Ask Away! with Jeff Smith: Cam Size and Its Role in Torque Converter Selection
I have a ’69 Chevy C-10 pickup with a 383 stroker small-block and a TH350 transmission. We recently put a bigger hydraulic lifter cam and headers on the engine to […]
Mailbag: How to Check Your Speedometer for Accuracy
Q: I recently had a new set of tires installed. I opted to go with a larger diameter than the originals that were on the car. Will this affect the accuracy of […]
Carb Checklist: 9 Performance Issues that Can be Traced to Your Carb
The venerable carburetor is arguably the most recognizable hot rod part. That’s because the carburetor has been the crowned jewel of some of the most revered small blocks, big blocks, HEMIs, and six-cylinders to ever […]
Mailbag: Waking up a Sluggish Small Block
Q: I have an old Camaro that I am fixing up. It has a 350 small block bored .030-inch over with a 383 stroker crankshaft, 5.7-inch connecting rods, and forged flat […]
Ask Away! with Jeff Smith: What is Safe Effective Compression Ratio for E85?
What is a general safe effective compression ratio on E85? The internet results in varying opinions from 13:1 up to an extreme 20:1. Jeff Smith: This is an interesting question […]
Project Thunderbolt LS Miata (Part 13): Testing 1,2,3!
It’s been a while since we’ve had an update on Tom Tharp’s Project Thunderbolt LS3 Miata build. Since finishing the car back in June, Tharp has been racking up the […]
Mailbag: Boosting Low-End Performance for TBI Applications
Q: I’m rebuilding the 350 TBI engine in my 1992 Chevy 3/4-ton pickup, and I’m looking for a boost in bottom-end power. I’ve selected Edelbrock’s Performer TBI intake manifold and Performer-Plus […]
Ask Away! with Jeff Smith: The Pros and Cons of the Chevy Inline Six for Old-School Hot Rods
I was at my local car show the other day and I talked with a guy who built an inline Chevy 6 for his street rod. I was interested in […]
Mailbag: Straight-Line 90/10 Racing Shocks For Street?
Q: Occasionally, I take my street-driven Fox Body Ford Mustang to the track for some racing. I’d like to get more traction off of the line. Will 90/10 front shocks […]
Mailbag: Eliminating Hot Transmission Fluid Venting at High Temps
Q: I have a Turbo 400 transmission with a 4,000-rpm stall converter and a transmission cooler. My trouble starts when the transmission temperature gets to about 210˚ F—the transmission starts […]