Ask Away! with Jeff Smith: Solving SBC Ignition Timing Problems
I have a weird thing happening with my small-block Chevy crate engine that has me scratching my head. The engine is a 290-horsepower Chevy crate engine with a set of […]
Mailbag: Ford 302 Firing Problems After Cam Swap
Q: I have a 1994 Ford F-150 with a 5.0L engine and factory mass airflow sensor. I just had the heads redone and installed a Trick Flow Stage 1 camshaft. […]
Mailbag: Tips for Wiring an EFI Kit or Engine Management System
Q: Do you have an advice for hooking up a new EFI kit? … Tips For Hooking Up Your ECU Connecting the wires is an important step in getting your electronic […]
How to Use a Dial-Back Timing Light
It’s a sign of the times when late model engines with distributorless ignition systems (DIS) no longer require the services of the ubiquitous timing light. But for the remainder of […]
Upgrading Your V-Twin with a MSD Single-Fire Ignition
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, is a common expression heard around our garages. But we say, if it’s broken, make it better. Whether it’s a replacement of a […]
How to Install a Distributor and Set Initial Timing
Dropping a distributor into the engine is a time-honored procedure that has been around since the first engines coughed their way to life more than 100 years ago. With the […]
Mailbag: Explaining Automotive Electric Relays
Q: What are the different types of electric relays? … A: An electric relay is a high amperage switch controlled with a small electrical input. Normally, the small input controls an electromagnetic […]
Mailbag: What is a Battery BCI Number?
A battery BCI number indicates the physical size dimensions of the battery rather than its Amp Hours (AH) rating. The BCI group numbers are used to categorize automotive batteries by […]
Ask Away! with Jeff Smith: Adjusting Vacuum, Timing & Advance Springs to Cure Engine Misfire
I’ve been reading your posts/blogs/articles on tuning with a vacuum advance and it’s been very helpful. My combo is a 355 small-block Chevy, 10.7:1 compression, 23-degree Brodix 10x heads that […]
Mailbag: Choosing an Engine Management System for an LS-Swapped Olds Cutlass
Q: I’m swapping a low-mileage 5.3L LS engine from a 2011 GMC truck into a Cutlass drag car. The engine will be upgraded with a Trick Flow(R) 455 HP GenX(R) […]