PRI 2008 - Saturday Coverage

[mark@stangtv]

Sniper Commando

If you have a car that runs off a 96+ Ford EFI system, then Sniper makes a plug and play tuner to setup all types of engine combinations,; as long as you know all the parts on your car, within 30 questions, you can have a running car. That means even higher horsepower applications that use different MAFs, injectors, and forced induction, the Commando will still create a safe tune that will start and run your car reliably. Also, if your running a different MAF/injector combination then what the MAF was originally designed for, don’t worry because Sniper has figured out how to make it all work.

Once the car is running, you can take advantage of the fully adjustable programming that a dyno shop can use to dial your combination in, from shift firmness to ignition mapping. Help screens take you through the tuning process and highlighted fields show exactly what the setup software changed in your stock tune. The software even compares your current tune to your stock tune as a reference guide. The tuner plugs into your OBD 2 port and also data logs to a laptop. The software comes with two “bullets” so that you can tune two cars initially, but the tuner has the capability to tune 250 different vehicles on one box and can store 5 different tunes inside for a single car, allowing you can adjust on the fly at the track.



2, 3, 4 Valve Coil Packs

When you first look at these coil packs, you wonder, “Where is the mounting tab?” Well, there isn’t one. Sniper has come out with direct replacement coils that snap on top of your spark plug for easy removal. Additionally, there aren’t any coils inside that can pull out when removing them. The hotter spark will allow for a larger gap in the plug and a better burn. Sniper states that you will see a slight increase on vehicles without a tuner, but a larger increase with a tuner from being able to adjust the spark curve more aggressively. Additionally, Sniper has claimed a 40 wheel horsepower gain on an ’07 Saleen that received only a tune and coils.

More can be found at: http://www.deltaforcetuning.com

[mark@stangtv]

Running one long serpentine belt with a blower can become hazardous on higher horsepower conditions; if your belt breaks, there goes everything from your water pump to your alternator. Steeda has developed a remote pulley system that puts your roots blower on it’s own belt.

Starting at the bottom of the motor, the crank pulley is replaced with a 25% under drive Steeda unit, Steeda balancer, and Steeda 10-rib blower pulley. Moving up, all billet brackets accompany a tensioner to keep the belt tight. On the topside, a longer snout bolts to your blower that includes a pulley, which will support 12-16 pounds of boost. There will be additional upper pulleys made for higher boost levels.

More on their site at: http://www.steeda.com

[mark@stangtv]

Weld is back to making wheels with their recent purchase by a group of racers. Also, Weld acquired American Racing Wheels and will be producing additional wheels under that line. One of their newest wheels produced under the new ownership is their RT Series wheel.

This three-piece wheel is designed for street as well as full racing applications, and the 5000 series shell is SAE compliant while only weighing about a pound more than their full race wheels. The RT is offered in different looks, but is unique when it comes to the clearance on the back of the spokes. Weld has designed back cut spokes that help with additional rear caliper clearance, especially in S197 and F-body applications. Finish will come in a black anodized center or full polish with the possibility of 17 and 18-inch wheels being put into production.

More at: http://www.weldracing.com

[mark@stangtv]

Valves

When Scorpion Performance was looking to produce valves, they looked towards F1 technology when choosing their metals, which they claim allows their valves to be 10 grams lighter then other valves on the market. Their valves also come back cut, double swirl polished, and have heat treated tips.

Lifters

Another piece is their hydraulic roller lifters, which have been engineered with a 50 millionths tolerance between the piston and internal inner diameter of the body; each piston is matched specifically to a corresponding body. A chromoly roller axle prevents wear on the cam side while every lifter is leak down tested before boxed. They are available in both standard and high tie bar setups and Scorpion claims that these lifters will last to 8500 RPM, which is staggering for a hydraulic lifter.

Valve Springs

Scorpion offers their beehive valve springs in single to triple spring options, depending on application. The springs are made from high grade Kobe steel and are surface polished before entering the Nitride process that helps harden the metal.

Check out: http://www.scorpionperformance.com

[Tom@StangTV]

Liberty Gears was showing their TR-6060 and TKO-500/600 transmissions. Their version of the TR-6060 offering was designed to enhance the original Tremec TR-6060 and for those who do not know, features many upgrades over the older T-56 such as 30% wider gears.

What Liberty does, is use their knowledge of improving gear material and treating metal to produce gears that are not only strong right out of the box, but will last in your transmission as well. Some examples of their metal enhancements are cryogenic processing, thermal stabilization, shot peen, and surface enhancing. The results is a metal that not only has less surface friction and higher load capacity, but one the is more durable as well.



Their TKO - 500/600 transmissions are built using the same techniques as mentioned above, but Liberty has also used racer feedback over the years to produce a transmission the will handle 600 horsepower with no problems.

One feature that came directly from drag racing was the addition of a threaded front cap vs a press in front cap. Liberty took the time to include this feature and now it provides more support to the front cluster, while making a part that will not pop out under pressure like its pressed in counterpart. This model seen below, features a face plate engagement conversion and it’s surface is enhanced. Liberty also uses bronze shift forks and upgrades the internal shift linkage in addition to the treaded front cap.

Head on over to www.libertygears.com for all the information you need.

[Tom@StangTV]

If you are pushing your engine to its limits, you need to have a close watch on it to make sure everything is running smoothly. The Zeitronix Zt-2 is a wideband air fuel meter that incorporates data logging as well. This system includes everything you need get logging including the wideband sensor. Plus, the data logging option logs almost every sensor on your car including: Wideband Air/Fuel, RPM, Boost, Vacuum, Throttle Position, Exhaust Gas Temperature, and any other 0-5 volt sensor you have installed on your car.

Things really get interesting when you add the optional DashDAQ, this is where you get to take all of the information gathered from the Zt-2 and display it in real time for you to see while in the driver seat. Not only do you get a real sharp looking display to view all that information, but it can also calculate everything from horsepower and 0-60 times to fuel economy.

Be sure to check out www.zeitronix.com for more info

[Tom@StangTV]

CSR Products showed up at PRI with their new 24 volt starting system. So if you are running a big inch engine or just high compression, this system is something to consider. Before you think you have to rip out all of your wiring to redo everything, this kit uses 99% of the original wiring you have already. The only part of the system that needs to be changed is the starter wire and the starter itself. Other than that, just wire in a second 12 volt battery and hook everything up to the switch box, which is the brain of the operation.

The way it works is you hook the two batteries to the switch box along with your starter, then hook up the original harness from your car. The switch box handles the rest and is set up to only send 24 volts to the starter while supplying 12 volts to the rest of your vehicle. Those 24 volts help your engine start easier because of the high amounts of torque and speed available.

Be sure to check out www.csr-performance.com for more info.

[Tom@StangTV]

Keeping the heat out of the engine bay in the exhaust is near the top of every performance minded car guy’s mind. Hooker Headers brought their new Darkside Black Ceramic Header Coating to the show this year. Designed to handle temperatures up to 1700° F without any discoloration while maintaining adhesion to your headers after repeated heat cycles. Hooker claims that this coating provides a higher heat tolerance threshold than is available from silver ceramics, including their offerings! That means if you are running a turbo, blower, or nitrous you can lower those excessive exhaust temperatures commonly associated with those systems.

Most importantly the coating helps to lower under hood temperatures and prevents heat from migrating through the header assembly. Plus, Hookers Darkside Coating gives you a nice looking finish that prevents corrosion and protects your headers.



Check out www.holley.com for more info.

[mark@stangtv]

When it was time to buy your new set of heads, you probably didn't have the added income to afford the CNCed version. Well, now that isn't a problem. High Velocity Heads can take last year's head and transform the ports from the as cast versions to a fully CNCed piece, including intake manifolds. HVH improves on the Edelbrock Victor Jr. line by offering a 5-axis CNCed version that smoothes the complete intake track and runners. They claim up to a 57 CFM increase with their port work.

HVH also offers an aluminum version of the popular double hump heads that also come fully CNC ported. The heads come with 2.02 stainless steel intake valves and 1.60 exhaust valves that is sprung by beehive valve springs. The intake runners come in at 175 CC and are designed to work with virtually any intake manifold.

Check them out at http://www.highvelocityheads.com