Category Archives: Auto Racing

Murdered-Out Twin-Engined Death Rod Is Insanely Beautiful

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What a piece of work.  Enjoy this from Rod Authority.

By Salvatore Alaimo, posted on Feb 14, 2012 in News
 http://www.rodauthority.com/news/video-murdered-out-twin-engined-death-rod-is-insanely-beautiful/

In some cases, a slew of random images just don’t do a build any justice. Case in point, this well-done footage of Yannick Sire’s dual-engined, open-wheeled speed machine. As a gearhead, you’re probably well aware that the birth of hot rodding was nurtured from the sunny west coast of Southern California. It’s there you’ll find custom rod builders like George Barris and the infamous S0-Cal Speed Shop.

Following along in their footsteps, Yannick Sire is not only taking inspiration from those before him but indeed, pushing it beyond most peoples comfort levels. We couldn’t help but post such an amazing build. Although this might not run bottom 11s at the track or clip an amazing lap time during an autocross course, its pretty awesome.

If this doesn’t inspire you, we aren’t quite sure what will. For the most part, we’ll let the video do most of the talking on this one. West Los Angeles rod builder, Yannick Sire has reinvigorated the West Coast’s tradition of radical street rodding with his full-custom hot rod, a hybrid creation of many different parts from different cars.

Sire, is truly an inspirational genius. Sire even hand-crafted each of the 16 individual header tubes himself.

The real trademark, however, of Sire’s custom rod are the two, 450-horse Chevy small-blocks, both outfitted with a heavy-breathing set of Air Flow Research (AFR) cylinder heads. Not only does this combination sound amazing, its equaling out to fire-breathing 16 cylinders.

Sire’s wheel choice consists of a 20 x 9.5-/20 x 10.5-inch front/rear combination from an ’02-’03, BMW X5. The Continental tires are P275/35R20 and P315/35R20, respectively. The front suspension uses custom, unequal length A-arms with second-gen Camaro, two-inch drop spindles.

Since slowing down is just as, if not more important, Sire upgraded the braking system to 14-inch Corvette Z06 on all four corners. Stering is handled by a Subaru STI rack-and-pinion. At the front of Sire’s V16 rod are a set of QA1 coilovers with a rate of 650 lb/in, and the completed vehicle weighs in at an estimated 2500 pounds.

For the last several years in the performance craft, we’ve had made the general statement that there are two ways to make any car or truck go fast: make it lighter or else more powerful. In the case of Yannick Sire and his 16-cylinder hot rod, both principles have been exercised to the absolute extreme!

Image credit: GTSpirit.com

C5 250 mhp

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Listen if it’s a Corvette and  you want to make  it go faster…I’m fine with that. Who cares, why you want to make it go faster?

From http://www.corvetteonline.com

What would possess someone to create a Corvette with over 2,200 horsepower? Does it really matter? With an amazing feat like that, we didn’t think so. Take a look at the unbelievable Top Speed C5 Z06 that has over three times the amount of horsepower as a modern ZR1 at the April Ohio Mile event in the Wyldfantasies Media Studios video above.

 Images: Hinson Motorsports

Built by Hinson Motorsports, “Record Hunter” is among the most powerful Corvettes we’ve ever seen and there’s reason for that. Bringing the car to its astounding 2,246 HP rating at 7,800 RPM is a massive build the crew completed back in March.

Under the car’s hood you’ll find a 427 cubic inch RHS Aluminum Tall Deck Block assembled and machined by Butler Performance. Stuffed inside this block are aluminum connecting rods, Diamond pistons and a Callies Ultra Center Counter Weight Billet Camshaft, as well as a custom high capacity oil pan from Doug Lee Engineuity.

Making up the engine’s top end are TEA-ported Trick Flow 245cc heads, Crower roller rocker arms, COMP Cam pushrods, a custom COMP solid roller camshaft and a GM EFI carb-style intake manifold. But these components alone aren’t what gives Record Hunter its massive amount of horsepower.

That extra boost comes from an intricate custom turbocharger system featuring a 118mm turbo, custom air to water intercooler, Tial wastegate and blow off valves, and a 5-inch downpipe all working to the tune of 34 PSI manifold pressure.

Of course, a build like this makes for extra fuel needs, which the team has dialed in using a Holley Dominator EFI system and Bosch 160 pound-per-hour injectors, as well as a regulator and fuel pumps from Fuelab.

The whole build is backed by a RPM-built TR6060 transmission with a SPEC twin disc clutch and an RPM ZR1 differential with Quaife LSD.

Surprisingly, the Corvette looks relatively like the C5 production car it started out as, minus the modified hood, roll cage and custom adjustable rear wing, of course. But obviously, looks can be deceiving. And 18-inch wheels from True Forged Wheels wrapped in Hoosier R6 rubber make sure that as much of Record Hunter’s power as possible is delivered successfully to the ground to turn heads like no other C5 can do.

 After completing the build in March, the Hinson Motorsports crew took Record Hunter to the Ohio Mile, an East Coast Timing Association event in Wilmington, Ohio on April 29th to see what it could do. As the first standing mile event the Corvette raced at since its build, the April Ohio Mile proved to be a great tuning opportunity for the crew since the mile race was speed-limited to 150 MPH.

It may not look too far off from stock, but Record Hunter packs nearly 2,000 more horsepower than a stock C5 Z06.

As the car’s name suggests, future goals for Record Hunter are to set new standing mile records. With a car potentially capable of topping out at over 250 MPH, we’re sure Hinson Motorsports will be making history with the car this season. Be sure to watch out for Record Hunter at any of the standing mile events this year. To check out some in-car footage of the first standing mile pass the Corvette did since its build, watch the video below.

http://youtu.be/cry4XC0H1Ow

http://youtube/cry4XC0H1Ow

Slacking – What’s Coming Up

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Yes, I’ve been slacking a bit on the blogging, but have good reason.  Ok…not really but here’s what is coming up.

–  A couple  new Engine Lineup articles

– An unexpected new project shows up

– An unexpected problem with the Mustang

– Corvette headlight issues

–  More probing on the Corvette gas gauge issues

– Corvette clutch fluid leak

– Pick up my RSS feed and your name will be entered in my monthly drawing for a die cast replica and other KOOL stuff.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

2013 Shelby GT500: Nardo WARNING DO NOT WATCH THIS!!

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YOU’VE BEEN WARNED.  Now you are going to have to figure out how to explain why there will be  Shelby Mustang GT500 in your driveway to your significant other.

Told ya not to watch!!!    Here is some more.

Tim

Agent 47 Harbinger 69-70 Mustang

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Ok car and Mustang fans you are going to like this:

BOOM!

Agent 47 Harbinger Mustang for racing or street!!!

Isn’t that wicked looking?

They tried for the look of the 69 TransAm Mustang.

Shelby 1969 TransAm Mustang

The Harbinger is built for track or high performance street duty.  Here are some specs and more pics.  (Check out the racing video too.)

– Limited production of 250 serialized chassis

– Harbingers can be built using a brand new Dynacorn repro body or an existing 69 or 70 Mustang shell. {but it would have to be the fastback or sports back – not my ’70 Coupe  🙁  }

Race spec, low visual obstruction design, 12 point, chassis stiffening roll-cage of DOM steel.

Race proven SLA (double A-arm) Front suspension.

Ultra stable, Bill Osborne designed, V-link rear suspension.

Speedway Engineering 9” full floating rear axle.

Penske adjustable racing shocks with optional weight jacks at all four corners.

Ducted, low drag and lift hood, engineered and crafted by Agent 47.

Come ON!!! Tell me that’s not awesome!!!

Agent 47 designed vintage Recaro style racing seats.

Agent 47 designed, lightweight, Forgeline racing wheels.

Those are nice!!!

Brakes and master cylinders by AP racing.

Check out this set up.

16 lightweight components manufactured using the latest Rapid prototyping technology.

NVH controlled interior with strategic, lightweight, sound dampening materials.

A work of art. Very limited body roll with this set up. Much improved over the original ’69 TransAm

I’m not advertising for these guys, I just really like what they’ve done.  There are parts for Fox bodied and other Mustangs as well.

Here a long racing video (cameras are set up for you can see how the body reacts to cornering).

http://www.agentfortyseven.com/harbinger/index.html

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1930 Ford Pickup Hot Rod – Pure Fun

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There are a lot of reasons to build a hot rod and never just one reason.

Here are a couple guys enjoying one of the reason.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

US Cars Overseas – Sweden

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Thought I’d share this.  It’s amazing how many and the variety of  US cars made in the 50’s and 60’s made it overseas.  It’s also very interesting what they do with them.  Check out these MOPARs in Sweden.  Way Cool!!!

From:   http://www.streetlegaltv.com/news/a-variety-of-mopars-in-sweden-to-envy/

A Variety Of Mopars In Sweden To Envy

Michael Hardingby on April 23, 2012

You can always tell a car guy by looking in his garage and seeing what he has in there. If you see a couple of cars, that’s could be your first clue. But when you see muscle cars from the 60’s and 70’s, and engines on pallets, car lifts, stickers from internet performance shops, and various parts on the shelves, then you know that garage isn’t the run-of-the-mill garage.

Looking at Anders Ohlin’s garage in Sweden lets you know that this guy is into cars and performance – particularly Mopar performance. His collection of Mopar muscle cars is enough to make you drool.

Anders collection is interesting, and he says that some of his cars are the only ones that he knows of in Sweden. He considers himself a fanatic, as do many of his friends. Just looking at the pictures in his garage and you can see that he likes to surround himself with performance.

Some of his cars include a 1958 DeSoto Fireflite with a 361 Wedge, a 1965 Dodge Coronet A990 Super Stock Clone with a race HEMI that he imported in 2010, a 1964 Dodge 440 that has a 426 Wedge with dual carbs, a 1962 Chrysler 300 Sport Coupe that appears to have a 413 with dual carbs, and also a 1964 Dodge 330 to round out the cars we know of.

You can check out the YouTube video and see him moving his 1964 Dodge 330 around the garage. It’s a very healthy sounding Mopar, and if the deep rumble of that exhaust doesn’t sound like music to your ears, then you need to turn your speakers up!

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

So You Gonna Build an Engine? Part 3 – Bearings

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Federal Mogul Bearings

Have you even given this a thought?   Nope, not me either.

But here’s why you should and why you shouldn’t go cheap.

Engine bearings have the dual function of reducing friction between a rotating part of the engine (the crankshaft) and the stationary part (the main caps and engine block) and supporting the crank.

Because of the stresses caused by the explosions inside the internal combustion engine, the bearing material must be extremely strong, so a durable metal is required.

Engine bearings are small and relatively inexpensive components of internal combustion engines however failure of an engine bearing commonly leads to serious reconditioning works of the engine including its disassembling, regrinding the crankshaft and replacing the bearings.  Sound like fun?  No.  And we all know that it’s not cheap to rebuild, so let’s do it right and not cut corners in this area.

So what should you get? Well considering that there are all kind of ways to destroy your bearing, like dry starting (no oil coating) some of the following:

  • Wrong selection of the Engine bearing materials for the application.
  • Localized loading of the bearing due to a misalignment (eg. hour-glass journal, distorted connecting rod).
  • Fuel detonation caused by advanced ignition.
  • Running the engine under high loads (torque) at low rotation speeds for long period.
  • Poor conforming of the bearing back with the housing surface.
  • Over fueling.
  • Corrosive action of contaminated oil, which lowers the fatigue limit (Corrosion fatigue).

Yes it’s true bearing take a beating.  Here if you go cheap, especially if you are racing, you go home.

So double up on the cash because quality bearings like Michigan 77 or Federal Mogul competition will cost you twice as much.  Pay now or rebuild sooner.

Michigan 77’s

Thanks for reading.

Tim Sweet

1998 Camaro Z28 – NICE!!! Update!

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You are gonna to love this car.

It is a one owner Camaro Z28.

ONLY 78,700 miles on this V8 with automatic transmission

Black & White with white leather interior (in perfect condition)

T-tops and ground effects

Fully loaded including:

power door locks, power windows, tilt wheel, fog lights, power remote mirrors, power seat, AM-FM  6 speaker  stereo with CD player,

theft deterrent alarm system, cruise control, anti-lock brakes, rear window defogger.

I know the owner and this car has had the best care.  It is an AZ car and is always garaged or covered when it’s not moving and it DOES move.

What’s under the hood?

GM’s Generation III V-8 engine as configured in the Corvette.  It is the all-aluminum 5.7-liter (350-cubic-inch)  produce up to 350 horsepower in the two-seat sports car.

 100% Stock.   More Pics To come.

Interested?    Call me at 520-405-5314 or email me at timsweet@cox.net.

Asking $9k. That’s a steal in this condition. This isn’t my car, but if you buy and don’t like, I’ll buy it from you!!!!…Actually, I ought to buy it myself!!! I”m going to think about that some.

She looks great with the T’s off!!!!

 

Engine Pic1 – SOOOO CLEAN!!!

 

Engine Pic 2. Nicely Maintained!!!

 

Perfect Stock Interior!!!

 

Room for 2 in the back. Although it doesn’t look like anyone has ever sat back there!!!!

Interested?    Call me at 520-405-5314 or email me at timsweet@cox.net.

Thanks for reading.

Tim