Engine Masters - Season 4

This time on Engine Masters presented by Amsoil, we go head-to-head-to-head-to-head to find the best dual-plane for your buck. Using our longtime test mule 372 small-block Chevy, we bolt up the four most popular Air-Gap–style dual-planes to compare power and cost, to help you make the best choice for your engine and budget.

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.

On this episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, we take the mystery out of carburetor selection. More air means more power, but is there such a thing as too big? And how do you know when you've passed good? David Freiburger, Steve Dulcich, Steve Brulé from Westech Performance, and the dyno get together to compare carbs from 650 to 950 cfm on Our Ultimate Average 383 to help you find all the power and all the driveability.

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?  

On this episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich welcome back Richard Holdener to blow the literal lid off of internet "blower manifold" theories. You've seen us play with runner lengths before, but this time we use FAST's modular-runner intake manifold to test both short and long runners to see how each reacts in both NA and boosted trim. Is there such thing as a "blower manifold" or is it all just keyboard huff and puff? Join us to find out, won't you?

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.

This time, the comparison features 100-percent more hydraulic cam! Last round we compared hydraulic and solid roller lifters on hydraulic and solid cams, respectively. But we have more questions! For instance, can you actually run solid roller lifters on a hydraulic cam? Why would you?  And, if you do, will they make more power? How long will they survive? The list goes on, but check out the answers for yourself on this episode of Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, and hopefully you'll be as intrigued as the rest of us.

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 fuel pump power does your motor need? This time on Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, we investigate the limits of four budget, mechanical pumps on our very streetable, 500 horse 372 Chevy. Can these budget pumps keep enough pressure and flow to support our power numbers? What about the power that you're making? If you're anything like us, this might motivate you to take a second look at your own fuel system.

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. 

This time on Engine Masters presented by AMSOIL, David Freiburger, Steve Dulcich, and Steve Brule´, go on the hunt for the best manifold to make big horsepower numbers on a big-inch, big-block Chevrolet. These aren't manifolds for any boring, old 454 or even a 496. We're talking 598 cubes of big-block, and we're throwing four different single-plane, single 4bbl manifolds at it from Dart, Pro-Filer, Brodix, and Edelbrock to see how the difference in their runner walls and plenum shapes make or cost power.

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.