Category Archive: 1320 Drivetrain Tech, 1320 Tech Story, Apex Engine Tech, Apex Tech Stories, DRIVETRAIN, TECH, Tech Stories, Videos
Does A Turbo Car Need A Different Gear Ratio Than Any Other Combo? How Do You Determine Which Ratio Is Right For You?
Oct 02, 2021Chad ReynoldsComments Off on Does A Turbo Car Need A Different Gear Ratio Than Any Other Combo? How Do You Determine Which Ratio Is Right For You?
Gears are a magical thing. They can be used to transfer power in all kinds of ways and by combining gears of different sizes, you can make gear ratios that effectively manage, multiply, or divide...
Here’s How You Balance A Crankshaft: Watch As Jim’s Automotive Machine Balances The Crank In This Pontiac Engine
Sep 07, 2021Chad ReynoldsComments Off on Here’s How You Balance A Crankshaft: Watch As Jim’s Automotive Machine Balances The Crank In This Pontiac Engine
Last week we shared a cool video about grinding the rod journals on the crankshaft that is about to get balanced, which is all a part of a series of videos from Jim’s Automotive Machine...
Ever Wonder How They Grind Crankshafts? Watch This Video And See Just How It All Happens Using This Pontiac Crank As The Example
Sep 01, 2021Chad Reynolds1
Watching engine parts get machined is always cool, but some of the machining operations are way cooler than others. Decking a block is pretty mundane, and so is boring and honing, even though there...
How To Video: Building Custom Spark Plug Wires At Home Isn’t Hard, And Makes For A Super Clean Install
Aug 17, 2021Chad ReynoldsComments Off on How To Video: Building Custom Spark Plug Wires At Home Isn’t Hard, And Makes For A Super Clean Install
If you have a stock, meaning un-modified, car and need a new set of spark plug wires, there is absolutely nothing wrong with going down to your local parts store and buying a replacement set....
Holley Carb Tuning Tips And Tricks With Steve “The Carb Whisperer” Brule From Westech Performance!
Jul 09, 2021Chad Reynolds3
Steve Brule is the smartest dyno operator and tuner I’ve ever seen or heard about. There, I said it. Are there other incredibly talented tuners and operators out there? Of course! Are there...
Too High? Holley Hi-Ram VS Mid-Rise VS Stock LS Truck Intake. Which Is Best For Which Engine?
Jul 03, 2021Chad Reynolds2
Nobody, and I mean nobody, has done more LS engine intake manifold testing than Richard Holdener. You might have seen some of his videos on the subject, but know that this is a fraction of those...
Valvetrain Tech: If Light Weight And Low Reciprocating Mass Matter So Much, Do Stiffer Valve Springs Cost Horsepower?
Jun 26, 2021Chad ReynoldsComments Off on Valvetrain Tech: If Light Weight And Low Reciprocating Mass Matter So Much, Do Stiffer Valve Springs Cost Horsepower?
Roller rockers, roller lifters, beehive valve springs, lightweight valves, lightweight locks and retainers, and the list goes on. These are all things designed to aid in controlling valvetrain at...
LS Turbo Tech: Stock Manifolds, Shorty Headers, Or Dedicated Turbo Headers – What’s The Real Difference?
Jun 06, 2021Chad ReynoldsComments Off on LS Turbo Tech: Stock Manifolds, Shorty Headers, Or Dedicated Turbo Headers – What’s The Real Difference?
Here’s the truth. If you connect the exhaust housing of a turbocharger to the exhaust on an LS engine, and the compressor side to the intake manifold, it will make boost and more power than it...
Ford Godzilla 7.3 Supercharger Testing: This Thing Is A Beast!
May 12, 2021Chad Reynolds4
These Ford Godzilla engines make big power stock, and we’ve heard of lots of dyno shops making 550 horsepower on the engine dyno in stock form other than headers and a tune. That’s stout...
Saving The Subie: Giving A Bug Eye Subaru WRX A New Lease On Life With A Budget JDM Engine Swap!
May 07, 2021Brian Lohnes1
(Words and photos by Steve Baur) – Long before I had seen one on the road, I was driving them in the PlayStation game Gran Turismo and watching them race in the FIA World Rally Championship....
DANGER: Stop Installing Harmonic Balancers The Wrong Way! Doug And Chad Both Tell You The Why’s And How’s!
May 05, 2021Chad Reynolds1
Harmonic balancer, damper, whatever you call it, the job of installing them is often a confusing and intimidating one. If this describes your first time installing one, count yourself as one of the...
Boost Makes Better: This Build and Dyno Test Of An 8-71 Blown 427ci LS3 Is Awesome – Airboat Engine!
Apr 27, 2021Brian Lohnes1
If you are going to build a kick ass airboat engine, you need a few things. The first is obviously some horsepower, the second is a deep reservoir of torque, and the third is reliability so you are...
Gen 5 LT Intake Test: L83, L86 And MSD Intake Manifold Tests On Cammed 5.3, 6.2, And More!
Apr 22, 2021Chad ReynoldsComments Off on Gen 5 LT Intake Test: L83, L86 And MSD Intake Manifold Tests On Cammed 5.3, 6.2, And More!
It’s on baby, the intake test you have been wanting and needing! Is the L83 intake the best LT intake made? Or is the L86 better? Or does the bad boy MSD intake blow them both away and take the...
Are They Ruining It? The Motion Raceworks Bubba Nova Gets Engine Swapped
Apr 17, 2021Chad ReynoldsComments Off on Are They Ruining It? The Motion Raceworks Bubba Nova Gets Engine Swapped
This 1972 Nova is the first street car project to come out of the Motion Raceworks shop, and it is a pretty special one. Yes, they have built several cars that they drive on race events like Rocky...