Hot Rods

Porsches and Lamborghinis are both high-end sports cars, with origins in Europe. The models are valued for quality and also compete in the international racing circuit, where the vehicles have won...

In theory, there is very little that could be accomplished by a dual exhaust system that couldn't be done by one single large pipe. An exhaust system's sole purpose is one of evacuation. The only...

Though considered by many an old-fashioned approach to increasing engine longevity and octane tolerance, water injection is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity due to the engine...

Truck pulling is an extremely popular form of motor sport in the American Midwest and South. However, power-mongers worldwide enjoy this contest of titanic towing, relishing the sight and sound of...

There is a common delusion among today's hot rodders that the almighty laptop is the solution to all of an engine's horsepower needs. Whereas this is more true on forced induction gas engines...

Horsepower is literally the driving force that allows vehicles to travel. Vehicles can always be altered and improved to provide more power and performance. There are several ways to do this,...

Making your own intake manifold is relatively easy, requiring little more than a Sawzall, an angle grinder, tin snips, a die grinder, a welder/brazing tools, some sheet-metal and 1/4-inch-thick...

Exhaust systems are car more complicated than they appear. At one point, simply dumping the engine's waste gases through a 2-foot-long 4-inch diameter sewer pipe was considered state of the art....

Though the effectiveness of these systems is hotly debated, the electric supercharger remains one of the simpler and most universal upgrades available for any car. Generally, mass-market electric...

If you have an electric supercharger, there are a number of ways to mount and wire it. Some people choose to switch the mechanism manually, while others prefer to activate it by a full-throttle...

The viability of the electric supercharger has long been in question, and even though some newer companies have seen excellent results with high-dollar turbo-based systems, many creative people...

Combustion requires three basic elements: fuel, oxygen and heat. The more fuel and oxygen you have, the bigger the resulting bang. Since an engine's power is determined by the force of the...

The 2001 Monte Carlo uses an upgraded version of the previous generation's trans-axle (transmission and axle in one, used in front-wheel-drive applications), called the 4T65-E. It is a four...

You love your Ford. You gave her a girl's name, bought her new billet valve covers for your third anniversary and would probably marry her if you lived in Massachusetts. So what can you do at this...

A turbocharger has a turbine and a compressor linked to a common axle. The engine exhaust manifold blows exhaust gases into the turbine intake, which causes the turbine wheel to spin. This...

Though the F-150's strong and versatile engine offers a number of routes to power, probably the easiest and most reliable is that of forced induction. Though the trend today is toward centrifugal...

Adjusting the valve train when using a solid lifter cam involves the same procedures used as when adjusting for a hydraulic cam. The only real difference is the clearances involved, which are...

The Muncie 4-speed transmission is on the shortlist of car options with legendary status. The very mention of this transmission summons fond memories of better days when cars were muscle cars and...

The exhaust system of a motor vehicle is designed primarily to evacuate the spent combustion gases from the engine and expel them to the open air. However, modern exhaust systems serve many...

The 350 Chevrolet is well-known in the hot rod community as one of the most popular and versatile engines of all time. Cheap to buy, cheap to build and easy to maintain, this is the engine of...

Replacing your engine's cylinder heads is one of the most efficient ways to build power, and is a great way to build a strong foundation for future power. As the main junction point for inflow...

Tires can be hard and dry, decreasing their ability to grip the road or track. Car racers at times look for ways to soften the tires to help them grip the track. There are several products on the...

If you've got flat black paint, steel wheels and a skull and crossbones anywhere on your car, than a flamethrower has your name written all over it. A traditional ignition-cut type is generally...

As handling and chassis dynamics replace acceleration as the dominant priority for today's hot rodder, rear disc brake conversions have become a de riguer upgrade for any older car. In a big way,...

A quality hot rod has to have looks as well as power. Your hot rod body makes the largest impression on viewers, and because of this, you need to take great care to get the look just right in...

Though most newer engines use electronically activated coil-on-plug ignitions, practically every car made before 1995 utilizes some sort of mechanical distributor. Newer electronic systems offer...

The new Hemi engine, known by the designation DCX in the world of hot rodding, offers many advantages over the old-style street Hemi. The only real drawback to using the newer DCX-style engine is...

Compression refers to the relationship between the volume of the cylinder and the cylinder heads with the piston at its highest point in the engine and the volume when the piston is at its lowest...

The origination of the phrase "funny car" came from the fact that builders in the 1960s figured out that if you moved a race car's rear-end forward, it would create better traction when trying to...

Street or drag racing is illegal and risky. Yet despite the dangers and illegality, many adventurous, thrill-seeking drivers still participate in this sport. There are a few facts about street...

The Chevrolet small-block V8 is well known to many hot-rod enthusiasts and has been a mainstay of the Chevrolet division of General Motors since the 1950s. Many hot-rod enthusiasts argue that the...

Whether it's for a hot rod, dune buggy or old woods truck, there's only one correct way to wire headlights and that is to use a relay switch in the circuit. Using a relay insures brighter...

Funny Car is a division in drag racing that has formally been around since the early 1960s. Drag racing itself has been around since the 1930s and, like most motorsports, has developed from car...

This article will help you to wire the high out-put fans that are salvaged from the Ford Taurus and Lincoln that have become very popular among hot rodders and street rod builders. These are great...

The Camaro was introduced by Chevrolet to compete with Ford's Mustang. By 1969, new interior and exterior renovations had been made in the Camaro, ensuring its place as the highest volume selling...

The following standard methods were developed as part of a performance vehicle training program. Standard methods are used to set in stone procedures used in performance competitions. By...

Top fuel dragster engines produce thousands of horsepower and can use over 20 gallons of nitro methane fuel on a single quarter-mile run, so they require a fuel pump that can keep delivering. Top...

An engine's compression ratio describes the combined volume that exits in an engine's cylinder when the piston within the cylinder is at its lowest position and at its highest position. The higher...

Chevrolet engines are quite possibly the most popular engines used in hot rods today. This is not surprising, considering the vast selection of aftermarket parts and the fact that Chevrolet engine...

Leaf springs are flexible spring steel bars about five feet long with loops on front and rear ends that are fastened to the vehicle frame on both sides of the rear of the car. The one-piece...

Making power starts at the engine and ends at the wheels. How you get the power from under the hood to the street depends on which torque converter you place in between the engine and the...

Strong opinions on the topic of street racing have probably been around since the first two drivers raced their horseless carriages down a city street. There are, however, more valid arguments...

British car company Lotus is responsible for the "Mark" cars, and has even had a huge hand in the design of the Tesla Roadster by allowing Tesla Motors to assemble the American EV Performance car...

A CO2 dragster is a small model car powered by compressed carbon dioxide gas. A canister of CO2 is put in a hole in the back of the car. The car is lined up at a starting line, usually...

Drifting motorsport can trace its roots to the mid-1970s when race driver Kunimitsu Takahashi developed a technique to hit the apex of a turn without slowing, drift through the corner and then...

Dirt track auto racing began well before World War I, although its exact origins are unknown. With the advent of inflated tires, stronger chassis and more powerful engines, dirt track racing was a...

Specialty equipment for restoring a hot rod includes a milling machine and a lather. Learn about specialty equipment for restoring a hot rod in this free video on custom cars from a professional...

When restoring a hot rod, welder costs can be prohibitive to the DIY mechanic. Find out the pros and cons of hiring a shop for restoring a hot rod in this free video on custom cars from a...

Look for cracks on gauges and switches when evaluating condition of car for hot rod restoration. Figure out what repairs a car needs to become a hot rod with the tips in this free video on custom...

Paint jobs for hot rod restorations may have dust particles that need to be sanded out. Make sure to thoroughly check a paint job using the tips for restoring a hot rod in this free video on...