1-800-551-4754 Tech Tips
Reader Rides: 1970 American Motors AMX
Owner NameJim HallHome TownElko,MN Vehicle Year, Make & Model 1970 American Motors AMXÂ How long have you owned this vehicle? My Father bought it in 1972, It's been mine for 15 Years.Where/how did you find this vehicle My Father bought it from Brooklyn American AMC in Brooklyn Park,MN in 1972. He...
Reader Rides: 1953 Willys Overland Pickup
Owner NameBrad and Nancy KuhnzHome TownWyoming, MN Vehicle Year, Make & Model1953 Willys Overland Pickup How long have you owned this vehicle?Since 1989 Where/how did you find this vehicleWe bought it from a private party who belonged to the Northern Lights Car Club. It was just a rolling chassis and...
Reader Rides: 1967 Chevelle Malibu Station Wagon
Owner NameScott Parkhurst Home TownBelle Plaine, MN Vehicle Year, Make & Model1967 Chevelle Malibu Station Wagon How long have you owned this vehicle?Since 2004 Where/how did you find this vehicleIt belonged to a co-worker of mine. Any projects planned for this vehicle in the future?Nothing too major. It works pretty...
Reader Rides: 1969 Ford Mustang
 Owner NameBob WilsonHome TownSt. Paul, MN Vehicle Year, Make & Model1969 Ford Mustang How long have you owned this vehicle?Since 1998Where/how did you find this vehicleWant ads in Fresno CaliforniaAny projects planned for this vehicle in the future?Convert to manual overdrive transmission, replace factory power steering with a Borgeson unit,...
Expert Interview: Automobile Lifts
by Jeffrey Zurschmeide Jim Havlinek of Shop Equipment Company (www.shopequipmentcoinc.com) sells, installs, and inspects lifts for professionals and hobbyists. As someone who not only sells lifts, but also stands behind them and inspects them throughout their life, Jim has seen it all, and he has strong opinions about what to...
Jeep, Dana & Chrysler Differentials: Determine Differential Type
 The biggest advantage of the basic Sure-Grip or limited-slip in acceleration situations or racing applications is that it divides the available power/torque between the two rear wheels. This allows more power and/or torque to be put to the ground and used to accelerate the vehicle harder and quicker whether cornering...
Expert Interview: Workshop Organization
by Jeffrey Zurschmeide Many people with a great deal of stuff to organize are turning to consultants to help them get their possessions under control. Professional organizers like Teresa Nicola of Collected Spaces (www.collectedspaces.com) understand what you’re facing, and they have a strategy to help make your workspace clean and...
Expert Interview: Workshop Lighting
by Jeffrey Zurschmeide Ed Slavin is a classic car enthusiast and the owner of Northern Illumination (www.northernillumination.com). As a lighting professional who is also a hands-on car guy, he knows what works best in workshops and garages where serious automotive work is getting done. Interview conducted by Jeff Zurschmeide, author...
The Different Types of Automotive Bodywork Jobs
This chapter looks at the core tasks used in damage and rust repair jobs, and at some of the most basic strategies and skills needed to master them. What you need to know starts here. Â This tech tip is from the full book, AUTOMOTIVE BODYWORK AND RUST REPAIRÂ For a...
Ring and Pinion Gear Selection for Optimal Performance
In the rear axle there is a gear set that multiplies the driveshaft torque, reduces the driveshaft speed, and transfers the rotation of torque 90 degrees. Probably the main reason that you are going to perform any work on your axle is to dramatically increase torque to the wheels and...
Drag Racing Traction: Making a Pass
This chapter explains the fundamentals of making a pass down the quarter- or eighth-mile drag strip from the beginning to the end. I then analyze a time slip and explain what it is telling you.   This tech tip is from the full book, HOW TO HOOK AND LAUNCH. For...
Drag Racing Traction: Tire Guide
Suspension and tire development have been the two greatest contributing factors in the ever-decreasing ETs of the sportsman racing categories. Yes, there are continually many new ways to build additional power too, but that power couldn’t be used if there hadn’t also been stronger and better parts made available. None...
How to Build Racing Engines: Engine Build Tips
The engine assembly stage typiÂcally includes multiple mock-ups or pre-assembly stages where the fit and compatibility of all internal compoÂnents is checked and verified. Care must be taken to prevent compoÂnent damage during mock-up, fitÂment, and final assembly. Prior to final assembly, perform a thorough cleaning and layout of all...
Mastering GTO Restorations: How to Select a Project
When it comes to the restoration of any car, Pontiac GTO or otherÂwise, the proper selection of a candiÂdate differs for different people, but always boils down to making a realisÂtic evaluation of your intentions and your means of achieving it. With the selection of the proper project car, you...
Mastering GTO Restorations: Suspension Guide
The 1964–1974 GTO, though offered in three distinct generations, used a front suspension system that was very similar in design and comÂponentry. The conventional indeÂpendent front suspension design featured upper and lower control arms with coil springs and tube shocks. The steering system used a recirculating ball mechanism and hydraulic...
LS Engine Rebuilds: Skills, Techniques and Tools
Now that you have a better idea of what Gen III and IV LS small-blocks are and whether the engine you’re looking to rebuild falls within the family, it’s time to decide whether an engine rebuild is really something that you want, or need, to do. To determine this, you...
The Fall of Drag Racing
The amazing growth of drag racing made it a very popular hobby, even with the inherent danger that always lurks around these unbelievably fast racing machines. During the 1950s, drag racing caught on quickly, causing a ripple effect in the car guy community. Casual fans watched the action and eventually...
Rebuilding Big-Block Mopar Basics
There are several type of engine rebuilds. You can rebuild an engine to strictly stock OEM specs and NOS or equivalent aftermarket parts. Or, you can performance a stock rebuild and use upgraded components so the engine package performs at its best. Select your parts carefully and consider the follow...
Suspension Basics
Author Dick Miller has decades of experience making drag cars of all types work, and he shares his knowledge in the pages of How to Hook and Launch: Traction Mods for Street and Strip. In it, he explains the basic dynamics and physics of what is occurring when you launch...
Selecting a Big-Inch GM LS-Series Stroker Crank
When selecting a stroker crank, there are many aspects to consider. Once you determine the size of stroker crank (4.000, 4.100, and 4.125 stroker cranks are popular for most platforms), you need to figure out type of crank you will need. The choices for GM LS stroker engines are cast,...
The Buick Nailhead
The Ford flathead has been a prolific power plant of the classic hot rod or street rod for decades. But, for some, the flathead engine is just too common among vintage hot rods, and other engines are chosen for their own unique attributes. The Buick Nailhead is one of the...
LS SWAPS: Exhaust Systems Guide
The Gen III/IV engines have the same basic requirements for the exhaust system as other automotive engines, but these high-performance engines have specific EFI system requirements that must be met for the system to perform properly. All EFI systems require oxygen sensors to read the oxygen gas levels in the...
CarTech Editor Wins Real Street Eliminator Competition
CarTech Editor Scott Parkhurst and his 1967 Chevelle Wagon (yes, wagon) took home the gold in this year's Car Craft Summer Nationals "Real Street Eliminator" competition. Scott's car made 579 horsepower and 594 ft-lbs of torque at the rear wheels on the dyno run. He scored a 4.26 in the...
Big-Block Chevy Cylinder Head Basics
by Tom Dufur  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...
