Building your dream car? Then it is likely that the biggest question facing you is about the engine. Specifically, should I buy a custom-built engine, or stick with the comfort of a mass-produced crate motor? ROUSH Performance, the leader in Ford powertrain development and all things high-performance, has a wide line of “crate motors” built by the winningest name in racing that are anything but bland, off-the-shelf items.

“A Crate it Ain’t” Street Rodder magazine proclaimed about the ROUSH Performance offerings, largely because these engines are a unique blend of the best of both worlds. They can be ordered out of a catalog just like any crate engine, but customers have the ability to choose many of the components and create their own custom, one-of-a-kind engine which is then hand-assembled by an experienced engine builder.

ROUSH Performance offers nine base models of Ford engines which translate to 22 different variations. Carbureted and fuel-injected, as well as short and long-block versions are available. The base model, the 327SR puts out 350 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. torque. From there, it only goes up - way, way up to a whopping 1,050 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. torque in the 588RX.

The core models include a 327, 342, 353, 402, 427, 451, 511, 588 and 5.3R. The fuel-injected packages, which are the ROUSH IR series, have been carefully fabricated to offer the same drivability characteristics as a normal production vehicle. ROUSH engineered the intake manifolds and redesigned the throttle bodies to incorporate isolators which prevent binding.

The expertise that ROUSH has in engine construction is well-known, and most visible through those built for competition in the upper echelons of NASCAR, including the Nextel Cup Series which is the pinnacle of stock car racing. But the same facility in Livonia, Mich., which used to build the race engines is now turning out customized engine builds and these are becoming extremely desirable among the Cobra and street rod market. In fact, many of the most recognized hot rod constructors, such as Chip Foose and Roy Brizio, have already incorporated ROUSH engines into their featured vehicles.

One of the largest replica car manufacturers in the country is Superformance which installs a ROUSH crate engine in nearly every vehicle they deliver.

“ROUSH engines have been the best thing that has happened to the Superformance MKIII, Shelby Daytona Coupe and GT40. We have been using ROUSH engines for the past four years in our cars on the track and the street. They have a large range of engines that are reliable, powerful, well built and the support from the ROUSH team has been incredible. I personally have a 427SR in my own GT40 and can say that it’s awesome,” said Lance Stander, president of Superformance LLC, Shelby Distribution USA and CEO of Hillbank Motors Inc.

Something unique to the ROUSH Performance crate engines is that they all come with a 2-year/24,000 mile warranty. This is the best in the industry and can be offered because they are built to exacting tolerances and are engineered and durability tested to assure reliability and performance long before being made available for sale.

Each engine is sold as a complete package which includes air cleaner, oil pan, flywheel, flex plate and front end accessories. Other companies may require these items be obtained separately which adds additional expense and work to install. When received, a ROUSH engine can be dropped into the engine compartment, have the hoses attached and re-filled with fluids, and are then ready to start and go. Though at first glance the price on a ROUSH engine may appear slightly higher than others, when all the content that comes standard with the engine is taken into consideration (even items like a wire loom) it is easy to conclude that the overall price may, in fact, even be less than the competition’s products.

Prior to shipping, every single ROUSH engine is hot-tested on one of the 50 engine dynos at the facility to verify both power and integrity. Documentation comes with the engine showing the exact tested horsepower and torque figures, and certifies the engine to be leak-free. Additionally, each engine comes with a CNC-engraved “Powered by ROUSH” plaque showing the same figures, along with the model and individual serial number. This plaque is designed to be riveted into the engine compartment and, according to many owners, helps to increase the value of the vehicle.

All ROUSH engines are available with a natural finish or fully polished (this includes cylinder heads, intake manifold, front cover, water pump, valve covers, thermostat housing, pulleys, brackets and alternator if ordered with the package). If you choose, ROUSH can even custom paint or special finish (such as anodize, chrome or powder coat) any or all of the engine and components prior to assembly so that it can be dyno tested as a complete package. This is important because it allows the builder to simply install the engine without any further detailing after the fact. All oil pans are powder coated in a silver metallic tone and clear coated.

“I guess all the options available for our crate engines can appear to be a bit overwhelming,” admitted Jack Roush. “As a guy who knows a thing or two about engines, I think it is awesome that someone can start with a base model and end up with an engine that nobody else has in their car. They can point to the engine and tell their friends ‘this is exactly what I wanted.’ And of course, being a ROUSH engine, you know that the horsepower and performance is a cut above the rest,” he added with a smile.

More than just a mere engine assembler, ROUSH engineers and machines many of the engine components in-house on their wide range of CNC machines. Just a sampling of the items that ROUSH manufactures themselves are front end accessory drives, water necks, billet wire looms, billet fuel filters with inline fuel logs, laser cut stainless steel timing pointers, alternator brackets and air cleaners. With more than 5,000 square feet of space dedicated to engine builds alone, ROUSH has the capacity, technology and experience to handle just about any component.

Even with so many choices already, such as engine finish, the decisions don’t stop there. Most models have a variety of options to choose from when it comes to valve covers, air cleaners, and even spark plug wires. Taking it one step further, ROUSH offers complete powertrain assemblies such as automatic and manual transmissions, bell housings and clutches.

With all the models and options available, it is easy to see why a ROUSH Performance crate engine is not just an “off the shelf” model. It is really a custom engine, built to your exact specifications. So, let ROUSH build a Ford engine for your dream car and make it something you can take extra pride in when opening the hood for your friends.

Based in Livonia, Mich., “The Art of Performance Engineering” takes place at ROUSH Performance. In addition to the array of Ford Mustang and F-150 styling, handling and performance upgrades, a complete line of performance parts and crate engines are offered. For more information, visit www.ROUSHperformance.com.

Borla Performance Industries R&D engineers, working with the Team Lexus race team, have developed a powerful true dual exhaust cat-back system (PN140189) with the unique BORLA Merge X-Pipe for more power and great sound. The result of the lighter, more powerful, tuned performance exhaust is amazing.

Add the great look of the dual polished tips, and this great new Lexus Hot Rod gets even hotter. BORLA is proud of their involvement with Lexus, Toyota and Team Lexus. They all share the same pursuit of excellence. When you see those polished stainless steel tips with BORLA embossed on them, you know it is the best you can get.

BORLA has a 29-year tradition of building performance exhaust for high end performance machines. BORLA, the original pioneers of aerospace-grade T-304 stainless steel (superior to T-409 or aluminized steel) CNC mandrel bent free flow exhaust utilizes its patented award and race winning technology to deliver quality, sound, performance gains and enhanced fuel economy – all with an easy bolt-on installation. BORLA street exhaust cat-backs and headers are so good– we guarantee them for a cool million miles.

For Additional Information, visit www.borla.com or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Demon Carburetion, a Barry Grant, Inc., company, announces optional finishes for new Demon carburetors. For 2007, chromium plating or custom powder-coatings are available in a wide range of popular colors, including some candy shades. Additionally, Rush air filter assemblies, separate carburetor center sections, and float bowls will also be undertaken. Order these powder-coated induction parts from your Barry Grant dealer and bring a matched hue of individuality to your Demon carburetor and air cleaner.

For complete information, visit their website www.barrygrant.com for the latest Catalog/Technical Manual

New advanced system safely adds 75–125 hp to popular 2005 & newer Hemi engine applications

Chrysler’s late model Hemi engines are the perfect platform for nitrous injection upgrades. The ZEX™ Charger/Magnum Nitrous System comes factory pre-assembled, making for a simple and easy, plug and play installation (two hours from start to finish).

For the ultimate in safety, the ZEX™ kit also uses an advanced safety technology called Active Fuel Control™. This exclusive ZEX™ technology monitors the nitrous bottle pressure and adjusts the kit’s fuel enrichment so you are never too rich or too lean.

ZEX™ engineers always keep safety in mind when designing their products; the ZEX™-patented electronic TPS switch is a case in point. Another ZEX™ exclusive, the throttle position sensor feature ensures that the nitrous oxide system activates only at wide open throttle, making sure that the nitrous shot is introduced only at the best possible moment.

Exclusive ZEX™ features like these set the industry standard for convenience, safety, and performance. For more information, visit online at www.zex.com .

Flowmaster announces the release of our American Thunder® performance exhaust kit (Part# 17427) for the ‘05-’07 Corvette(non Z06) with factory- style quad tips. This axle-back system features 2.50-inch mandrel bent tubing and a pair of specifically tuned 5x12-inch, 50 Series™ mufflers. Flowmaster engineered these mufflers, with a unique Helmholtz-tuning chamber to control interior resonance while delivering a deep and aggressive exterior tone. Through extensive testing, this kit has shown horsepower and torque gains. The kit is easily installed with its factory-style hardware and as with all Flowmaster system installations, instructions and accessory hardware are included. The kit is finished off with two, dual embossed, 3.50-inch rolled edge double-walled, polished stainless tips. All hardware for installation is included.
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Specifications: Features and Benefits

Special 50 Series™ Mufflers

Deep Exterior Tone

Minimal Interior Resonance

Mandrel Bent Aluminized Tubing

Stock Factory Style Hangers For Ease Of Installation

Fits ‘05-’07 Corvette Coupe and Convertible (not Z06)

Each Mufflers Features Dual, Embossed, Rolled-Edged Double-Walled Stainless Tips

For additional information, please visit www.flowmastermufflers.com

Dart's new Platinum Series PRO 1 aluminum cylinder heads for small-block and big-block Chevy V-8s are the direct descendents of Dart's Pro Stock engine program, incorporating sophisticated wet-flow technology and improved combustion efficiency. Affordable Platinum Series PRO 1 heads offer exceptional performance in street/strip, bracket racing, marine and high-performance applications.

"Essentially we've reinvented the standard small-block and big-block cylinder heads," said Dart founder and president Richard Maskin. "There were enough things to change that it justified making brand-new heads from scratch. Our goal was to take advantage of the parts and technology that are now available and bring these heads into the 21st century."

Both applications retain the original bolt locations and use stock and aftermarket bolt-on components.
"Even working within these limitations, we made big gains in efficiency by incorporating all of the data we've collected on the wet-flow bench, the dyno and the race track to improve the total package," Maskin noted. "When we were finished, the sum of all the improvements was significant."

The new PRO 1 heads' intake seats have five distinct angles – a direct result of Dart's wet-flow testing. Each of the five angles provides a shear point for the fuel to go into suspension before it enters the chamber. The valves are back-cut to condition the fuel before it enters the chamber. As a result, the engine pulls more fuel and makes more power.
The spark plugs in Platinum Series PRO 1 heads are located as close to the top and center of the combustion chambers as possible, shortening the distance that the flame front must travel and producing a more uniform pressure rise in the cylinder.

For more information, visit www.dartheads.com .

Wish you had racecar quality carburetion for your streetcar? The performance carb specialists at Quick Fuel Technology have just granted your wish with their new Super Street series starting at just $484.99!

Super Street carbs feature a Proform® aluminum main body specially constructed with a solid state electric choke for year-round easy starting. Billet metering blocks eliminate cross-well bleeding that can occur with die cast blocks, and also provide consistent precision metering. Dual metering blocks are provided in all applications to accommodate a race style four corner idle system as well as superior secondary metering. A billet throttle body, fitted with QFT’s proprietary Teflon™ coated throttle shafts and low profile button head screws, coupled with Teflon® coated throttle shaft ribbons, ensures light pedal effort and greater airflow. QFT’s exclusive lightweight contoured aluminum float bowls contain clear sight windows for easy float level adjustment. Thanks to their aluminum construction, QFT’s new Super Street carbs are over five pounds lighter then their conventional zinc counterparts. These high performance carbs utilize either “multi-link” tunable mechanical secondary activation, or Quick Fuel’s Quick Set adjustable vacuum secondary housing. All QFT SS Series carburetors accept dual feed fuel lines and use commonly available service and tuning components for easy installation and simplified maintenance. With sizes available from 650cfm through 830cfm, there is a Super Street application for almost every engine.

For more information, contact: Quick Fuel Technology on the web at: www.quickfueltechnology.com or e-mail the fuel delivery experts at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Pro Stock technology applied to the four cylinder engine

Weston Machine, the leader in race block machining, has designed a billet 4-cylinder aluminum block exclusively for the 4-cylinder Competition Eliminator racer. The 4.900 bore space block is designed to accept the DRC 2 Pro Stock cylinder head, oil pan and Jesel belt drive.  The block also features a closed 65 MM cam tunnel, Jesel key way lifter bushings, and 4-bolt 409 mains.     

For more information contact Weston Machine at: www.westonmachine.com
   

Looking for a way to update that 1980’s gauge cluster? B&M’s all new Black Out Gauges offer a completely new look in gauge design. When the ignition key is switched off, the gauges black out and reveal only their aluminum-anodized bezel. Once the ignition key is switched to the on position, the gauges come to life! High intensity LED back lighting provides a gauge that is easily readable with a unique appearance.

A 270-degree sweep on the dial face indicates accurate readings throughout the entire range on these precision electronic gauges. Light blue numbers with a red LED pointer provide a dynamic look for simple viewing, especially in low light. The transmission temperature gauge sweeps from 120-degrees F through 300-degrees F, and the water temperature gauge sweeps from 100-degrees F through 250-degrees F. B&M’s Black Out Gauges include full mounting hardware and installation instructions and are designed to fit any standard 2-1/16” gauge pod or existing gauge hole in an instrument panel.

B&M Racing and Performance Products has been the leader of high performance automatic transmissions, shifters and cooling products for more than 50 years. In nearly all divisions of motorsports, B&M is the supplier of quality engineering and race-winning technology.

For more information contact: B&M Racing & Performance Products, visit them on the web at www.bmracing.com

Strong, lightweight valve locks deliver premium performance benefits

Valve locks are an often-overlooked valve train component. Regardless of their diminutive size, COMP Cams® has spent a considerable amount of time designing and testing valve locks to improve their performance and the reliability of the overall valve train.

COMP Cams® new 10-Degree Titanium Super Locks™ are not only strong and lightweight, reducing valve train mass, but incorporate a 10-degree “square groove” lock facing for premium valve holding ability.

COMP Cams® new 10-Degree Titanium Valve Super Locks™ must be used with 10-degree titanium valve spring retainers and square groove valve lock compatible valves. They are available for purchase in single sets (2) and for four, six and eight cylinder engine applications.

For more information visit us online at www.compcams.com