It’s a Hole in the Water…
A high-performance boat engine for the lakes of Indiana? How hard could it be? Northeastern Indiana is full of lakes. Like so much of the midwest, the glaciers carved out low-lying areas as they ground their way down from the north. As they retreated, they left behind...
Recovery, Restoration, and Resurrection, Part 1
Another whole enterpise! While resto work often includes high-performance aspects, it’s about a whole lot more than just trying to go as fast as possible. You won’t find this kind of coverage in any other publication, and we believe you’ll enjoy it and perhaps even be inspired to get into this challenging field. This installment sets the stage with customer contact and initial evaluation.
Roundy-round-a-rama: The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame
The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame is a tribute to the cars that have made a science out of left hand turns
When Life Gives You Lemons… Think Stroker?
We won’t get into the severe overheating that led to a melted wiring harness and other internal engine damage, but we will talk about the passion that this owner has for this car.
How to Keep a Vintage Vehicle’s Engine Running Cool
You may be thinking a big radiator and an auxiliary fan, but there's more to this challenge than that. One of the more common complaints that owners of vintage cars and hot rods have is that their car's engine runs too hot in warm weather. Perhaps the stock cooling...
HOT ROD Pro-File: Billy Boat
From his father’s repair shop to the pole position of the Indianapolis 500 to owner of a thriving performance exhaust company, Billy Boat is truly a current-day hot rodder.
Meet my Favorite Fabricator, Part 1
This issue of Performance Technician features a major article on restoration. Fabrication is often a major part of that pursuit, so our man Greg visited the best “make-anything” shop he knows of to create this story. In the early days of automobiles, the U.S. was a “fabrication nation,” but now the necessary skills and talent are rare.
Using Vacuum Readings for Tuning and Diagnosis
Some people consider the vacuum gauge a lowly instrument that might have been part of a DYI tune-up kit decades ago. Think about it for a minute, though, and you’ll realize how basic and important the info it gives you really is.
StarTuned October 2014
In this issue: Always Spinning: Variable Displacement A/C Compressors; Be a Door Man; Installing Custom Aftermarket Wheels & Tires; Variable Length Intake Manifold Operation & Maintenance
Torque Benders, Part 2: Detailed Procedures
Last time, we discussed the basic design, failures, and what it takes to freshen up a differential. Here, we’re going to get deeply hands-on.
Torque Benders, Part 1: Differential Basics
With RWD, you’re making all that horsepower up front, but you’ve got to make it do a 90-degree turn to spin those tires. That’s got to be hard on the mechanism — downright brutal in any kind of racing. Here’s how to get started putting the pieces back together, and a set-up shortcut, too.
Potential Consequences of Installing Custom Aftermarket Wheels and Tires
It’s a good bet that some of your customers consider their Mercedes-Benz vehicles a fashion statement. Maybe they’re wild about some particular wheel and tire combination that’s impractical, maybe even unsafe. What do you do?
Don’t Play with Fire
There’s no such thing as a “minor fire” at an auto service shop. Beyond the obvious loss of property, equipment and business income, the threat to the safety of humans is paramount. We’ve all heard the stories or know someone who has had it happen to them. Perhaps it...
Round and Round? Nascar Events Never Moved Me
Then, many years ago, Monroe introduced its Reflex shock to the press at Atlanta Raceway…
Variable Length Intake Manifold Operation and Maintenance
For most of automotive history, the intake manifold was just an inactive lump of iron or aluminum. Not anymore.
Performance Technician October 2014
The October 2014 issue of Performance Technician opens a whole new area of coverage. Sure, we’re still giving you the kind of practical hands-on tech articles you won’t find elsewhere, but we’ll also be introducing you to the restoration business, which often includes high-performance aspects, and should be interesting to any car guy. To complement the main feature, we’re including a story about an incredible fabrication shop. I don’t know about you, but I enjoy this kind of work, maybe even more than making a good diagnosis.
Be a Door Man
Sensors, actuators, and electronic controls make repairing Mercedes-Benz doors a lot more important to vehicle safety and passenger comfort than in the past. The collision repair technician must deliver not only excellent fit and finish, but also ensure that all electronics function as required by the original equipment specifications.
Variable Displacement A/C Compressors: Always Spinning
Only after ruling out non-compressor problems can you begin testing the variable displacement compressor itself. Does the swash plate respond to different loads? If not, is it a problem with the compressor, sensor inputs, or with the controller?
McConiga’s Axioms: They Aren’t My Clowns and This Isn’t My Circus
I don’t know about you, but I’m fed up with political correctness, partial truths, and our lack of courage to face absolutes. There are absolutes in life -- in the character and nature of man, in our capacity to hear, learn and understand -- and they are revealed in...
Taking a Look at How Nissan Regenerative Braking Works
The regenerative braking systems on Nissan hybrid vehicles can be confusing and misunderstood. Let’s take a look at how these systems really work.
Diagnosing Key-Off Drain Problems
Chasing down an elusive key-off drain problem can test the patience of any technician. Here are some tips and hints to make your life a little easier.