Ask Away! with Jeff Smith: Figuring Piston-to-Deck with Protruding Pistons
I’m building a Chevy 350 engine for my son’s circle track race car. I started out with a 0.040-over block that I think has been severely decked but I’m not […]
Q&A
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Q&A
Mailbag: Will These Exhaust Headers Fit my Vehicle?
Q: How can I figure out if these headers will fit my vehicle? … A: Exhaust headers are designed to fit a specific combination of engine and vehicle. Just because a […]
Q&A
Mailbag: Explaining 4-1 vs. Tri-Y Exhaust Header Collectors
Q: Can you explain the difference between “4-1” and “Tri-Y” collectors? … A: The collector is where the primary tubes merge together. 4-1 and Tri-Y are the two main types […]
Q&A
The Basics of Setting and Adjusting Valve Lash
The designers of late model engines like the GM LS, Ford Modular engine, and the Chrysler Gen III Hemi have in many ways made it easy for performance enthusiasts. Not […]
Q&A
Mailbag: What is Connecting Rod Ratio and Why Does it Matter?
Q: What is rod ratio? … A: Rod ratio is the relationship between the Connecting Rod Length and the Stroke Length of the crankshaft. How is it calculated? Use the following formula to calculate rod […]
Q&A
Mailbag: Ford 302 Firing Problems After Cam Swap
Q: I have a 1994 Ford F-150 with a 5.0L engine and factory mass airflow sensor. I just had the heads redone and installed a Trick Flow Stage 1 camshaft. […]
Q&A
Mailbag: Can I Remove the Cooling Fan Shroud?
Q: Can I remove the fan shroud on my cooling fan? … A: It might seem like it’s just in the way, but the fan shroud plays an important role in the […]
Q&A
Ask Away! with Jeff Smith: Troubleshooting Small Block Chevy Compression Loss
I recently stripped down my 350 small-block Chevy because of loss of compression over the last three years. In 5,000 miles and three different checks of the cranking compression, it […]
Q&A / Tech
Mailbag: 5 Things to Check When Swapping to Higher Lift Rockers
I have a 1970 Nova SS with a 11.5:1 compression, 355 cubic-inch small block. It has Sportsman II heads, a COMP Cams hydraulic camshaft (292 degrees advertised duration, .507 inches […]
Q&A
Mailbag: Which Air Intake Tube Material is Better – Metal or Plastic?
Q: Is a plastic or metal intake tube better? … A: Air intake kits are a popular performance upgrade. They are affordable, easy to install, and provide noticeable gains over a […]
