The other day, one of my buddies asked why an old friend of ours doesn’t come to the track anymore. I laughed and said, “he’s a street racer now.” My response was immediately met with another question. “Okay, but why can’t he come to the track anymore?” In recent years, I’ve come to learn that […]
Back in our January installment of Cool Tools right here in RPM, we showed you the super versatile new Klutch Tools mill/lathe combo. The best part of having this new capability in our shop is that now we can turn and machine small parts from billet aluminum and plastic in our own shop. However, we […]
I understand that we all have a passion for cars or I wouldn’t be writing this article and you wouldn’t be reading it. I understand that some of us get obsessive and even excessive with our cars. I also understand that our cars are supposed to bring us joy and take us away from the […]
For all of the gearheads out there, you know what I mean when I say, “we are on everyone’s speed dial.” It seems we are often called when someone is in need of our skillset rather than a simple “what’s going on” friendship call. Many have taken advantage of my good nature, but I consider […]
When the weather takes a turn in winter’s direction around here, my phone tends to ring a lot with custom automotive work. After all, it is the season to make any necessary repairs, as well as any unnecessary upgrades (had to write that—my wife was looking over my shoulder). But for the record, there is […]
Pulling a loaded enclosed race car trailer is serious business. Hopefully you have been following along a few issues back as we went through some equipment we picked up for our custom Mopar hauler, along with some dos and don’ts for towing safety. This month we’ll tackle some issues with one of the senior members […]
If you have a high performance street machine or drag car, chances are that sooner or later you are going to have to haul it somewhere. In fact, having a fully-equipped tow rig is—for many enthusiasts, at least—one of the key steps in being ready for the race or show season and not. If you […]
We break down the pros and cons of three types of crank-driven boost! There are very few single parts or pieces that can add the power, look, and overall “wow factor” to a high performance street or drag car than a supercharger. As technology has advanced, so too have the types and applications available. RPM […]
Yes, I am guilty of it. If you consider yourself a gearhead then you are probably guilty of it as well. What am I accusing you of? Gearheads like having toys and usually don’t have enough money to buy something new or something that is the “best” in its class—mostly because we can fix them […]
Chances are, if you are into high performance street machines or doorslammer drag cars, you fall into one of two categories: you either can fabricate parts yourself or you wish you could. Unfortunately, around the RPM Hardcore Horsepower Garage, our fab skills aren’t yet where we’d like them to be. As a result, we decided […]
There’s a maddening thing about tools: the more you have, the more you want. Whether you are a newbie just beginning to outfit your shop with the essentials or an established fab shop with all the latest and greatest the tooling world has to offer, it seems as though no matter what you have, there […]
Metal fabrication is an acquired skill that takes patience and repetition in order to approach some level of competence. It also requires tools. In the past several months, we’ve brought you a series of Cool Tools features on metalworking tools we have added to our arsenal, including a box and pan brake, a slip roll, […]
For most every RPM reader, the goal is to have the fastest and nastiest car (or truck) you can afford. And for the vast majority of those individuals, the only thing more satisfying than that is to actually do it yourself. A big step in that direction is to equip your shop with the fabrication […]
Classes such as Ultra Street and Ultimate Street seem to be all the rage in small tire drag racing these days. There is something basic and pure about a class of small blocks on DOT 275 radials duking it out with simple plate systems. Forced induction guys get the ever-evolving 76mm turbo that has proven […]
Everybody wants more power. It’s ok to admit it. In our world there is just no such thing as “enough” horsepower. It’s more about how much can we afford to spend to make “X” more horsepower, and of course, bang for our hard earned buck. Yeah ok, on the street you can only use so […]
THE TEST MULE…. Breathing New life into an old star….. As speed shop owners and tuners, we strive to be at the top, showcasing our skill and abilities by trying to build the baddest engines and cars on the planet. But we need to devise ways to do this within the budgets of our customers, […]
Without getting too deep, we need to first explain what a Metal Matrix Composite is before we can even begin to talk about their current uses and wide open future in the world of automotive performance and racing. For all of practical history, it has always been “bigger must be better” thinking, however, when it […]
Current engine design is being transformed by the arrival of GDI Gasoline Direct Injection). GDI requires high-pressure injectors to inject gasoline directly into the cylinder rather than the intake port. In so doing, GDI improves fuel atomization, promotes cleaner burn, boosts fuel efficiency—and more importantly for the racing brain—improves performance. Twenty-four years ago, a similar […]
For our initial Safety First article we are going to discuss testing and T.P.P. (Thermal Protective Performance) ratings and what classification you need to be safe. Let’s face it, drag racing is a dangerous sport and the biggest fear on just about every drivers mind is fire. FABRICS AND RATINGS There are many different types […]
PROJECTS – HOME GROWN COPO – Powered, Wired & Shifted
It’s been six long months since we last checked in with Project Homegrown COPO, an RPM MAG-influenced tribute to the factory modified racecar offering from Chevrolet, and we’ve made some decent progress. It might not seem like much if you are a fan of TV shows that pack a year’s worth of work into a […]
PROJECTS/BUILDS – 4 LUG THUG – Nitrous Express Water Injection
For eons we have become accustomed to water methanol injection on both diesel and gasoline engines. It has been used in boosted racing and street performance primarily, but in the last few years water injection has become increasingly popular for nitrous engines, as well. Although it may seem like someone just recently discovered the advantages […]
INSTALL – 4 LUG THUG – RaceCraft Part 2 – Suspension Upgrade
Last month, we started our RaceCraft rear suspension upgrade in the RPM Magazine THUG mule Mustang with the install of a much-needed upper control arm doubler kit. RaceCraft’s stock upper torque box upgrade not only reinforced the control arm bolt holes but gives us another set of bolt holes above the stock location for more […]
INSTALL – 4 LUG THUG – RaceCraft Part 1 – Upper Torque Box Doubler Install
We decided while rebuilding the rear section of project 4 Lug Thug over the winter that we should upgrade our cheap second-hand upper and lower control arms while its jacked up and stripped down. While the car as originally going to be a mild street/strip ride, it has slowly morphed into more than we thought […]
TECH – Cover Your Butt – Engine Diaper Install
If there is one thing I’ve learned in my first 14 months of fatherhood, it is the vital importance of diapers. I never gave them much thought for the first 38 years of my life, but now I realize how fast things get out of hand without one. Even 10 minutes with a miniwild man […]
FEATURES – THE INSTIGATOR – Jeff VanNorden – 70 Challenger
To hear Clifton Park, New York’s Jeff VanNorden tell it, he didn’t have a choice. On the streets in his hometown, there is an order. There’s an ethos. There’s a way you establish yourself. And to fail to abide by those unwritten rules is… well…unforgivable. “A buddy of mine was riding his Hyabusa and he […]
FEATURES – STIFF WIND – Anthony Albanese ‘ ’71 Chevelle Ragtop
It’s been said that variety is the spice of life. And try as we might to mix things up here at RPM, the truth is that for all our car guy and gal chest thumping for being different, unique, and individualistic, we sure tend to do things a lot more alike than different. We all […]
FEATURES – C-10-MENTAL – Justin Moore
Speaking from experience here, it’s funny what we remember from our childhood as we age. For some, it’s a familiar smell of grandma’s kitchen. For others, it is just a few notes from a beloved song. But for the car guys and gals among us, it is fairly common that some of our best and […]
FEATURES – PROFESSIONAL GRADE – Ron Fountain ’68 Camaro
Severn, Ontario’s Ron Fountain was tired of the hassle. Fed up with the fight. Weary of the war. With a 9-second capable but non-caged 1970 Nova that he had street raced for years, every time he went to the track he’d get scolded for having a car that lacked the necessary safety equipment for its […]
FEATURES – GLASS DRAGGIN – George Reidenauer – Corvette Nostalgia Funny Car
George Reidnauer was introduced to drag racing by his father in the mid-’70s. His dad, who used to deliver bread for a living, would rush home to pick young George up as soon as he got off work early Sunday mornings and the duo would drive over to Maple Grove Raceway for the day. Of […]
FEATURES – THE INSTIGATOR – Jeff VanNorden – 70 Challenger
To hear Clifton Park, New York’s Jeff VanNorden tell it, he didn’t have a choice. On the streets in his hometown, there is an order. There’s an ethos. There’s a way you establish yourself. And to fail to abide by those unwritten rules is… well…unforgivable. “A buddy of mine was riding his Hyabusa and he […]
FEATURES – STIFF WIND – Anthony Albanese ‘ ’71 Chevelle Ragtop
It’s been said that variety is the spice of life. And try as we might to mix things up here at RPM, the truth is that for all our car guy and gal chest thumping for being different, unique, and individualistic, we sure tend to do things a lot more alike than different. We all […]
FEATURES – STARSKY’S BOSS – Kim Gough
Starskys Boss In the summer of 1975, the now cult-classic cop drama Starsky and Hutch debuted on ABC. The show ran for four seasons, exposing you bell-bottom-wearing, huge-fro-having jive turkeys of the late 1970s to an interesting sociocultural mix of California living—not to mention the unlikely star that emerged: Detective Michael Starsky’s era-perfect red and […]
FEATURES – REDRUM – Shannon Butler ’86 Mustang
Fast toys aren’t just for boys. And if you don’t believe us, then stop what you’re doing for the next few minutes and take some time to heck out this stunning—and deadly fast—Fox body Mustang. With just a glance we think you’ll quickly agree that Indiana native Shannon Butler can prove that statement. We caught […]
FEATURES – WHO’S THE BOSS – Jamie Pipher ’70 Ford Torino
We aren’t afraid to admit it. In a veritable sea of Mustangs and Camaros, we at RPM are suckers for relatively obscure body styles, alternative colors, and off-the-beaten path engine and transmission combos—especially when such rides are able to crank out insane power. Don’t get us wrong—there are plenty of gorgeous mainstream cars out there. […]
FEATURES – NEVER FAST ENOUGH – Brian Greenberg – 1964 Ford Fairlane
Growing up in the Southern California introduced Brian Greenberg to all sorts of car cultures, but he recalls being hooked on cars in general from the age of 16. “I have been a fan of drag racing forever,” said Greenberg. “I hit a few car shows now and then, drive out to Malibu on a […]
FEATURES – C-10-MENTAL – Justin Moore
Speaking from experience here, it’s funny what we remember from our childhood as we age. For some, it’s a familiar smell of grandma’s kitchen. For others, it is just a few notes from a beloved song. But for the car guys and gals among us, it is fairly common that some of our best and […]
FEATURES – MOPAR REDEMPTION – David Soloman – 71 Dodge Demon
Nothing is forever in the world of drag racing—records are broken, cars become outdated, and money becomes scarce. Spencer, Tenn. resident David Solomon has worked his way up the ladder, like many other drag racers, but that feeling of accomplishment and success was crushed in the fall of 2012, when his entire racing operation was […]
FEATURES – PROFESSIONAL GRADE – Ron Fountain ’68 Camaro
Severn, Ontario’s Ron Fountain was tired of the hassle. Fed up with the fight. Weary of the war. With a 9-second capable but non-caged 1970 Nova that he had street raced for years, every time he went to the track he’d get scolded for having a car that lacked the necessary safety equipment for its […]
FEATURES – LOVE AT FIRST BITE – Jim Sciortino – 1970 Barracuda
For some of us, it takes a while to settle on the perfect car for a build. We scour the available targets, consider the pros and cons of each, hunt for a good buy, and eventually we make our choice. But for others like Trumbull, Connecticut’s Jim Sciortino, it is a far simpler choice. “I […]
The staff and owners of RPM Magazine wish you all a Safe and Happy Fourth of July!
NEWS – Advanced Turbo Shield Design
Design Engineering, Inc. introduces high-tech GEN-3 Titanium Turbo Shields. AVON LAKE, OHIO (July 1, 2020) – When it comes to technologically advanced turbocharger protection, Design Engineering, Inc. has again raised the bar with its new GEN-3 Titanium Turbo Shields with LR Technology™. Featuring a silicone-coated outer layer, multiple stainless steel and silica inner layers, and […]
This year has been especially challenging for you all, for us as a Magazine and for the World as a whole. We have all been pushed beyond limits with life changing health and lifestyle issues due to Covid-19. During this Canada Day 2020, RPM Magazine wishes you all a celebration with family and friends as […]
Accel Expands Super Coil Lineup!
Are you looking for a little more pep from your daily driver? Look no further, Accel’s Super Coils are designed to replace OE ignition coils with no modifications while delivering maximum performance. Holley is pleased to introduce five new offerings for GM, Honda, Toyota, Lexus and Subaru applications. These coils will install in the factory […]
TRUCKS – TRICK OUT YOUR TRUCK – In a Day!
FROM MILD MANNERED TO MENACING….IN A DAY! We’ll be honest, we got sick and tired of being made fun of for our mundane 2015 F150 shop truck. We just heard one too many “hey look at the magazine guys driving around in a stock pickup,” comments and decided to do something about it. First, we […]
NEWS – Jesel Premium Stud Rockers…Now available for 23° SB Chevy heads with standard valve spacing
Designed to meet NHRA and IHRA Stock Eliminator specifications. First released in 1990, Jesel Premium Stud Rockers were developed for NASCAR teams before shaft rockers were deemed legal. Now, almost 30 years later, we have reengineered them to set the standard once again. For classes where shaft rockers are not allowed such as NHRA and […]
NEWS – 2020 FORD F-150 2.7L/3.5L ECOBOOST, & 5.0L NOW AVAILABLE
Edge is excited to support additional gas coverage for three of the best products on the market! Read below and offer your customers best-in-class features, improved MPGs, and added performance across the RPM band. Gas truck coverage is now “live” for 2020 Ford F-150 2.7L, 3.5L Ecoboost and 5.0L applications on the Evolution CS2 (PN […]
NEWS – Following Lengthy Delay, Musi Racing Ready for PDRA Season Opener
May 28, 2020) BENSON, NC — After a season-opening victory way back in January, it’s been four months since Musi Racing last competed due to the COVID-19 pandemic But the team is back for this weekend’s Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) season opener, the East Coast Nationals at GALOT Motorsports Park in Benson, NC, and […]
An exhaust system built with oval tubing can provide extra ground clearance and help tuck the exhaust up closer to the floorpan for a cleaner look.You can build one with Granatelli Motor Sports oval exhaust components. The stainless steel straight tubing, bends, mufflers, and other parts allow you to build an exhaust that is just […]
Pre-Cut Hood Insulation Kits for Muscle Cars
Pre-Cut Hood Insulation Kits for Muscle Cars Add protection & a finished appearance to your engine bay. AVON LAKE, OHIO – (May 27, 2020) – Show off your muscle car engine in style with new Pre-Cut Hood Insulation Kits from Design Engineering, Inc. Custom-cut to fit a variety of classic muscle car hoods, the Pre-Cut […]
TRUCKS – Trick Out Your Truck – Lighting & Style F250
With new diesel F-250 pickups running into the upper $60,000 range, we decided it would be worth the upgrades to freshen our 15 year-old reliable Powerstroke instead. The newer trucks actually still have very similar overall body styling but our lights and grille really show how dated our old truck really is. Our 2000 F-250 […]
TRICK OUT YOUR TRUCK – TOW TECH – Safety, Style, Function
If you have a high performance street machine or drag car, chances are that sooner or later you are going to have to haul it somewhere. In fact, having a fully-equipped tow rig is—for many enthusiasts, at least—one of the key steps in being ready for the race or show season and not. If you […]
TECH – TOW TECH – Need a Lift – Air Bag Install
Yes, I am guilty of it. If you consider yourself a gearhead then you are probably guilty of it as well. What am I accusing you of? Gearheads like having toys and usually don’t have enough money to buy something new or something that is the “best” in its class—mostly because we can fix them […]
TRUCKS – TRICK OUT YOUR TRUCK – Flares
Trick Out Your Truck – A Flare for New Shoes My wife has a flair for new shoes and so does our vintage RPM F-250 hauler. Four flares to be exact, but only one set of new shoes. If you have been following the Trick Out Your Truck tech in RPM over the last several […]
TRUCKS – TRICK OUT YOUR TRUCK – In a Day!
FROM MILD MANNERED TO MENACING….IN A DAY! We’ll be honest, we got sick and tired of being made fun of for our mundane 2015 F150 shop truck. We just heard one too many “hey look at the magazine guys driving around in a stock pickup,” comments and decided to do something about it. First, we […]
TRUCKS – Tow Tech – Gettin’ Hitched
If you’ve towed your race car or street machine before, you know that depending on the quality of your tow setup, it can either feel like a stress-induced worryfest where your rig seems to constantly teeter on the brink of disaster or pretty much like any other drive. The less heavy duty your equipment, the […]
FEATURES – ENTROPY – Kevin Amar – 1955 GMC 3100 Pickup
ENTROPHY – Kevin Amar 1955 GMC 3100 Pickup Lack of order or predictability. Gradual decline into disorder.” Entropy isn’t a suggestion. It isn’t a probability. It is a scientific law. In short, it is the natural order of things to decline, decay, and become less organized—unless energy is added to the system. Take Kevin Amar’s […]
WELCOME TO THE NEW RPM MAGAZINE ALL DIGITAL VERSION
Well, it’s finally here….the very first ALL DIGITAL RPM MAGAZINE! Here is just a little Teaser of the June issue. If you were a subscriber, you would already have this in your email inbox today. Subscribe by June 1st and you will receive this issue in your email just as the thousands of other RPM […]
NEWS – DiabloSport Tuning Now Supporting 2020 Ford F150 2.7L Ecoboost & 5.0L V8
Tuning for 2020 Ford F-150 2.7L Ecoboost & 5.0L V8 DiabloSport tuning is now available for 2020 Ford F-150 2.7L Ecoboost and 5.0L V8 motors. Adding power to the already impressive Ford F-150 was no small task. DiabloSport’s calibration team spent the time to develop awesome tunes that enhance thnee driving experience for any F-150 […]
TRUCKS – TRICK OUT YOUR TRUCK – BedRug Install
Most of us have trucks, or at the very least borrow a buddy’s or neighbor’s at some point to haul, load or tow. At RPM, we’re always lookingfor new ways to help Trick Out Your Truck by sharing toys, tips, and tricks we’ve done to spice up our haulers for power, performance, to be more […]
NEWS – Automakers seek new revenue streams from wireless services, upgrades
By Nick Gibbs, ANE The dashboard, once the place where drivers checked their speed or changed the radio station, is fast becoming the car’s most valuable real estate, as automakers seek to generate new revenue through wirelessly delivered services, features and upgrades. The upgrades can include everything from in-dash apps up to software […]
NEWS – Fiat Chrysler confirms talks for $6.8B state-backed loan to weather virus crisis
MILAN — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles confirmed that it is in talks to obtain an Italian state-backed credit line of as much as 6.3 billion euros ($6.8 billion) to buttress the automaker’s finances after the coronavirus caused a steep downturn. In a statement on Saturday, the company said talks were ongoing with lender Intesa Sanpaolo for a three-year […]
AUTO MANUFACTURER NEWS – People Bought More Trucks Than Passenger Cars In The U.S. Last Month
As passenger car sales plummet, trucks overtake them temporarily. Passenger cars have always outsold pickup trucks in the U.S. In some years, as many as 600,000 vehicles separated the two classes. But with the novel Coronavirus affecting all new car purchases in the U.S. in April, pickup trucks stole the sales crown. At least, temporarily. New data […]
Brands push forward with new-EV rollouts
Article by Stephanie Wallcraft COVID-19 has automakers pumping the brakes on r&d spending, but most are still planning — at least for now — the launch of key electric vehicles in the coming months. Matt Girgis, managing director of Volvo Car Canada, said the XC40 P8 Recharge crossover is still scheduled to arrive in Canada […]
Automakers want Ontario showrooms opened to deal with expiring leases
Facing an onslaught of customers returning leased vehicles, some automakers are calling on Ontario to reconsider rules forcing the closure of dealership showrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our dealers are now dealing with record numbers of lease returns at our peak season and they are unable to process them,” Hyundai Canada CEO Don Romano wrote […]
U.S. self-driving startup settles trade secrets lawsuit with Tesla
U.S. self-driving car startup Zoox said on Tuesday it had settled a lawsuit with Tesla after admitting that some new hires from the electric car maker were in possession of certain Tesla documents when they joined Zoox. Tesla lawyers filed a lawsuit in March last year against four former employees and Zoox, alleging the employees […]
ROUSH YATES COLLABORATES WITH BIOMEDINNOVATIONS FOR VENTILATORS
Roush Yates Engines was formed in 2003 by Robert Yates, Jack Roush, and Doug Yates with the leadership of Ford Motor Company to create a world-class race engine company that would compete at the highest levels of the Motorsports Industry. Out of the passion for power and performance excellence, Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions was formed. […]
FCA Canada implements temperature taking protocol for workers
As automakers eye a return to production, FCA Canada says it is taking steps to keep its factory employees safe on the shop floor. Some employees are currently working at the automaker’s Ontario assembly plants in Windsor and Brampton. They’re deep cleaning the facilities and tweaking job stations to make room for social distancing. But those that arrive […]
Jaguar Land Rover aims to make 5,000 protective visors
LONDON — Jaguar Land Rover said it is using its prototype building operations to make a target of 5,000 visors a week for health service workers, as manufacturers repurpose facilities to fight against coronavirus. The British government is trying to boost the amount of personal protective equipment for doctors and nurses and ventilators for patients. […]
Daimler CEO, top executives take pay cut in response to crisis
Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius and members of the automaker’s management board will reduce their fixed compensation by 20 percent until the end of the year in response to the effects of the coronavirus crisis. Other senior executives will see their pay drop by 10 percent for the next three months, Daimler said in a statement […]