Engine Masters

On this episode of Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, we're exploring the benefits of an air-to-air intercooler in terms of power and detonation resistance. But wait, there's more! We're also testing out external CO2 foggers that keep your intercooler extra cool! How cool? Come on, we'll show ya.

On this episode of Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, we move fuel injectors up the intake manifold runners to see if that extra distance of suspended fuel can make any more power.

We know that air-to-water intercoolers make power by absorbing the heat of the intake air into the cool of the IC's water. We explore the effects of different-sized water tanks and their ability to keep the intake charge colder longer.

The crew compares 90 mm and 105 mm forward-facing throttle bodies against one another, and then to 2000 cfm worth of top-mounted, dual quad-style throttle bodies, all atop a fuel-injected, 700-hp LS7. How much airflow is enough for this power level?

The bellmouth is designed to direct and smooth the airflow into the throttle body, creating a more efficient airflow. But does it make power? We'll answer that very question for both N/A and supercharged versions of our 363ci small-block Ford.

Despite the reputations sequential and batch-fire injection styles each carry, does either really make a difference when it comes to overall power? The guys explore that question, tunability, what it takes to make the switch, and all of the pros and cons.

Cam specs are cam specs, right? WRONG!! On this episode, we show you how three seemingly identical cams can behave very differently. It's called cam lobe intensity, and it's all about the shape of the lobe between the base circle and the nose. So what's the difference between a standard, a high-intensity, and a low-shock cam? Which one is right for you? Find out on this episode of Engine Masters.

Can any one type of spark plug make more power than the next? What about the ones with fancy metal tips or extra ground straps? What if you gap them bigger or smaller? We'll answer all these questions and share as many tips and tricks as you can handle. If you have a gas motor of any size, this episode of Engine Masters has something for you!

This one's all about how the length of your header primary tubes can affect your power curve. You'll learn about all the different ways your engine expels its exhaust; mainly the negative pressure wave that pulls burnt gases from the cylinder and how that changes how much torque is made and where the power occurs. Come get scientific with us on this episode of Engine Masters.

The bigger the cam, the higher the curve, right? Well, there's some truth to that, but what about when you're talking about low-end torque? On this episode of Engine Masters, we explore the world of usable, cruisable, tow-ready torque curves with three of the smallest camshafts we've ever tested. But how small is too small? Come with us as we find out.

Roadkill Garage's Steve Dulcich has posed a theory. His claim is that headers don't matter as much when paired with a small cam as they do with a larger cam. To find out, we'll look at the percentage of power gained on our Ultimate Average 383 when using factory-style manifolds, shorty headers, and full-length headers with both a tiny 200/206 cam, and then again with a meatier 230/236 stick.

Listen up, street drivers of big-block Chevys, this is the shootout for you! With so many average power, cruiser level, and even bone stock BBC's roaming around, this one is long overdue. From high rise to low rise, square bore and spread bore, this episode of Engine Masters is all about which intake will give you the most bang for your basic big-block. 

This episode of Engine Masters sets out to show you how different oil weights behave, perform, and react inside your engine under operating conditions. While it only scratches the surface, expect a primer on oil weights and how those differing weights affect horsepower, pressure, and resilience to temperature.

Why does colder fuel make more power? How can you consistently keep fuel temps down, and what difference will it really make? All these questions, and more, answered this time on Engine Masters.

Does cotton gauze make any more power than a paper filter, or is it just a more expensive filter? Is there even any difference between brands? We aim to find out on this episode of Engine Masters, and the differences just might surprise you.

Can your pushrods or valve springs affect your power production, even when valve float isn't a problem? This promises to be an eye-opening episode of Engine Masters, as we test varying combinations of valve spring and pushrod strengths in our 514 Big Block Ford.

On this episode of Engine Masters, we put the tried-and-true spray-bar style up against the new-fangled perimeter discharge style. A 200-hp shot is a 200-hp shot, but how does each delivery method affect the tune of your motor? That's what we're here to find out!

We've done intake manifold comparisons on nearly every big and small block platform, and at long last it's big block Ford's turn. We shoot out single and dual planes on a street/strip 514ci combo that should relate to what many BBF guys are running.

Whether from exhaust, transmission or any heat-generating components, controlling heat can make a hot ride comfortable, and even a hot intake charge cooler. We test header wraps and panel heat shields, to see how -- and how not -- to keep your cool.

Standalone air/fuel ratio gauges come with a world of tuning possibilities and pitfalls. The guys compare five off-the-shelf units, then show how things like placement, air leaks and even dead cylinders can affect readings, tuning decisions and power.

We test a long-told hose-length theory as well as a long-proven nitrous controller practice to illustrate how softening the "hit" of the nitrous can help you control the power and keep your motor in one piece.

Freiburger's 582 big block Chevy is back! And this time we use it to shoot out 1050, 1250 and 1450 cfm Dominators. When you're flirting in that 1,000-hp range, how much difference do those extra cfms make, and how much does the tune change between them?

Holley recently debuted the second iteration of its throttle body EFI system, and we're here to see if it's any better than the first version and any better than the carburetor we so dearly love. We walk you through the installation, setup and benefits.

Does a 300 shot of nitrous sound like a lot, or like you're just getting started? That's one way to tell if you should run a plate or a port system, and the guys walk you through each, how much power you can add, and the jetting differences between them.

As this show often does, we're diving back into the intricacies of camshaft grinds. This time, we're exploring not just split-duration cams, but how larger and larger splits affect the power curve. Will it make any difference at all?