Dynatech has been making waves with their new 2011 Mustang headers that have been picking up over 20 horsepower to the rear wheels. Also, AFCO’s GT500 heat exchanger is one of the biggest units you can fit on your 2007+ GT500 and boasts a 350% increase in cooling area over the stock exchanger.
Be Cool’s company owner, Roger Rosebush explains the choices in product finishes, transmission coolers, radiator tank construction and Be Cool’s coolant. Most importantly, Rosebush explains how to have fun.
SEMA 2011: Fueling Your Ride With Fuelab – Digital Fuel Delivery
by Sean Haggai
on November 16, 2011
Fueling your rides these days can be a daunting task. Fuelab’s has taken all the guesswork out of their entire systems with their digital fuel delivery. Take a look at these Aerospace-grade components, we’re sure you’ll be just as surprised as we were.
Be Cool brings out a new electric fan program and 50 page catalog to SEMA that gives car enthusiasts choices in the cooling system air flow.
SEMA 2011: Mallory’s Fire Storm Ignition, and More From Prestolite
by Clifton Klaverweiden
on November 11, 2011
Prestolite Performance Group is home to many iconic brands in the hot-rod and performance industry, and many of us grew up wrenching on parts from Mr. Gasket, Accel, Mallory, and Lakewood. At SEMA 2011 Prestolite is showcasing the exciting new Mallory Firestorm Ignition, which aims to revolutionize the industry…
Once you’ve reached the limits of where Angry Birds can take you and want to get down to some serious business, VIVID takes Superchips’ experience in flash tuning and harnesses the power and flexibility of the Android platform to make it easy to get every bit of performance out of your late model car or truck.
SEMA 2011: Weld’s Expands Line of Racing Wheels, Late Model Bead-loc
by Mark Gearhart
on November 10, 2011
First up is Weld’s new Sportsman Drag Series wheel. The cost savings comes with Weld’s welded modular construction versus the typical bolt together style found in the Pro Drag Series. Also for you higher offset wheel guys, like F-body Camaros and S197 Mustangs, Weld now has a bead-loc wheel for you.
SEMA 2011:Power Sport Institute Teams Up With Ohio Technical College
by Bobby Kimbrough
on November 10, 2011
The Power Sport Institute, a branch of Ohio Technical College, offers a program designed to make the most complete motorcycle technician available. These students brought a bare frame to the trade show and in three and a half days, completely assembled a custom motorcycle, including a custom paint job.
We always enjoy seeing our friends at Vortech when SEMA time rolls around, and this year was no exception. Highlighted in this year’s booth were two project cars – the 2012 Dodge Challenger Rockstar Edition, and the DSO Eyewear 2011 Camaro SS. We also got an up-close look at their new MaxFlow Fuel Pump Booster…
SEMA 2011: You Bend Em’ PPG Mends Em’ With Their New Finishes
by Clifton Klaverweiden
on November 9, 2011
Regardless of why your ride needs to be repainted – damage from a wreck, faded from age, or you’re just tired of the color – PPG can help you get the unique look you’re after with their new Vibrance Collection of automotive paints.
The common assumption is that you have to take a product to a powder coating shop to get a high quality powder coat applied to a product. But thanks to Eastwood, you can fulfill all your powder coating needs within your own shop for less than $200.
SEMA 2011: Pypes Turns Up The Power on Late Model Muscle
by Clifton Klaverweiden
on November 9, 2011
Who doesn’t love the rumble of a V8 channeled through a nice set of Pypes? Pypes Performance Exhaust is your one-stop-shop to fulfill your needs for power, sound, fitment, and quality.
SEMA 2011: Taylor Cables – Firing America’s Finest Rides
by Clifton Klaverweiden
on November 9, 2011
Since 1923, Taylor Cable Products have been firing the spark plugs in everything from World War I aircraft and 1930’s street rods to professional race cars and hard core off roaders. That is just a shade under 90 years that they have been providing products for America’s cars.
SEMA 2011: Fragola Performance Systems Offers New Adapter Solutions
by John Gibson
on November 9, 2011
When we stopped by our friends at Fragola Performance Systems booth at SEMA 2011 they had a variety of new adapters and products that caught our attention and can reduce the hassle that is commonly associated with plumbing a vehicle.
SEMA 2011: McLeod Racing Introduces a Full Driveline Solution
by Bobby Kimbrough
on November 9, 2011
McLeod Clutches, the company that Red Roberts founded and established as the well-known Clutch Company to the industry, is now much more than a clutch company. Owner Paul Lee says that “it’s time for you to get to know us.”
Since Derale’s fans are designed from the beginning to take a serious beating, all of their adjoining hardware is equally stout, the Derale fans and coolers are guaranteed to help you and your ride keep their cool.
Anyone that has ever towed a vehicle through the mountains understands how tough it can be on the truck, but especially the brakes. This is why looking at a brake pad upgrade might be a good idea. We came across a good option at SEMA 2011, with Powerstop Brakes’ Extreme Truck And Tow Brake kit.
Here at SEMA, Joe Gibbs Driven Motor Oils is showcasing new high performance oils designed for use in two of the hottest cars on the road and certainly the two hottest here at SEMA: the new 2011-12 Ford Mustang and the fifth-generation V8 Chevrolet Camaro.
Along with the monstrous new large frame GTX5518R turbo for drag racers and a host of other new turbochargers on display in the Garret Turbochargers booth here at SEMA is their new GTX2863R small frame unit, which is designed to offer a great all-around choice for high performance street or track applications.
Garrett’s new GTX5518R large frame turbos are outline interchangeable with Garrett’s entire GT55R range of turbochargers and offers 11 percent more flow and 15 percent higher pressure ratio over the previous GT5518R and capable of producing 1,500 horsepower.
SEMA 2011: Fidanza Short Throw Shifter is Quicker Through the Gears
by Bobby Kimbrough
on November 8, 2011
Fidanza Engineering Corporation showed off their new short throw shifter at the SEMA trade show this year. Smooth looks and quicker shifting is what you can expect says the Marketing Director at Fidanza.
SEMA 2011: DiabloSport inTune and Trinity Touch Screen Programmer
by Mark Gearhart
on November 8, 2011
DiabloSport had their tuner designed to replace the Predator, the InTune, on display at SEMA. This product looks like a mini iPhone and features one part number for all applications, 1GB of internal memory for datalogging, scanner, and custom tuning capability. Also on display was their top shelf tuner – Trinity
New to Dart’s SHP line is a cast A356-T6 aluminum small block Chevy cylinder head that is designed to work with most off the shelf components, and features 180cc or 200cc intake runners. Also, Dart’s High Performance Assembly Lube is designed for mechanics and technicians to pre-lube bearings, cams, lifters, etc.
Sure, there have been plenty of plumbing dress-up products before, but while Hose Candy will certainly improve the look of what’s going on under the hood, their line brings some truly functional, innovative products that do far more than just add color.
SEMA 2011: Billet Specialties Brings Traditional Looks To LS Engines
by Bobby Kimbrough
on November 8, 2011
LS engines have a strong following in today’s street rod market but many enthusiasts don’t care for the exposed coil packs or flat sided valve covers. Billet Specialties addressed those issues with their new line of billet aluminum valve covers to the delight of the SEMA crowd.
For those strolling the aisles of the wheel and tire building at the Las Vegas Convention Center, one vehicle that was rather difficult to miss was Mickey Thompson’s Project “big Rig” Ford F-250 4X4 truck, which was fully tricked out for this years show.
Yukon Gear & Axle shared with us at SEMA the recent unwrapping of their “Diff Wizard” website, which makes finding the right components a snap through the use of an easy-to-use dropdown system that’s accessible from your computer, tablet, iPhone, Android, or other smart phone web browser,
A lesser known fact is that the BOSS 302 Mustangs actually contain three more pressure plate bolts than the normal GT. SPEC Clutch is on top of what is going on though, and will be making BOSS-specific clutch kits. They will be offering them with their traditional Stage 1-5 upgrades as well as their twin disc.
SEMA 2011: House of Kolor’s New Digital Paintbooth 3-D Software
by Clifton Klaverweiden
on November 8, 2011
One of the most frustrating things about working on any project car is not being able to see what the finished project will look like until all the work is done. At SEMA 2011 House of Kolor released their new Digital Paintbooth 3-D Software, a great tool to help you get your ride looking just how you want it.
There’s nothing more frustrating then getting an engine up in the air and just about into the engine bay, only to learn that you put the chain in the wrong hole on the engine plate. Well it seems that MAC’s Custom Tie Downs has eliminated this problem with their new engine pivot plate.
SEMA 2011: New Single, Twin-Disc Camaro, Mustang Clutches From ACT
by Andrew Wolf
on November 8, 2011
Featured in the ACT booth here at the SEMA Show are the latest evolutions of the single and twin-disc clutches for the 2011 and later Ford Mustang GT and 1997-2010 C5/C6 Corvettes.
FAST’s intakes such as the LSXR 102 have become increasingly popular for GM’s LS family of engines, and thanks to a new 102mm Plate System from Nitrous Express designed specifically for the FAST 102 intakes, pouring the juice to your LSXR-equipped powerplant is simpler than ever.
We are all guilty of it, we spend so much time working on our rides that we don’t put much thought into our tow vehicle. Well at the 2011 SEMA show we came across a new diesel intake elbow from S&B Filters that really turned our heads.
Race Star Industries co-owner Mike Rabich says his company listens to the people and they are “the People’s Wheel”. See what makes Rabich believe they make the perfect wheel for grass roots racers here.
For the enthusiast who wants to be heard, Flowmaster introduces the Outlaw Axle-back exhaust system for popular late-model muscle car applications. This Outlaw Axle-back system is the most aggressive sounding system to date, even louder than the American Thunder series.
SEMA 2011: Superior Towing: Diesel PowerPack Systems By Banks Power
by Andrew Wolf
on November 7, 2011
Of particular interest in Banks’ SEMA showcase was their PowerPack System for the popular 2003-07 Dodge Ram trucks with the 5.9L Cummins diesel under the hood. The PowerPack system is a complete system for towing or working, and optimizes air flow, air density, continuous power, durability, and fuel mileage.
SEMA 2011: Energy Suspension Solves Problems With New Applications
by Paul Huizenga
on November 7, 2011
It must be a mixed blessing to work in the engineering and new products department at Energy Suspension – as long as there are new cars and trucks coming out, there will always be a need for your services. On the other hand, you always have the opportunity to solve people’s problems…
While a lot of other manufacturers are rediscovering these silencers and adding them to their own line, the guys who have probably sold more of them than anybody else have actually taken a step back in time with their “traditional ol’ skool” seamed glasspack muffler.
SEMA 2011: Royal Purple’s Robust High Performance Street Lubrication
by Bobby Kimbrough
on November 7, 2011
Royal Purple provides engine protection with a robust ZDDP additive package in their new HPS line along with convenient 5 quart packaging for 2012. If that wasn’t enough, the company has developed a 0W-20 low viscosity oil for improved fuel economy.
SEMA 2011: Kooks Introduces BOSS 302 Mid-Pipe, Green Converters
by Mark Gearhart
on November 7, 2011
One of the biggest gripes for BOSS 302 owners is loosing their factory side pipes when they install an aftermarket performance exhaust. Well, now Kooks Custom Headers makes a center section that keeps the factory side pipes in both long and short tube configurations, plus possible factory GT retrofitting…
SEMA 2011: SSBC’s Massive Tri-Power Brake System for Pickups
by Clifton Klaverweiden
on November 7, 2011
It doesn’t really matter how much weight your truck can haul if your brakes can’t get it all stopped, and unfortunately many late model pick-ups have shown themselves to be pretty inferior in the braking department. Luckily SSBC has just the thing to help you get that massive load hauled to a stop in a hurry.
These High Performance Competition compressors are the latest evolution in aerodynamics, made possible by the added strength of forged materials. Thinner blade profiles and lightweight yet strong hubs mean these turbos move more air with less rotating mass.
SEMA 2011: Eagle’s Affordable New Forged 4140 Steel BBC, SBC Cranks
by Andrew Wolf
on November 7, 2011
We stopped by the Eagle Specialty Products booth during our tour of SEMA, where we were given the goods on Eagle’s new 4140 steel crankshafts for both Small Block and Big Block Chevrolets. These cranks are fully forged from SEA steel and have undergone numerous processes to increase strength and durability.
Edelbrock’s Big Victor 2 spread port manifold is designed for serious race applications only. If you have a large displacement, high revving Big Block Chevy with 24 degree heads, this might be a perfect fit for your next engine upgrade.
Along with their new Stage I and II clutch kits for the Camaro and Corvette, the folks at Exedy Racing Clutches have also shown the blue oval faithful some love with a new high performance, aftermarket clutch kit for the 2011-12 5.0L Ford Mustang.
SEMA 2011: Ford Racing’s Super Cobra Jet Concept 5.0 Coyote Engine
by Mark Gearhart
on November 7, 2011
Looking to make around 1,000 hp from a Ford Racing manufactured crate engine? Well, look no further than the new low compression 5.0 Aluminator long block and Whipple 2.9L 10-rib drive kit. The crate engine is essentially a Aluminator long block with a different set of headers, 2.9L supercharger, and BOSS heads.
We stopped by the Lincoln Electric display to find a few new items that are sure to add another level of versatility to enthusiasts. Their latest MIG welder is sure to make sparks in the community.
SEMA 2011: Edelbrock Adds Vintage To Performer Series Carburetors
by Bobby Kimbrough
on November 7, 2011
Edelbrock adds a choice in finishes to the popular Performer series carburetors. Black anodized or vintage finishes are now available and you still get the Edelbrock quality that you have come to expect. Like Vic says; “Still proudly made in the USA.”
Edelbrock’s new E-Street EFI kit is an economical package that takes you from a carburetor to modern electronic fuel injection without hassles of complicated tuning or wiring. Versatile enough to be the only fuel injection system that your project car will ever need, even if you want to do future engine upgrades.
When it comes to monitoring and tuning high performance vehicles, you can never have enough sensors. AEM Electronics is one of those companies that have been making standalones for over a decade, and they just released their baddest EMS ever – the Infinity-10.
