Posts Tagged ‘ Custom Engines ’

PRW Releases New Steel Harmonic Damper for Pontiac Engines

By Ashley Smissen , May 23, 2011 in Engine & Drivetrain, Products

PRW's new 1959-1967 Pontiac 326-421 Black Damper is shown with a silver-anodized aluminum pulley.

PRW Industries has introduced a new SFI-rated Steel Harmonic Damper that’s designed for 1959-1967 Pontiac 326-421 engines. The damper is tested at 12,500 rpm and is CAD-engineered and CNC-machined from high-grade billet steel and aluminum.

The damper will protect an engine from harmful harmonic vibrations, and can be used for a Concours-level restoration, according to the company. It can be mounted with the stock pulley to help maintain an original lock. The timing marks are laser-etched onto the damper to ensure they’re easy to read and won’t wear off.

HRR Tech Editor Mike Mavrigian Announces Next Engine Build Project

By Ashley Smissen , January 18, 2011 in Engine & Drivetrain

Last November, Mike Mavrigian, HRR’s tech editor, asked Hotrod & Restoration readers, in addition to his Precision Engine readers, to offer suggestions as to what type of engine he should build next. The response he received was overwhelming, with readers and Facebook fans suggesting everything from Ford Y-blocks to Buick Nailheads to 347 Ford strokers.

“It was actually somewhat surprising (and good news as well) that interest in older, classic engine platforms remains strong,” Mavrigian wrote in a recent blog post on http://www.precisionenginetech.com/.

Due to the many requests for a nostalgia engine build project, Mavrigian has decided to build a “vintage” Pontiac 455, which he said is one of the current nostalgia-favorites for both street rodders and drag racers.

Mike Mavrigian’s 8BA Flathead Engine Build is Complete! Read the Final Installment

By Ashley Smissen , September 8, 2010 in Editor's Corner, Engine & Drivetrain, Tech & Tools

Back in May, Mike Mavrigian, HRR’s tech editor, began building an 8BA Ford Flathead engine at his Creston, Ohio, shop, Birchwood Automotive Group. He’s documented the build on his website, www.precisionenginetech.com.

“This particular build is intended to provide a primer for a first-time Flathead build,” Mavrigian wrote. “Of course, I could have performed several additional upgrades, but while I did perform a few modifications, this build is not intended as an example of a build that features all of the potential bells and whistles. I didn’t perform valve relieving or porting, and I didn’t install a blower setup, etc.”

HRR Tech Editor Mike Mavrigian Updates on Ford Flathead 8BA Engine Build

By Ashley Smissen , August 3, 2010 in Editor's Corner, Engine & Drivetrain

Photo from precisionenginetech.com.

“This is my first foray into the flathead world, so I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve been learning as I go, just as any builder would on their ‘first’ vintage engine,” Mavrigian wrote in May.

After a lot of hard work, the engine build is almost complete, with only the ignition and alternator work to be done.

“You’ll begin to see this build in all of its detail in the very near future,” said Mavrigian. “I must admit that building this flattie has posed more of a challenge than I could have imagined. Of course, that’s primarily because I’m not simply slapping it together. More time than you care to imagine has been spent in the details, but since I’m targeting this build as a nice street rod application example, the details are important.”

“The only original pieces involved in this build include the bare block, the oil pan and the rear oil pump drive cover. Everything else is from the performance aftermarket,” continued Mavrigian. “The spark plug wire routing involves a custom setup that I think looks ultra-cool. Mounting an alternator posed a challenge due to a clearance issues, but Tuff Stuff is coming through with a chromed Mustang Bullit alternator that will provide a proper fit. I’m simply at the point right now where I need to design and fabricate a mounting system. Hopefully I’ll be able to begin posting the build article series in about another week. I think that you’ll like what.”

For more information and updates on Mike Mavrigian’s Ford Flathead build, go to www.precisionenginetech.com.

HRR Tech Editor Mike Mavrigian has been steadily working on his latest engine build: a “vintage” Ford Flathead 8BA. As Mavrigian reported on his website, www.precisionenginetech.com, the build started with a restored original 8BA iron block, to which he added a Scat stroker crank and rods, custom-profiled Egge pistons and an Isky cam. The engine also features heads from Edelbrock, and an intake setup that consists of a triple-deuce Edelbrock intake manifold and three Demon 98 carbs. As Mavrigian puts it, “This little bugger is looking very sweet!”

New High-Performance Race Roller Lifters From Comp Cams

By Ashley Smissen , April 21, 2010 in Engine & Drivetrain, Products

The new Elite Race Solid Roller Lifters from COMP Cams are designed to withstand demanding high-performance and racing conditions, said the company.

The roller lifters feature an SAE 8620 alloy steel body that is CNC-machined and REM-finished, SAE 9310 steel alloy wheels that are precision-ground, and needles that are micro-sorted with a controlled contour profile.

HRR Tech Editor Mike Mavrigian Completes Five-Part Dart 427W Engine Build Series

By Ashley Smissen , April 13, 2010 in Engine & Drivetrain, How-To-Articles, Tech & Tools

Mavrigian began the build with a 351W Dart block, and gradually increased the displacement to a whopping 427 cid.

HRR Technical Editor Mike Mavrigian has just completed his Dart 427W engine build, and is ready to dyno it! Each step of the project, which Mavrigian began in December 2009, has been documented on the Precision Engine website as part of a five-part series.

Hemi: Still Popular & Profitable After 59 Years

By John Katz , March 1, 2010 in Engine & Drivetrain

There are some potent and provocative four-letter words that can frighten the fainthearted. And then there’s Hemi.

“Nothing looks like a Hemi,” noted Russ Flagle, owner of Indy Cylinder Head in Indianapolis. “When you raise the hood, it’s an awe-inspiring situation.”

Tech Solutions: Tips for Performance Engine Builders

By Mike Mavrigian , December 1, 2009 in Engine & Drivetrain, How-To-Articles

Tech Solutions is a section that runs in select issues of Hotrod & Restoration, providing an opportunity for our readers who are professional performance engine builders to share their expertise with other builders.

Car of the Month: 1953 Chevy 150 Sedan

By Ashley Smissen , November 23, 2009 in Rod Shops

1953 Chevy 150

Parke Bishop, Jr.’s 1953 Chevy 150 Sedan is a prime example on how to put a modern twist on a classic car and make it a standout in both arenas.

Featuring an array of both custom and aftermarket parts this “cinnamon and ginger” show-stopper stands somewhere in the middle of retro and recent, and the industry has taken notice; the car was one of seven finalists competing for the 2008 Goodguys Custom Rod of the Year award and has been featured on the show circuit.

The spicy sedan, which Bishop originally purchased for $500, features a stock Chevy chassis, custom cross-members and a Heidt’s front end and Currie 9” rearend.

Tech Solutions: Tips for Engine Performance Builders

By Mike Mavrigian , November 23, 2009 in Engine & Drivetrain

Tech Solutions is sponsored by MAHLE.