Engine Masters

As a longtime soapbox-shouter of tunnel-ram greatness, David Freiburger is constantly peppered with questions about running a single four-barrel carb versus dual quads on the tunnel ram. And finally, he answers with this: a street-car tunnel-ram setup for the guys who are all about the look, the presence, and the glory of the tunnel ram.

We've been covering the battle of carburetor versus EFI as far back as Episode 2 of Engine Masters. In this edition, multipoint EFI is getting its turn against the venerable Dominator. It's injectors versus jets, dry flow versus wet, and drivability versus horsepower.

Do boost leaks really even matter? Can vacuum leaks make more power? You read those questions right. Come be surprised right along with us as we find power in unexpected places, and lose less than we'd expect in others.

It's arguably the coolest carb configuration of all time. The 3x2 setup on the six pack was designed to supply part-throttle economy on the center carb while the outside carbs kick in for power! The guys shoot out three of the coolest vintage six pack designs to find out which is gimmick, which is greatness, and which makes the most power on a street 440.

We all know oil pressure is critical. Not enough can leave you broken, and too much can have you springing leaks. But can too much also be robbing precious horsepower? To find out, the guys test three commonly ordered LS oil pumps in different volume and pressure configurations to see if oil pumps can in fact be enough of a rotational drag to affect power production.

This test is all about choosing the features you want and need on your carburetor, and how those features affect horsepower and tunability. Do mechanical secondaries really make any more power than vacuum-power ones? Does a choke horn restrict inlet airflow?

How much hidden power is lurking in your existing engine combination? We're here to show you how to find it without buying, changing or upgrading a single component. We use all the little tips and tricks we've learned over the seasons to super-tune every bit of remaining horsepower out of the 410ci Windsor from David's Disgustang.

For all the folks out there opting to run a carburetor on the new-fangled LS, we have six different manifolds to sandwich between our old-school carb and our new-school 6.0 LS. We not only show you the differences between these popular manifolds, but also how to get your LS running with a carb as easily as possible.

You've seen them all over. On vintage race cars, trophy trucks, motorcycles, and even—for some reason—street cars. They're header wraps, and manufacturers claim they not only reduce radiant heat, but create additional power through their scavenging effects and superior heat management. Is any of it true?? We'll find out on this episode of Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, as we test a set of painted, ceramic-coated, and wrapped headers against one another on our Ultimate Average 383.

One fuel, two fuel, hot fuel, cool fuel. If you think that was a mouthful, just wait until you hear what our guys have to say in this one! Inspired by the learnings from Episode 43’s study on coolant temperature testing, we're going one step beyond icing down the manifold. This time on Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, we're deliberately heating and cooling our fuel to see the difference it makes to the tune and the power output of our Ultimate Average 383.

It's the age-old battle of power v price, but is it as simple as all that? Are you really giving up significant power by cheaping out on a solid flat tappet, or is the extra power of the roller worth every penny? Join us on this episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL as we talk duration, lobe intensity, spring pressures, dollars and horsepower.

We're battling two iterations of the 5.7 Gen III Hemi, the '03-08 vs. the '09-current, and we're learning a TON in the process. With an eye toward engine-swap simplicity, we've stuffed them both with the biggest cams they can handle and managed fuel and spark in the most affordable way possible for each

Driven by lunacy as much as novelty, Dulcich is at it again with his slant-six tomfoolery. With goals of his 225ci monster powering a daily driver '68 Dart, Steve is putting four aftermarket intake manifolds to the test to see which will give him the most grunt.

We all know valve float as the evil that lurks beyond the redline, the dreaded robber of horsepower and destroyer of valves. But what is it really? What does it look like when it happens? And how can you put it as high in the RPM band as possible?

Some claim it makes more power, others say it helps an engine rev more quickly, but can the simple flopping of a piston's orientation in the cylinder really affect its performance or behavior? Today, the guys perform what may be the first ever back-to-back comparison of factory-oriented pistons against reverse-oriented ones.

We explore the differences between single and split-duration camshafts. Can the extended exhaust duration of the split pattern crutch poor exhaust flow? Does the single pattern really suffer at RPM in the name of low-speed torque? And why would you ever not want to run a split pattern?

We've done air filter shootouts before, but none like this. On this episode of Engine Masters, it's all about finding the least restrictive way to route a cold air system. We're here to find out how much the size of that filter, as well as the length, path and diameter of the tubing, affects your performance.

The guys study the fueling demands, horsepower, and the pros and cons of running 116 octane gasoline, E85, methanol and oxygenated gas. They all have different oxygen contents, air/fuel ratio demands, and ultimately, different abilities to cool the cylinder and create power. What does that all mean, and which is right for you?

We love our big-block Mopars here at Engine Masters, and we've finally put together a horsepower-per-dollar comparison of street-centric wedge cylinder heads. Want to spend bottom dollar on some 906s? We've got you covered. Want to step all the way up to CNC-ported, tall-valve set of TFSes? Tested.

Sounds boring, we know. But if you're like us, you've always chosen an oil pump based on some knee-jerk instinct. It's time to finally learn the difference between standard, high-volume and high-pressure oil pumps in terms of pressure, flow and horsepower. Come see what there is to know on this episode of Engine Masters.

It's a battle between the iconic 440 Six Pack and the legendary 426 Hemi, and we're settling age-old bets on this one. Do they live up to lore of 440 grunt and 426 top end? Can the Six Pack cool outgun the famed Hemi heads?

Holley carbs have been known for years as the standard by which all racing carbs are measured, but today's question is this: CFMs being equal, is there any difference in power between the smaller-bore, narrower-set "street" style 4150 carb and the bigger-bore, wider-base 4500 series Dominator carb?

Does port matching an intake manifold create enough power to justify the cost? On Engine Masters, the crew is going to find out with an out-of-the-box Super Victor, a port-matched Super Victor and an off-shelf Wilson-prepped version.

Since the dawn of supercharging, compressed air has been stuffed through carburetors, and it's as true now as it was back then. The question today on Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, is: what type of carb hat is best for that blow-through application?

The guys find out if mandrel-bent exhaust pipes really make more power over the crimped and crunched pipes the local shop bends up. They test them with mufflers, without mufflers, with turbo mufflers and more on Engine Masters.

The guys run tests with 87, 91, 110, 116 and even E85 to see if higher octane makes more power, and if an engine's optimal timing even changes with different octane. See what happens as we pump up the gas on Engine Masters.

It's uncharted territory on this episode of Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL. After years of willing dismissal and dinosaur-brained ignorance, the Engine Masters have decided to give the Gen III Hemi a fair shake. Can you swap it in cheaply? How tunable is it? How robust is the aftermarket support? We'll explore all of these questions AND find out what it does with a (hopefully) simple cam swap. Come in, sit down, and learn with us, won't you?

On Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, Steve Dulcich puts his Leaning Tower of Power to the test to see if it lives up to its name. With a supercharger, 10.5:1 and a race-prepped head, his slant 6 is shooting for the moon to make 383 power numbers.

So you wanna street-drive your 1,000 HP monster. You'll need a muffler for the street that will also wring every horsepower possible at the strip. The guys see which street-worthy muffler does the trick on Engine Masters, Presented by AMSOIL.

The common knowledge is that a boosted motor acts just like an oversized version of the NA motor. On Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, the guys see if the headers that made the most NA power hold up on a power-boosted motor.

Whether they’re Zoomies, Lakes, Tri-Ys, or Fenderwell headers, some pipes are just gotta-haves. On this episode of Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, The crew investigates just how much power gets sacrificed in that quest for cool!

The guys from Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, fit the COVID-350 with progressively shorter header collectors to see the effect of a little more piping. Power is just waiting to be collected with some cheap and effective trial-and-error tuning.

On this episode of Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, the guys guide you through the basics of bringing your motor to the dyno cell for the first time, including motor setup, how the dyno works and how to make the most of your money, time and motor.

On this episode of Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, we dive into one of the most commonly confusing elements of camshaft design: lobe separation angle. A cam's LSA dictates how far apart valve events are, how the engine will idle, where the peak power will live and where the rpm range ends.

Ford fans, listen up! It’s your turn to get schooled in the art of intake manifold selection. On this episode of Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, we’ve rounded up four of the most popular street-style, dual-plane intake manifolds on the market and strapped them to our test mule. Today, that engine is a something you’d find under many a Ford hood: a 351 Windsor with a stock bottom end, roller cam, about 430 horsepower, and an appetite for more! Oh, and Mustang fans, come find out how much power that hood clearance issue really costs you. You’re not going to like it.

This time on Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, we deliver on a question that fans have been asking for years: “Will a carb spacer make me more power?” The answer is yes, no, and maybe. It all depends on your engine and manifold combination. So come see what works, what doesn't, and how you might be able to get a couple extra ponies for some seriously minimal effort.

Got a solid cam? Well, have we got some free ponies for you! By experimenting with your lash adjustments, you can effectively tune a bit of duration and lift into or out of your camshaft. Looser lash creates a hair less of each; a tighter lash, on the other hand, can actually buy you a bit. Given your specific engine and cam combo, there may be some serious (and FREE!) power just waiting to be tuned in. Come see how to find it on this episode of Engine Masters, presented by Amsoil.

All else equal, which will make more power, an iron head or an aluminum one? That’s what we’re testing on this week’s Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL. Aside from the obvious weight savings, there are some real things to consider. Does aluminum’s ability to shed heat help it make more power, or does the iron head’s heat retention promote cylinder pressure and therefore more power? There’s only one way to find out, and that’s right here on the dyno.

On this episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, we found out which cheap carbs produce the most expensive results! We pick a fight between three remanufactured offerings from Edelbrock, Summit, and Demon to see which of these 750cfm bargains will pump the most power into our tried-and-true, Ultimate Average 383 Chevrolet.

You’ve known and loved the 440 for as long as we have, and haven’t been able to afford a proper muscle car 440 in just as long. You’ve probably also seen our motorhome 440 antics on Roadkill and Roadkill Garage. So on this episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, we take one of those uber-low dollar, uber-low compression boat anchors and see how respectable it can be with just a few more bucks in investment.

Well, maybe. This time on Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, we dive into what effect changes to your intake manifold's plenum volume will have on your motor. We want to know if all of the Internet's theories about big boost, big cubes, and/or big rpm needing bigger plenum volume really hold water. Will all of that increased volume really turn into increased power production or are you just creating hood clearance headaches? Watch as we go from straight out-of-the-box to out-of-the-bounds-of-sanity with this plenum volume comparison.

Budget mufflers. What do you get for $40? How do they sound and how much power do they kill? On this episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, we run our 408 Cleveland with 12 different muffler options, including no muffler, straight through, chambered, and turbo style. Which one is best for you is up to you, but here’s all the info you’ll need to make the decision.

How much effort have you put into tuning your carb and ignition? We’re always talking about ignition timing and air/fuel ratios, but never about their direct impact on your power production. This time on Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, we show you how much power you could be throwing away with a subpar tune-up.

On this episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, David Freiburger, Steve Dulcich, and special guest Richard Holdener explore the science of reducing temperature out of a turbo in order to increase power out of the engine. Intercoolers cool wonderfully, but they can be expensive and tough to package. Water/meth injection is cheaper and easier to package, but will it cost you power in the end?

This time on Engine Masters presented by Amsoil, we explore what we’ve always known: Increased engine temperature decreases power output. We always thought we knew the answer, but today our 598 Chevy big-block gets some special heat treatment to find out exactly how and why heat kills power. The answer might be just as surprising to you as it was to us.

In the modern world of bulletproof bottom ends, boost has become the go-to for bolt-on power. But is it really the best way to get where you want to be? On this episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, David Freiburger, Steve Dulcich and Steve Brulé take a bone-stock 5.3 truck LS and test four different combos of built and boosted. Building off the baseline of the naturally aspirated motor, they pull big numbers with just an intercooled turbo setup. Next, they pull the turbo to build it N/A with heads, a cam, and an intake, and then finally hang the turbo back onto the newly built mill. The choice is up to you (and your budget), but the guys will give you all the data to decide where to spend your dough.

This time, our episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL is for the purists. It’s for the ones who disputed our Episode 2 test with throttle-body injection (TBI) not being real electronic fuel injection (EFI). So we’re back and more serious than ever with a state-of-the-art 1,050-cfm multipoint EFI system facing off against the 750- and 1,000-cfm relics known as carburetors. Which will squirt the most power into our tried-and-true 383 Chevrolet? Find out here.

A junkyard Chevy LS engine with a turbo—it’s a dime-a-dozen concept these days, but how big can it go? To find out, Engine Masters went to the originator of the “Big Bang Theory” dyno test: Richard Holdener, who delivered the world a 1,200hp boosted 4.8L way back in 2011 in the pages of HOT ROD magazine. Holdener has brought many junkyard engines to a power-adder-assisted demise since then, and has found the connecting rods to be the weak spot. The Gen IV engines have better rods, so this time the victim is a 6.0L with a pair of BorgWarners on the way to 30 psi. Will it go or will it blow? Find out in jaw-dropping fashion on this episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL.

You asked and we're here to answer! On this episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, we take our small-block Chevy 383 and show, piece by piece, how much power your water pump kills. We move from an electric pump to mechanical with all kinds of cooling tricks to show you just how little it matters. We even throw on an alternator under load just to drive the point home. Engine Masters is supported by Summit Racing Equipment, Holley/MSD, Earls Vapor Guard Hose, and Mr. Gasket.

It’s back to basics this time on this episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, with a comparison of dual-plane versus single-plane intake manifolds. While the intakes used here are typical for any carbureted V-8, the lessons about how the length of the intake runners affects the shape of the power curve apply to any four-stroke engine. So are you into low-end grunt, or top-rpm horsepower? And how much of one are you willing to sacrifice to get the other? This episode will help you answer those questions. Engine Masters is supported by MSD, Holley, Permatex, Auto Meter, and Summit Racing!

This time on Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, it’s a horsepower battle with the world’s most popular classic V-8s: the Chevy small-block versus the Ford Windsor. Using rebuilt short-blocks and parts packages from SummitRacing.com, the Engine Masters team built two engines as equally as possible, using a Chevy 350 and a Ford 351 with Holley carburetors, Edelbrock RPM Air Gap intakes, Air Flow Research 195 heads, Comp Cams hydraulic roller cams, and 13/4-inch-tube headers. Will one small-block make more power than the other based on inherent design superiority? The dyno is here to find out. Engine Masters is supported by Mr. Gasket, Earl’s Vapor Guard, Auto Meter, Summit Racing, and Permatex.

One of the most common valvetrain upgrades for pushrod-style engines is roller rocker arms, which are often said to increase horsepower through reducing friction. But is it true? You’ll find out on this episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, as we use a 7,000-rpm, small-block Chevy to test stock-type stamped-steel rockers, roller-tip rockers, full rollers, and full rollers with a ratio of 1.6:1 rather than the stock 1.5:1. We’ll reveal the facts and myths around the horsepower claims and discuss other things you need to consider before purchasing any rocker arms for performance engines of any kind.

If you’ve ever wanted to know if a car’s high-performance air filter makes a difference, or if your small filter is killing horsepower, you’ve come to the right video! In this episode of Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, we test a whopping 19 different combinations of filter sizes and styles including paper elements, K&N filters, stock housings, dual-snorkle housings, velocity stacks, filtered lids, and way more—all the way up to some shocking results with tablewear! Our test engine is a 750-horsepower, 496ci big-block Chevy, but the data we gathered is relevant for any engine down to about 300 horsepower. Engine Masters is supported by Mr. Gasket, Earl’s Vapor Guard Hose, Permatex, and Auto Meter.

There’s nothing we love more for big torque and visual impact that a good ol’ antiquated roots supercharger! This time on Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL, hosts David Freiburger, Steve Dulcich, and Steve Brulé show you how to install and tune a Weiand 6-71 blower and dual 750-cfm double pumpers on a budget 350ci Chevy short-block. Engine Masters is supported by Earl’s Vapor Guard hose, Mr. Gasket, Auto Meter, and Permatex.

This episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL we take the Roadkill Rotsun and find out how much power that bone stock turbo charged 1987 5.0L Mustang engine really makes. With a science experiment of a rig, get ready to be shocked! The numbers don’t lie. Engine Masters is supported by Autometer, Mr. Gasket, Earl’s Vapor Guard, and Permatex!

This episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL reinforces the fact that Steve Dulcich is not just the guy in the back of the dyno room—he’s a legit engine master. And you won’t question that after you see his homegrown porting job on a set of Edelbrock aluminum cylinder heads for a small-block Mopar pick up a whopping 92 hp! To be fair, that gain also includes porting work on the Victor Jr. intake manifold by Bryce Mulvey. All this work tops off the same 410ci small-block Mopar from BluePrint Engines that was seen on Engine Masters Episodes 11 and 18. Engine Masters is supported by Mr. Gasket and Earl's Vapor Guard.

Ever wonder what those camshaft specification numbers really mean and how they affect engine performance? This episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL is here to help, as David Freiburger explains cam lift, duration, love separation angle, and installed centerline. Next, we test a low-rpm cam and a high-rpm cam in the same engine to demonstrate the power differences. Engine Masters is supported by Mr. Gasket and Earl's Vapor Guard hose.

Increasing engine displacement with a stroker kit is a proven way to get more horsepower and torque, but exactly how much power can you expect? In this test of "there's no replacement for displacement," the hosts of Engine Masters run a dyno comparo you've probably never seen before: two engines with all the same specs except for the crankshaft stroke. One small-block Mopar engine is a 410ci stroker, while the other is a 367ci stocker with an overbore. They use the same carb, intake, cam, heads, compression, and headers. You think the bigger engine makes far more horsepower?

Do you want to spend big bucks on a hydraulic roller cam setup or low bucks on the old-school flat-tappet cam? The answer depends on your desire for power and durability, and this episode of Engine Masters will spell out the differences in the two camshaft designs so you can decide what's best for your car. The test engine here is a 500hp, 400ci small-block Chevy crate engine from BluePrint Engines, and the camshafts and lifters are from Isky Racing Cams.

We show you why the age-old concept of pulling a used engine from a running car and slapping some speed parts on itmight not always be the best idea. Our special guest engine is the Mopar 360 small-block V8 from Episodes 3 and 4 of Roadkill Garage, where we plucked it from a 1975 Dodge truck and slapped it into a 1970 Dodge Challenger. For this show, we set up the 360 with all-stock parts, ran it on the dyno for a baseline, and then added a bunch of speed parts. We gained 140 horsepower.

In episode 4 we famously destroyed a set of Hooker headers with a hammer to see if dents in tubes really make a difference in performance. Folks said our test was flawed because if dents in the tubes didn't affect performance, then the headers must have been too large to begin with. So now we've tested that theory, running three sets of Hookers on the same engine we used in the header-bash episode. We tried 1-5/8, 1-3/4, and 1-7/8. Were the viewers right that we'd picked wrong the first time?

In this episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, you'll learn a simple combination for a 600hp big-block Chevy.

Boost is good. Forced induction makes huge power, and you want it cheap and easy. This time on Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, we look at the two most affordable implements of boost from SummitRacing.com.

Topping your engine with a set of aftermarket cylinder heads is a near-certain method for making more horsepower and torque-but is the extra power really worth the money? In this episode of Engine Masters, presented by Amsoil, we answer that question.

If you've ever installed a set of high-performance exhaust headers, then you've probably bashed those exhaust tubes with a hammer to get them to clear everything in the chassis of the car.

Should you run a carburetor, or should you try the new and easy self-learning EFI setups? We'll dish up answers in this episode of Engine Masters, presented by AMSOIL. Host David Freiburger, Steve Dulcich, and Steve Brule strap a 5.3L LM7 engine to the engine dyno and look at the price, installation, and power of a Holley 750-cfm double-pumper versus Holley's Terminator throttle-body EFI. The guys come up with a big part-mismatch nightmare along the way-one you should also watch out for. As you're watching the episode, keep in mind that most of the carb-vs-throttle-body info applies to any engine, not just the LS-style test mule. However, Holley does provide very simple, plug-in kits to power the LS platform. In fact, if you have a complete junkyard LS that still has the intake manifold, throttle body, and injectors, you can get a much cheaper LS controller that plugs right in.