Take a look at what it takes to do some basic maintenance and part replacements for a 40+ year old classic, turning it into a project car you can drive back and forth to the shop. These basic steps will keep your project car running strong and durable until you’re ready to swap the powertrain.
All The Tips And Tricks To Get Your First Project Car Up And Running
by
Kevin McIntosh
on
January 31, 2012
Centerforce University #2 – Proper Clutch Break-In Procedures
by
Clifton Klaverweiden
on
January 30, 2012
In this, the second installment of Centerforce University, we will go over how to properly break in a new clutch once you have it installed. We will also discuss some of the ugly consequences of failing to properly break in your clutch. So step inside, because class is back in session…
Project 666 Gets Stealth’ed With Aeromotive’s New 6-Gallon Fuel Cell
by
Andrew Wolf
on
January 23, 2012
With our mission to turn our Project 666 Fox body into a hardcore racing machine, our latest update involves the replacement of our OE-style Aeromotive fuel tank with the new six-gallon Stealth fuel cell armed with an internally-mounted A1000 fuel pump in the trunk of our nine-second Pony.
Rebuilding a blown motor may end up being a habit unless you take the time to diagnose the problem. We go to the experts at King Engine Bearings, and MAHLE Clevite to get the straight scoop on the how’s and why’s of bearing replacement.
Project Y2k: Stage 1 & 2 Upgrades from Corvette Central Performance
by
Paul Huizenga
on
January 12, 2012
In Part 1 of our two-part series, we perform Stage 1 and Stage 2 upgrades from Corvette Central Performance on Project Y2k, our 2000 Corvette. Follow along as we free up trapped horsepower with improved intake and exhaust flow…
Centerforce University #1 – Get Schooled on How a Clutch Works
by
Clifton Klaverweiden
on
January 10, 2012
Welcome to Centerforce University, where we will bring you all the clutch knowledge your gear-filled head can hold. In this, the first of five installments of Centerforce University, the experts at Centerforce give us a quick rundown of the basics of exactly how a clutch operates.
You know it as well as I do—a stick transmission is the only way to go in a Mustang. Especially in the Fox-body 5.0 days, opting for an automatic just killed performance. From the junk yard to the race shop, we help you pick what to buy for your late-model manual Mustang with help from Tremec.
Biting the Bullitt ’65 Mustang Update: Installing the Drivetrain
by
Mark Gearhart
on
January 4, 2012
Our 1,000 horsepower, Paxton supercharged 427ci ’65 Mustang project is really beginning to take shape. With the front and rear suspension installed, we move on to fitting the engine and transmission, along with a few other pieces as we get close to starting it for the first time.
Chris Alston’s Chassisworks has unveiled a whole new line of products designed for direct bolt-on gear and belt driven superchargers for racing or serious performance-built street motors. The new line, called Component Drive Systems (CDS) is designed for either single and dual ProChargers, Vortechs or Paxtons.
The intrigue of how, when, and where a high performance product that we have is designed and manufactured has driven many companies with the resources to do so to create shop tours and behind-the-scenes videos guiding current and potential customers through a process they may never see otherwise,
Modern Drag Racing Air Filtration: Should You Run An Air Filter?
by
Andrew Wolf
on
December 15, 2011
We sat down with a pair of leaders in the racing filtration industry to take a look at the past and current state of air filters in racing. K&N Filters’ Bob Harris and Airaid’s Chris Thomson both shared their viewpoints on the technological advancement of high performance air filters.
Headers can help you make more power, but they can also bring it down. We aren’t experts in the exhaustive arts, so we called in some favors from some of the leaders in the header world. These guys are experts, and they schooled us in the science of headers.
Understanding High Performance Belt and Electric Fuel Pumps
by
Jefferson Bryant
on
November 30, 2011
Any moderate to high horsepower engine needs an aftermarket fuel pump. The problem is, what pump do you need? We explore the different types of belt and electric drive pumps to help you pick the optimal piece for your project!
AETC Conference Day 2: Intake, EFI, and NASCAR Valvetrain Technology
by
John Gibson
on
November 29, 2011
Day 2 of the Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) continued the 2011 theme of the latest advancements and developments in engine performance technology by attacking a variety of themes. Throughout the day we would hear a variety of issues discussed. Read here for more.
In the second installment of our race engine build, we’ll see how the rotating assembly goes together at the skillful hands of Virginia Speed’s Shawn Miller.
22nd Advanced Engineering Technology Conference Opening Day Coverage
by
John Gibson
on
November 28, 2011
After 22 years the annual Advanced Engineering Technology Conference might still be the best kept secret within the performance industry. Around 100 individuals from across the nation filed in today for a chance at hearing some of the most highly respected technical experts within engine technology.
To learn more about FAST’s brand new XFI 2.0, we’ve sat down with a number of tuning experts to dive into the host of new features housed inside the rugged new XFI 2.0 unit and within the combined C-Com tuning and diagnostic software.
First Look: ProCharger Unveils RaceDrive Gear Drive, Two New F3′s
by
Andrew Wolf
on
November 23, 2011
ProCharger has provided powerTV with an exclusive look at this brand new, compact RaceDrive unit that will allow racers to install a ProCharger F3-spec supercharger on their engines with an all-new ProCharger engineered package. Also announced are a pair of new F3 superchargers for the hardcore racers.
We walk you through the entire process of ordering a custom-grind camshaft from COMP Cams. Just like painting a car, ordering a custom grind cam is all about the prep work!
Modern differentials come in many flavors—open, limited slip, locking, and spool (which is not even a differential). The open differential is not really “geared” for performance, so it’s out as is (see drop-ins below for open carrier upgrades). That leaves three. Here’s everything to know which works for you.
If you’ve ever fussed with a multi-belt design in the past, then hanging the alternator, power-steering pump, and other drive accessories to your GM small-block could prove a bit challenging. We take you step-by-step and show you what’s involved when it comes to installing a Concept ONE Serpentine Kit…
Mickey Thompson has been leading that tire category for longer than we can remember, especially when it comes to the street/strip or heads-up drag racing, so we went to them (specifically, M/T’s Carl Robinson) to answer our Top Ten questions concerning drag slicks and radials. Here’s what they had to say.
SCT has revolutionized the market with the introduction of their new SCT iTSX tuner. It works with iPhones, iPads, and iPods and has a bunch of new features that include tuning, performance calculators, data logging, and trouble code detection! Plus custom tune loading gets easier.
Installing short shifters in cars is something muscle car enthusiasts have been doing since the dawn of motoring time. We wanted to add some additional flare to Coyote’s relatively stock-looking interior while updating the problem-prone stock shifter assembly.
Wild Rides S-Box Torque Box on Project 666 Fox Body Mustang
by
Jefferson Bryant
on
November 11, 2011
Launching on slicks or even drag radials puts an incredible amount of stress on the factory torque box, more than what it was designed for. Eventually, the cracks appear in the fatigued sheet metal and the mounting holes stretch out, which is why we turned to Wild Rides for our Project 666 Fox Body Mustang.
For as long as connecting rod manufacturers the world over have been using blends of aluminum to create lightweight rods, said pieces have lived under constant scrutiny regarding their long-term durability and usefulness, but in this piece, we’re going to turn rumor to myth with the folks at GRP.
Looking for some more power to pull your trailer or just to cruise on the street? Check out our install on Airaid’s latest F-250 air intake system, followed up by a complete dyno test!
Thanks to Meziere and AFCO, All Air will keep its cool without lugging around a lot of excess weight, and we know that we’ve got dependable components that won’t require a lot of attention or maintenance; always a plus when you’re hustling in the pits between rounds.
Upgrading the Rear Suspension of our 1965 Mustang to Handle 1000 HP
by
Mark Gearhart
on
October 21, 2011
The rear suspension of a vehicle shouldn’t be a place to cheap out. With 1000 HP, we needed a way to transmit all that power to the pavement. We installed an Autoworks mini tub kit, 9-inch from Strange, suspension from Calvert, Wilwood brakes, and Weld wheels rapped in M/T drag radials into our ’65 Mustang
Edelbrock E-Forces the 2011 Mustang into 500 HP of Pressurized Fun
by
Mark Gearhart
on
October 21, 2011
Edelbrock has recently released their new E-Force supercharging system for the 2011 Mustang. This is different from your typical screw/roots style supercharger and really packs the latest technology. We got our hands on a kit, plus checked in with Brenspeed who has been doing their own supercharger testing.
The Tremec’s T-56 Magnum has all the improvements. And yes, in some dimensions, it’s bigger. So now, we can have six speeds, and allow our better engines to use more of their improvements doing what they like to do: pushing pavement behind us.
At the PRI show in Orlando back in December, Justin Burcham and crew at JPC Racing pulled the wraps off their new cast intake manifold designed for the 2005-2010 three-valve modular engines. They recently supplied us with one of the new intakes so that we could take a more in-depth look at this new piece.
High performance shocks notably improve the overall responsiveness of the chassis. Just like tires and springs, shocks can make an incredible difference in a car’s ability to hook up and launch. That’s why Killer Kong – our ’69 Dodge Charger R/T project – scored a set of QA1 double-adjustable shocks.
There’s nothing like the look and feel from a Holley double-pumper carburetor. However, just like other mechanical parts, a carb needs periodic rebuilding to keep it metering efficiently. We show you some tips and give the step by step details on how to rebuild one for your mill.
When it comes to building an engine that makes gobs of horsepower, you need a spark hot enough to correctly burn that additional fuel and air in the combustion chamber. For this tech feature, we are going to be installing a full Crane ignition system into our 666 Mustang Project car.
The Big Block Chevy engines of today come in a variety of shapes and styles. While the Mark IV, as introduced in 1965, went through some initial changes, it was not until 1991 that the Mark V engine came to be. Today the Mark V and its brother the Mark VI are great platforms for engine builders.
Feeding the Engine – Product Review of Holley’s High Flow Fuel Pumps
by
Bobby Kimbrough
on
September 29, 2011
With mechanical fuel pumps being redesigned to pump more volume at a higher rate than the stock versions of the muscle car era, why would you want to upgrade to an electric fuel pump? We take a good look at Holley’s new billet inline electric fuel pumps in this product review.
Dart Builds The Ultimate Big Cube 440-Inch Small Block (Part 2)
by
Jefferson Bryant
on
September 29, 2011
The Dart SHP is based on the small block Chevrolet engine, but any time the term “small block” is mentioned, the first thing you think of is the classic 350. It has been ingrained into our oil-soaked gearhead minds that a “small block” is 350cui and smaller (with the exception of the 400 small block). Not so.
The Simplicity And Sophistication Of Engine Bearings. Part 1
by
Bobby Kimbrough
on
September 28, 2011
We’ve all seen engine bearings and more than likely have taken them for granted. Looks can be deceiving though, the simplicity of engine bearings hides the sophistication of decades of research and development invested into these essential engine components.
ZEX’s perimeter plate system has a lot of advantages over an old-school spraybar plate or a “wet” nozzle system. The obvious plus is that with the perimeter plate, there’s no obstruction to the airflow into the intake manifold when the system isn’t activated, but there’s another trick up its sleeve as well…
The car started out this year with a 408ci that made about 575 hp and was able to propel us in to the mid 10-second range in the quarter mile. But now it was time to install our badass high compression 427 that has been sitting for about two years… but the installation has been far from easy
RHS has been paying attention to all the innovation going into GM’s LS engines over the past few years. To meet the swelling of technology and performance coming out of the LS motors, RHS recently designed a fresh take on the LS engine block for extreme street and racing applications.
Dart Builds The Ultimate Big Cube 440-Inch Small Block (Part 1)
by
Jefferson Bryant
on
September 22, 2011
The Dart SHP is based on the small block Chevrolet engine, but any time the term “small block” is mentioned, the first thing you think of is the classic 350. It has been ingrained into our oil-soaked gearhead minds that a “small block” is 350cui and smaller (with the exception of the 400 small block). Not so.
Inside The Evolution And Tech Of 5-Plus Inch Bore Space Engines
by
Andrew Wolf
on
September 21, 2011
As the old saying goes, “there’s no replacement for displacement,” and drag racing engine builders know that to be an indisputable fact. Over the years, as the rules have allowed it, the once OE-based engines have grown to points that were once unimaginable. We review the history and future of these big engines.
With the small block making its debut for the 1955 model year, no engineer in their right mind back then could have imagined where we would be at today with 638hp, 376 cubic inchers that are still able to pull 26mpg on the highway and produce low 11 second ¼ mile time slips off of the showroom floor!
So what does it take exactly from a setup standpoint to consistently reel off the mind-boggling numbers that Drag Radials; best put up? Well, we wondered that question too, and so we turned to four of the baddest racers in the business, representing both the 275 and 315 side of things in order to learn more.
Having recently completed a carburetor shootout between street and race carbs on our Dart small block 440cid “Test Mule” engine, we decided to do a carburetor to EFI upgrade to take a closer look at the differences between the two systems.
The latest product from Innovate is their MTX-L all in one gauge, which only needs power, ground and a signal from the supplied wideband sensor. We install their newest, easy to use wide band sensor on our Fox body Mustang Project 666.
Monitoring your engine’s air/fuel ratio (AFR) is one of the most important sensors from a tuning and safety stand point. AEM has launched their new X-WIFI wireless gauge technology that allows you to stream EGT and air/fuel sensor outputs directly from your phone!
Our 555 Edelbrock/Musi Big Block has been rebuilt for a tour of duty in our Project MaxStreet ’67 Chevy II, now sporting a ProCharger F2 centrifugal supercharger setup, and in this project update, we’ll take a detailed look at our rebuild and the components it will entail.
