.2) engines to multi-point fuel injection, which offers obvious advantages for off-road activities. These fuel injection conversion kits...

Detroit Speed's How to Build a Pro Touring Car: Calipers

by Tommy Lee Byrd and Kyle Tucker (taken from Detroit Speed's How to Build a Pro Touring Car) Offering clamping force on the brake pads, the calipers are another important component of the Pro Touring brake setup. Here’s how they work: A burst of brake fluid is sent through the lines...

Detroit Speed's How to Build a Pro Touring Car: Ride Height

by Tommy Lee Byrd and Kyle Tucker (taken from Detroit Speed's How to Build a Pro Touring Car) Before I get into individual parts of the front suspension of most muscle cars, I’ll address the first question that most people have, and that is ride height. Muscle cars stood tall...

Black Friday Sale!

Author Kyle Tucker wins big at SEMA

Kyle Tucker Named SEMA Battle of the Builders Winner Competition Celebrates Vehicle Builders, Showcases Products from 2014 SEMA Show DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (November 13, 2014) - The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) announced Kyle Tucker as the winner of the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders competition. The announcement was...

Muncie 4-Speed Transmissions: Speedometer Gear Calculations

by Paul Cangialosi (taken from Muncie 4-Speed Transmissions: How to Rebuild and Modify)   I’ve seen many people frustrated because they took the time to do a thorough job rebuilding a used Muncie, but later, after the transmission is installed, they find out that the speedometer is reading incorrectly. When I...

Muncie 4-Speed Transmissions: How Muncie 4-Speeds Work

by Paul Cangialosi (taken from Muncie 4-Speed Transmissions: How to Rebuild and Modify)   It is a good idea to understand the basics of your Muncie 4-speed before you start rebuilding the transmission. Successfully diagnosing transmission problems is directly related to how well you understand how this transmission works. Forward...

Exhaust Systems Guide for Big-Block Chevy Engines

Bigger carbs, manifolds, heads, and cams all are designed to let the engine take in as much air and fuel as possible, but the byproducts of combustion must be vacated quickly to make room for more of the good stuff (fresh air and fuel) on the next intake stroke. So...

Complete Cylinder Heads Guide for Big-Block Chevy Engines

The big-block Chevy’s canted valve heads are largely responsible for the tremendous power capability of the Rat motor and its continued popularity. The original head design is often referred to as having a 26-degree valve angle, although this intake valve angle of inclination is only one of four angles needed...

Our books win and so do you!

We're excited to tell you about our award-winning books! Four books published by CarTech each won a 2013 International Automotive Media Competition (IAMC) award. Lost Drag Strips by Tommy Lee Byrd won a gold medallion in the history of motorsports category. The book also won best-of in the entire book...

Modern Engine Blueprinting Techniques: Choosing Valvesprings

by Mike Mavrigian (Taken from Modern Engine Blueprinting Techniques by Mike Mavrigian)  Valvesprings control the energy transmitted from the camshaft to the valves. It’s critical to understand the springs’ role and dimensional/clearance concerns. Valvespring manufacturers apply an antirust coating, which should not be removed. Do not clean new springs with any type...

Jerry Heasley on Drivers Talk Radio

http://www.driverstalkradio.com/shows/dt-728-author-jerry-heasley/ Popular automotive historian Jerry Heasley

Limited-edition Hot Rod Gallery available for pre-order!

  Arriving next week is a pretty special book -- a signed, numbered, leather-bound version of Hot Rod Gallery by Pat Ganahl!  If you're a collector, you're going to want to pre-order this book. Only 500 copies were printed, and they're going to go fast! Each book is signed and numbered...

Author Bob McClurg talks live on Driver's Talk Radio

CarTech author Bob McClurg says he writes best under pressure. Guess all that pressure has created some pretty great books! McClurg has written half a dozen books for us here at CarTech and many others in the past. McClurg recently appeared on Driver's Talk Radio with show host Rick Titus...

Chevy Big-Block Engine Parts Interchange: Top 10 Reasons to Build a Gen VI-based Chevy Big-Block

by John Baechtel (Taken from Chevy Big-Block Engine Parts Interchange) Unless you require a specific block casting for a numbers-matching restoration project, there is no longer any performance or budgetary reason to seek, build, or hoard original Mark IV engine blocks. Newer Gen VI engines came only in trucks; blocks...

FOX Sports features author Steve Magnante

Did you know...  What's a 1982 Camaro Z/28 without it's distinctive trunk spoiler? A Z/28-E, that's what. While stateside buyers of the all-new 1982 Z/28 rightfully drooled over its sexy three-piece trunk spoiler, export models were shipped without it. On the upside, the E's exhaust system was built without a...

High-Performance Ignition Systems: Distributorless Systems

by Todd Ryden (Taken from High-Performance Ignition Systems by Todd Ryden)  Have you ever stopped to wonder how all of the trigger signals, timing, and delivery of spark would occur if there were no distributor at all? That’s right, no distributor. Actually, new cars don’t use distributors anymore. However, most hot...

High-Performance Ignition Systems: Do you Need a Vacuum?

by Todd Ryden (Taken from High-Performance Ignition Systems by Todd Ryden)  The vacuum advance canister that you see hanging off the side of many distributors is another form of advancing the timing, but it does not really play a performance role. Vacuum canisters were introduced to improve economy during times of high...

Modern Engine Blueprinting Techniques: Required Information for Custom Piston

by Mike Mavrigian (Taken from Modern Engine Blueprinting Techniques by Mike Mavrigian)  You need to do your home work and provide accurate specs, so the piston manufacturer produces the required piston. Most custom piston builders guide you through the process, and are able to handle any calculations that might be needed. Be...

Jeep, Dana & Chrysler Differentials: Rebuilding Kit Sources

by Larry Shepard (Taken from Jeep, Dana & Chrysler Differentials: How to Rebuild the 8-1/4, 8-3/4, Dana 44 & 60 & AMC 20) Today many different types of rebuild kits are offered. For example Jegs offers four levels of rebuild kits: the half kit, the complete kit (defined as the half...

Ford 351 Cleveland Engines: Lubrication

by George Reid (Taken from Ford 351 Cleveland Engines: How to Build for Max Performance) When Ford was developing its 335 Cleveland engine family, the objective was to produce a large engine family with displacements ranging from 335 to beyond 400 ci as a companion to the larger 385-series 429/460-ci big-block...