It takes a special kind of paint to survive under your hood. Engine paint must withstand extremely high temperatures and be able to resist gasoline, oils, and other chemicals. And it has to look good, too—especially if the engine bay serves as a focal point for your hot rod or show vehicle. Fortunately, companies like Dupli-Color, VHT,
[portfolio_slideshow id=36198] What’s with big deal with pinion angle? It is a very big deal. In order to keep the driveshaft and U-joints operating in a (more or less) straight line, the pinion angle has to be correct. Typically, the pinion angle is measured between the pinion gear flange and the driveshaft as well as
Got questions? We’ve got the answers—the Summit Racing tech department tackles your automotive-related conundrums. This week, we’re talking about engine flooding and hesitation. T.M. Marietta, GA Q: I have a 1983 Chevy K-10 truck with a four-speed manual transmission and 3.08 rear axle gears. It originally had a 305, but the engine was replaced with a crate 350
We take motor oil for granted. Sometimes, we don’t change it as often as we should. And when we do pour in a fresh batch of oil, we don’t always do our homework. Oh sure, we might have our favorite brands, and we always make sure to choose the proper viscosity for our needs (see our video on
Proper engine break-in procedure is critical. The right steps during this procedure can save your engine, your bank account, and ultimately your sanity. With help from the engine experts at ATK High Performance Engines and Summit Racing, this post will provide you with invaluable tips to help protect your engine during the critical break-in period. Start with an Inspection
My buddies and I got into a discussion the other day about why all the new car companies went with individual coils for each cylinder as opposed to sticking with a simpler distributor. And if a CD (capacitive discharge) ignition is so great, why isn’t that on new cars? D. B. Jeff Smith: Let’s start
No matter how hard you try to avoid it, at some point you’ll get a stain, tear, or the smell of that day-old burrito onto your truck’s new upholstery. This is one of the reasons why many truck owners prefer to use a custom seat cover to protect the upholstery from accidents and daily wear
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seems to love its ethanol. Farmers love it, too. But if you’re a hot rodder–particularly a hot rodder with a carbureted or older-style fuel system–ethanol isn’t exactly your friend. Ethanol blends can corrode your carburetor, fuel tank, and other fuel system components and damage engine seals and O-rings, according to industry experts. And
Rotor phasing refers to the alignment of the rotor top and the distributor cap terminal when spark occurs, according to MSD Ignition. It’s critical to maximizing engine performance. Incorrect alignment can lead to misfire and power loss. The folks at MSD Ignition have put together a nice visual guide that will show you how to
You’ve got questions. We’ve got the answers—the Summit Racing tech department tackles your automotive-related conundrums. M.J. Cadott, WI Q: I own a 1967 Pontiac Firebird coupe with a mostly stock 1971 400 engine. The engine is bored. 030 inches over, has 91cc heads (6X-4), and Hooker Competition headers. The car also has a 2.5-inch dual exhaust system with Flowmaster
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