Mailbag: Finding Brake Balance in a Second-Gen Camaro
Q: I have a race-prepped second-gen Camaro with skinny tires up front and wide tires in the rear. The other day I had to make a quick stop and the […]
Author: Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews was a mechanic for the U.S. Army, a Ford dealership, and served for many years as a fleet mechanic for construction companies. Now a technical content producer at Summit Racing, Dave has spent decades working on everything from military vehicles to high performance race machines.
Mailbag: Ford 302 Oil Pump Driveshaft & Distributor Alignment Tips
Q: After rebuilding a 302 Ford EFI engine, I am having an issue getting my distributor to seat down all the way in the engine block. It’s about ¼-inch short. […]
Mailbag: Choosing a New Clutch After Adding Power to Street-Strip Gen5 Camaro
Q: I am getting ready to add a supercharger, cylinder heads, and a hotter camshaft to my 2012 Chevy Camaro SS. It’s my daily driver that I also autocross and […]
Mailbag: Are Winter Tires Worth It?
Q: I live in an area that occasionally experiences heavy snowfall during the winter and I’m considering a set of winter wheels and tires. Are they really worth it, given […]
Mailbag: Q-Jet Carb is a Great Choice for Off-Road 4×4
Q: I have a 1973 Chevy K20 truck with an aluminum-head, roller cam 383 stroker. I’ve heard from some of my old-school gearhead friends that a properly tuned Quadrajet is […]
Mailbag: Do I Need a High-Volume or High-Pressure Oil Pump?
Q: Do I need a high-volume or high-pressure oil pump? … A: When buying an oil pump, you have a few options. The right pump for you depends on how […]
Mailbag: Preventing Electrical Damage in a 1995 Ford F-350 Pickup
Q: I was driving my 1995 F-350 when the truck suddenly went completely dead. I coasted to a stop, opened the hood, and saw that the alternator charge wire was […]
Mailbag: Why Did Ford Change the Firing Order on the 5.0L 302 H.O. Engine?
Q: I’m building a Ford 302 engine, and I’m looking at camshafts. I’m curious—why did Ford change the firing order on the 5.0L (302) HO engine? A: This question gets […]
Mailbag: What Lifters Should I Use For My 360 Dodge Magnum Cam Swap?
Q: I’m building a 360 Dodge Magnum engine, and want to install a performance hydraulic roller camshaft. I can’t find the replacement OEM lifter alignment bars that the stock roller […]
3 Steps to Proper Bellhousing Alignment & Offset Dowel Pin Sizing Chart
Is it Necessary to Align the Bellhousing for a Transmission Swap? Q: I’m installing a new 5-speed transmission and bellhousing in my 1993 Mustang. A friend of mine asked me […]