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Performance Racing Technology

ROSS BENTLEY TESTS A NEW DRIVER “TRAINING TOOL"

ROSS BENTLEY TESTS A NEW DRIVER “TRAINING TOOL"

Could it be true that there is a device that can pinpoint instantly where to brake, turn, accelerate, and more? Is this a coach in a box? Is it another book from Ross? Could this thing be the holy grail for race drivers? If a driver of the caliber of Ross Bentley can gain nearly a full second with the use of this device, well, it's gotta be the best thing for a driver since the wheel. 

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HEAT EXCHANGER FOR SUPERCHARGED 13-15 and 67-69 CAMARO W/LSA ENGINE

HEAT EXCHANGER FOR SUPERCHARGED 13-15 and 67-69 CAMARO W/LSA ENGINE

The heat exchangers offered by AppliedSpeed for your Chevrolet Camaro with LSA engines are engineered to end dreaded heat soak which robs major horsepower from the engine that leads to the "limp mode" trap and loss of power...

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More Power Faster Acceleration for Supercharged Mustang GT500

More Power Faster Acceleration for Supercharged Mustang GT500

There are two types of heat exchangers for automotive and truck use. The air to air type and the water to air. In the first variant, the intake air runs through the heat exchanger where it is cooled by the air that flows through it. In the second alternative, a dedicated pump forces water through the heat exchanger where the water is cooled by the air flowing through the grill opening or the depression created by the fans when a heat exchanger is used. The pump forces the water into the core under the supercharger through which the intake air is cooled.

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Race Engine Rod Stroke Ratio Calculator

Race Engine Rod Stroke Ratio Calculator

NASCAR and FORMULA 1 ROD STROKE RATIO & PISTON SPEED

Rod stroke Ratio

At 18000 RPM Formula One engines with an RSR of 2.56 achieve peak piston speeds of over 7000 feet-per-minute (FPM).  A NASCAR Cup engine piston speed reaches 8800 FPM at 10000 RPM with an RSR of 1.91.The F1 numbers are due mainly to the engines’ short strokes.

 

 

 

It is pointless to address the length of the connecting rod in any engine, racing or otherwise, without looking into the ratio of the length of the rod to the length of the stroke of the crankshaft.  This rod stroke ratio (RSR) is calculated by dividing the rod length by the stroke value. What is more, the piston pin location in the piston also affects the result of the calculations. Moving the pin closer to the thrust side causes the piston to acquire shorter rod characteristics. Conversely, when the pin is moved toward the non-thrust side of the bore makes the rod act longer.

Using the rod/stroke calculator and piston pin location calculator along with a modern advanced personal computer based engine development software unlocks a plethora of ideas and results that can be used to improve performance, increase BMEP, torque, power endurance and reliability.

Rod Angle

The rod to stroke ratio affects the angle at which the connecting rod applies force to the piston. A shorter rod will create more pressure on the piston skirts but it will have a smoother acceleration and deceleration curve at TDC and BDC.

At piston speeds above 5000 FPM, pistons must be equipped with forced pin oiling slots to cool the pins, the rings, and the pistons. This load increases at the square of the speed, and at higher speeds the rings, pistons, and pins receive less lubrication from the spinning crankshaft. Reduced oiling can result in overheated piston tops and skirts as well as the rings and pins.

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Upgraded Water Pumps Cars Trucks Performance Racing OffRoad Motorhomes

Upgraded Water Pumps Cars Trucks Performance Racing OffRoad Motorhomes

How high can I rev my stock water pump? Will my engine run better with a high-performance water pump? Should I install a high-performance water pump on my tow vehicle, street rod, or motor home? Does Edelbrock make high flow water pumps for LS engine

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UPGRADED HEAT EXCHANGERS BOOST POWER OF SUPERCHARGED CARS AND TRUCKS

UPGRADED HEAT EXCHANGERS BOOST POWER OF SUPERCHARGED CARS AND TRUCKS

High intake air temperatures also affect timing and fuel injection. When overheated, the intake air can cause detonation and engine damage...Supercharger heat exchangers for Mustangs, Ford F150 trucks, Corvettes, Cadillac CTS-Vs, and Camaros can improve the power of your ride by up to 20%!

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UPGRADED PERFORMANCE RACING RADIATORS

UPGRADED PERFORMANCE RACING RADIATORS

Always mount radiators and coolers on soft rubber. When solidly mounted the vibrations eventually cause cracks, and failure ensues.When running straight water use tap water as it contains minerals that prevent ionization of the aluminum in the radiator.

  • Do not ground radiators. Instead make sure all the electrical components, the engine, transmission and rear-end are adequately grounded.

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UPGRADED CAR HEAT EXCHANGERS IMPROVE SUPERCHARGER PERFORMANCE ALL CARS

UPGRADED CAR HEAT EXCHANGERS IMPROVE SUPERCHARGER PERFORMANCE ALL CARS

Reducing the intake air temperature with an aftermarket heat exchanger from AppliedSpeed.com also improves the timing and fuel injection which otherwise could cause detonation, limp mode and engine damage. Here, the ECU would pull the timing to prevent detonation, and it would correct the fuel delivery, but those adjustments further reduce power by an additional 10 to 20%!

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AFTERMARKET UPGRADED AUTOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE RACING OIL COOLERS

AFTERMARKET UPGRADED AUTOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE RACING OIL COOLERS

OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) manufacture their oil coolers, for transmissions or engines, for "normal" driving and under "normal" conditions.

As soon as an engine crosses its threshold of power, the lubricants overheat, and they must return to a safe temperature! Avoid expensive damage to your hard-earned high performance engines and drivetrain components with the best automotive oil coolers for engines, transmissions, gearboxes, transaxles, differentials, and power steering units.

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WINTERIZING YOUR  CAR OR TRUCK

WINTERIZING YOUR CAR OR TRUCK

 

By Jean Genibrel, AppliedSpeed.com 

Around the end of the year, our race or performance cars and tow vehicles are often stowed away and sometimes forgotten until spring. Storing vehicles can create problems unseen during normal operation. Vintage and race cars, weekend time trial or drag cars, Jeeps, Off-Road vehicles, Street Rods, street performance cars, and tow vehicles, when stored in the winter, require some attention to prevent big problems in the spring. 

The Cooling System:

Racing organizations forbid the use of antifreeze due to its slipperiness, but street-driven vehicles should have the antifreeze checked to prevent cracking the engine and the radiator in freezing temperatures. Even a small amount of water can crack a radiator when the water freezes. If the car is to be stored, drain the water completely from the engine and the radiator. The picture below shows the kind of damage a freeze can do to a race motor that contains only water.

 This picture from Maropulos Racing Engines clearly depicts the type of problem that can be avoided by winterizing your race car.

https://www.facebook.com/MaropulosEngines/

 

 

Batteries:

Jean Genibrel, the owner of AppliedsSpeed.com, manufactured Checker Racing Batteries in the late 1980s. The batteries were gel-type, deep cycle, with thick plates and all the necessary accouterments to make them fit for racing. Nevertheless, in the spring, we would get calls from racers and street rodders who had “dead batteries.” This problem was due to poor preparation for storage.

Unfortunately, the new AGM batteries are most susceptible to going dead when left unattended for some time, especially if they were stored when partly discharged. This problem is due to their thin plate construction. Some precautions can alleviate battery problems.

Modern automobiles and trucks support multiple electrical devices like clocks, radio presets and security systems that can discharge a battery in less than a month when the car is unused. Connect a battery maintenance device for the storage duration will ensure the battery will be operational in the spring.

Owners of race cars without an alternator should fully charge their battery and connect a maintenance charger before storage.

Battery Tender trickle charger

Battery Tender company products are available on APPLIEDSPEED.com. For storage buy a trickle charger, not a full bore charger or one of those will overheat and destroy a battery over a period of time.

Oil Thermostats:

Engine builders recommend using an oil thermostat when using a vehicle equipped with an oil cooler in the winter. In some parts of the U.S., like the low lying areas of California, will never see freezing temperatures. However, driving a few miles into the desert- where we can find many race tracks -  or in the mountains, the temperature can drop dramatically and quickly. Cars like Vintage ones, weekend time trial cars, and street performance cars driven in the winter and equipped with an oil cooler would benefit from and oil thermostat. Motor oil, unlike automatic transmission fluid, must warm to at least 165 degrees F. High oil pressure may sound like a good thing, but when very cold, oil does not flow, and this can cause severe engine damage. 

 Oil:

If you will drive your car during the winter, refer to the owners’ manual to determine which viscosity oil to run in your engine during those months. Even low viscosity oil can get very thick at low temperatures. Tow vehicles are also candidates for an oil thermostat when they are equipped with an oil cooler.

During storage, motor oil may gather some water, so change the oil after storage.

Tires:

Used racing tires will be unusable by springtime anyhow so you could leave them on the wheels for now. Tire Rack offers the following information for storing high performance and racing tires: It is not recommended to drive on these types of tires at temperatures below 40 degrees F (5 degrees C). It is recommended these types of tires be stored indoors at temperatures maintained at above 20 degrees F (-7 degrees C) when not in use.

Automatic Transmissions:

Automatic transmissions can fail if they are left to stand for long periods. When left undriven, varnish and acids form in the fluid, causing the seals to dry and crack. So perhaps once a month or so, start the engine and drive the car for a few miles (if possible) or go through the gears on the jack stands.

Fuel:

https://www.sunocoracefuels.com/tech-article/race-fuel-storage

Sunoco Race Fuels suggests the following as guidelines for "optimizing the “shelf life” of racing gasoline but does not cover safety aspects of handling gasoline."

 

  • Keep the fuel in tightly sealed steel containers to prevent evaporation of some of the more volatile components of race gas.
  • Fill gas tanks and drain the old fuel from the injection system or carburetors.
  • Cover open fuel lines and breathers with plastic baggies and tie-straps.
  • Keep fuel in areas with low-temperature swings.
  • Add some Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer to the fuel if you plan to store it for more than a year.

General:

  • Critters, even house pets, can find refuge in the strangest places. One of our correspondents had stored his Crossfire in the fall, and in the spring, when he started the air conditioning, he noticed a nasty smell accompanied by a huge vibration. Upon disassembling the AC, he found a mouse that had seen better days in the cage fan. Further investigation revealed the little guy’s family and friends also had a voracious appetite for wires and upholstery. Adding some shields around the jack stands may discourage rodents from climbing into chew heaven.

 

  • Car museums wrap their cars when they go into storage with stretch plastic wrap — lots of work, but worthwhile protection.
  • A few bags of desiccant from your local hardware store placed on the floor and in the trunk will help remove moisture from the interior.
  • Check for fluid leaks. Over a long winter, fluids can make a real mess of a shop floor, and they can ruin tires that are still on the ground.
  • Adding a bottle of Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer to a full tank of gas will keep the fuel fresh for several months. Fill the tank and run the engine for a few minutes to use up the fuel in the lines and the filter. The full tank will reduce the air and moisture gap above the fuel.
  • Keep cars stored in a dry place away from leaky roofs or floods.
  • Store your vehicles away from sandblasters, welders, grinders, and other shop equipment.
  • Cover the vehicle with a waterproof tarp or dedicated car cover, but heed the advice of using desiccant as the covers may retain moisture.
  • Place barriers around the car like cones or barrels to keep other cars at a safe distance.
  • Wrap carburetors in plastic bags to prevent moisture from entering the engine. The same goes for the exhaust.

Happy Performance Motoring

Jean Genibrel

AppliedSpeed.com

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