Engine Masters Winter 2015

It is something that we all have to come to terms with once in a while—a project that starts off with a simple and achievable goal but transitions into something that is just on the edge of reach. It is all part of the rationalization process, where there is always something just a little bit better, something more to do, or more ambitious goals to strive for. I am all for making the most of an engine build, but perspective and keeping sight of an achievable outcome can make the difference between success and failure. A good example is a lowly 225ci Slant Six I recently pulled from my ’68 Dodge Dart hardtop. I have had this car for about 10 years, and it has been a beater jalopy since…

AEROMOTIVE – REGULATORS Making power requires that the engine and its support systems are all working exactly as they should, and at the most basic level this includes getting a reliable and consistent supply of fuel to the engine. While consistent fuel pressure is important with a carburetor, fluctuations in pressure with an EFI system can create havoc with the tune. We could not compromise in the quality or ability of any of the fuel system components when contemplating the requirements of the Engine Masters Challenge. Our requirements were the same as those of any serious performance enthusiasts, a system that could deliver fuel with the utmost in reliability and accuracy. We selected Aeromotive as the exclusive supplier of fuel pressure regulators to outfit our testing equipment. With these components…

COMP – RETAINING PLATE This new 3-Bolt Camshaft Race Retaining Plate Kit for LS Race Engines is a thrust plate kit that offers bolt-on performance along with quality and style upgrades over stock cast iron and steel aftermarket thrust plates. It is compatible with stock LS applications. The new retaining plate kit is a must-have for race cars equipped with LS engines. It features an upgraded cam thrust plate along with a lock-bolt plate for 3-bolt LS cams. The thrust plate is made from a high-quality billet bronze alloy that is much stronger than the stock component. The exclusive COMP Cams design is CNC-machined and double-disc ground to precision tolerances for an excellent surface finish and significantly reduced friction. It also features a CNC machined O-ring groove for a positive…

READER’S LETTERS AFFORDABLE ENGINE BUILDING Steve, I read your editorial in the fall issue, and I could not agree with you more! It is all too easy to armchair someone else’s “budget rebuild” into a 500hp street monster. Some things we recommend from experience, and some just off our own wish list. The key is to listen to the original poster and determine his budget and goals. If the OP has a large budget, it’s easy to offer some well thought out suggestions. On the other hand, if the OP has a meager budget, we really need to try and work within their limitations. Like any other facet of our lives, the Internet experience runs the gamut—from the budget novice, to the overfunded know-it-all. Sometimes it’s difficult to discern the…

What do you do when you notice a retailer is having a fire sale on limited-production racing parts? If you have the spare change, you step up to the plate and buy—just to take advantage of the deal and put it in stock. That’s just what a customer of Jessy Robinson’s SKMFX Engines did when he spied an R3 Mopar Performance block on offer for seven hundred and fifty bucks. Mopar’s R3 was a seriously beefed race piece, offered in a vast array of configurations based upon the production LA engine architecture. This particular block, produced with the larger 360-sized main bearing bores, two-bolt main caps, a 59-degree lifer bank angle, and featuring non Siamese bores, is one of the less desirable examples of the breed. Be that as it…

Itmight be the current economic situation, or possibly because it’s an election year, or maybe we have all just taken a good look at our waistline, but America seems to minimizing their propensity for super sizing. Small is the new big, with a call to arms to shrink everything from the government right down to the size of a New Yorker’s favorite carbonated beverage. One might question the logic behind imposing limits on a Big Gulp, but who among us wouldn’t like to drop a few pounds? In many cases, less really is more, but this particular buildup isn’t one of those instances. In fact, this build is all about more, as in more cubes, more cam, and more compression, but we didn’t stop there. In keeping with the theme,…