Building Up A Hot Rod Honda

[ ENGINE REVVING ]

(CHUCK)>> HOPPING UP A HONDA, YOU BET! WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW RIGHT NOW ON TODAY'S SHOW. [ MUSIC ]

(JOE)>> TODAY ON HORSEPOWER TV SPORT COMPACTS ARE HOT NOW. SO WE'RE GONNA BUILD UP A HOT ROD HONDA INCLUDING HEADER, HIGH PERFORMANCE EXHAUST, AND NEW SET OF POWER PULLEYS. PLUS AN IGNITION UPGRADE AND EVEN A SPECIAL NITROUS KIT. THEN IT'S ON TO THE CHASSIS DYNO WHERE WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH POWER PLANT ON THOSE FRONT WHEELS. ALSO A QUICK TIP ON HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT ROCKER FROM MILD TO WILD. SO HANG ON FOR HORSEPOWER TV. [ MUSIC ]

(CHUCK)>> WELCOME TO THE HORSEPOWER SHOP. IF YOU'RE LIKE US, CHANCES ARE YOU CUT YOUR TEETH AND BUSTED YOUR KNUCKLES ON CARS WITH NAMES LIKE CAMARO, CUDA, AND MUSTANG. YOU KNOW, GOOD OLD ALLAMERICAN IRON!

(JOE)>> YEAH, WELL THERE'S A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF PERFORMANCE ENTHUSIASTS WHO ARE WRENCHING AND RACING CARS WITH NAMES LIKE INTEGRA, RX-7, AND ACCORD. AND WHILE THE NAMES MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE STRANGE, WELL THE TECHNIQUES MAKING THESE POCKET ROCKETS RUN ARE SURPRISINGLY SIMILAR. NOW, THIS '93 PRELUDE'S GOT ALL THE LATEST TRICKS, AND UNDER THE HOOD, WELL IT'S ONLY GOT A 2.3 LITER DUAL OVERHEAD CAM FOURCYLINDER. BUT THE OWNER'S ADDED HEADERS, A HOT IGNITION, AND EVEN NITROUS.

(CHUCK)>> WELL, TODAY WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU HOW TO ADD SOME BASIC BOLTON'S TO ONE OF THE MORE POPULAR PLATFORMS, A '96 ACURA INTEGRA. NOW THIS THING'S GOT A 1.8 LITER DUAL OVERHEAD CAM FOUR- BANGER THAT CRANKED OUT 111 HORSEPOWER AT THE DRIVEWHEELS. NOT IMPRESSED? WELL, KEEP THIS IN MIND. MOST SPORT COMPACTS WEIGH CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN THOSE AMERICAN MUSCLECARS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

(JOE)>> SO, WHILE THE HORSEPOWER FIGURES MAY NOT BE IMPRESSIVE, THE TIME SLIPS AT THE TRACK CAN BE. PLUS, WE'VE GOT A PASSEL OF PARTS FOR THAT MACHINE THAT'LL HIKE THE HORSEPOWER AND EVEN LOWER THE ET'S STARTING WITH A FREEFLOWING EXHAUST. NOW, THE HEADERS WE'RE USING CAME FROM NUSPEED THEY AND COME WITH ALL THE HARDWARE AND EXTENSION PIPE YOU NEED TO HOOK 'EM UP. PLUS, THEY'VE GOT THIS COOL JETHOT COATING FOR GOOD LOOKS AND LONG LIFE.

(CHUCK)>> OUR CATBACK EXHAUST COMES FROM GREDDY PERFORMANCE AND THE OVERSIZED ALUMINIZED TUBING IS MANDRELL BENT FOR MAXIMUM FLOW. THE MUFFLER ITSELF HAS A POLISHED STAINLESS STEEL CASE AND IT'S FINISHED OFF WITH THIS COOL TIP. NOW, ONCE EVERYTHING'S INSTALLED IT'S GONNA GIVE OUR ACURA A NICE THROATY SOUND. BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S FIFTYSTATE SMOG LEGAL AND MEETS CURRENT NOISE REGULATIONS.

(JOE)>> WELL, I SAY WE MAKE SOME NOISE AND GET THAT EXHAUST OFF. [ DRILL SPINNING ]

[ DRILL SPINNING ]

(CHUCK)>> I'M LOOSE ON MY END.

(JOE)>> YEAH, ME TOO.

(CHUCK)>> NOW, WHILE THE EXHAUST IS OUT, WE'RE GONNA REPLACE THE SHIFTER WITH THIS HURST QUICK STICK. NOW, IT'S GONNA GIVE US SHORTER THROWS AND NO MORE MISSED SHIFTS. WE'RE GONNA START BY REMOVING THIS BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE SHIFTER TO THE SHIFT ROD. THE SHIFTER DROPS RIGHT OUT AFTER TAKING THE KNOB OFF FROM INSIDE. REMOVE THE TWO RETAINING BOLTS AND THEN THE SHIFTER FROM THE RETAINING RING. TO INSTALL THE NEW SHIFTER, YOU JUST REVERSE THE PROCEDURE AND REPLACE THE STOCK STABILIZER BUSHING WITH THIS URETHANE PIECE. 'COURSE THE FINAL STEP IS TO REPLACE THIS FRONT STABILIZER BUSHING.

(JOE)>> THE OLD MANIFOLD COMES OUT FROM THE TOP HERE. BUT BEFORE WE BOLT UP OUR NEW HEADER, LET'S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT IT. IT'S WHAT'S KNOWN AS A FOUR- TWOONE DESIGN WHICH JOINS THE PRIMARIES OF ALTERNATELY FIRING CYLINDERS. THEN, DOWNSTREAM THE SECONDARIES ARE JOINED HERE AT THE COLLECTOR. NOW THIS IMPROVES EXHAUST SCAVAGING AND INCREASES YOUR BOTTOM END TORQUE. NOW, WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S SEALED UP WITH ONE OF THESE COPPERSEALS FROM MR. GASKET.

(CHUCK)>> POWER PULLEYS ARE ALWAYS WORTH A FEW HORSES ON ANY STREET MACHINE SO WE'RE GONNA ADD A SET. NOW, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND REMOVE THE ALTERNATOR FIRST WHILE WE HAVE EASY ACCESS TO IT. 'COURSE ONCE IT'S OFF, YOU JUST REMOVE THE OLD NUT AND THE OLD PULLEY AND REPLACE IT WITH THIS COOL RED ANODIZED ONE FROM AEM. IT GOES ON THERE JUST LIKE THAT. NOW, THEY'VE ALSO SAVED YOU SOME HEADACHES BY INCLUDING THE RIGHT SIZE BELTS IN THE KIT. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND INSTALL THEM LATER ON.

(JOE)>> OKAY, GOT THAT ALTERNATOR BACK UP THERE?

(CHUCK)>> IT'S READY.

(JOE)>> OKAY. NOW WE CAN BOLT UP OUR NEW COLLECTOR PIPE, AND, AS YOU'LL NOTICE WE'VE REINSTALLED THE STOCK 0-2 SENSOR. OH, AND WHEN YOU DO THIS, MAKE SURE TO USE THE OLD GASKET AND SOME ANTISEIZE ON THE THREADS. WE'RE ALSO USING THE ORIGINAL CATALYTIC CONVERTER. NOW, WE DON'T WANNA SNUG IT TOO MUCH TO THIS INTERMEDIATE PIPE 'CAUSE WE'LL MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS LATER. NOW, WE CAN HOOK UP ITS O-2 SENSOR.

(CHUCK)>> BOLTING UP THE HEADER AND THE EXHAUST ONLY TOOK US A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR. NOW, THE MUFFLER'S THE FINAL LINK IN THE INSTALLATION, AND THANKS TO ITS DESIGN, YOU CAN USE ALL THE STOCK HANGERS.

(JOE)>> WELL, YOU HANG WITH US. WE'LL TAKE A SHORT BREAK AND BE BACK WITH MORE OF OUR SPORT COMPACT BUILDUP. [ MUSIC ]

(JOE)>> AND LATER IN THE SHOW WE'LL HEAD TO A LOCAL STRIP WHERE SPORT COMPACTS ARE THE HOTTEST NEW THING IN RACING. ( )>> I LIKE BEING THE UNDERDOG. I LIKE SMOKING MUSTANGS AND CAMAROS IN A FOUR CYLINDER CAR.

(JOE)>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

[ MUSIC ]

(CHUCK)>> WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOP AND OUR HONDA HOPUP. SO FAR WE'VE ADDED A HEADER, EXHAUST, AND SHIFTER. NOW, IT'S TIME FOR ONE OF THE BEST BOLTONS FOR ADDING POWER TO YOUR SPORT COMPACT. IT'S A COLD AIR INLET THAT'S GOOD FOR UP TO 18 HORSEPOWER THANKS TO AN IMPROVED AIRFLOW AND THIS K&N FILTER THAT REDUCES JUST ABOUT ALL THE INLET RESTRICTIONS. NOW, BEFORE WE INSTALL IT, THOUGH, WE'RE GONNA DRILL A LITTLE HOLE RIGHT HERE FOR THAT NITROUS NOZZLE.

(JOE)>> HEY, WHILE YOU'RE OVER THERE TALKING ABOUT HORSES, I'VE BEEN WORKING LIKE ONE. IN FACT, I GOT THE STOCK AIR INLET OFF AND WHILE YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT NEW ONE, I THINK I'LL POP ON ONE OF THESE OTHER PULLEYS. NOW, THE THREADS ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP OF THIS ACURA ARE LEFTHANDED, SO FOR THE TIME BEING FORGET ALL THAT STUFF WE LEARNED ABOUT RIGHTYTIGHTY.

(CHUCK)>> WHETHER YOU'RE RUNNING AMERICAN IRON OR AN IMPORT, MAN, NOTHING BEATS NITROUS WHEN IT COMES TO INSTANT HORSEPOWER. NOW, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THIS ZEX KIT FROM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHEN WE INTRODUCED IT ON HOT PARTS. WELL, TODAY, WE'RE GONNA PUT IT TO WORK. IT'S TUNEABLE WITH THREE POWER LEVELS - 55, 65, AND 75 HORSEPOWER AND IT RELIES ON THIS CONTROL BOX HERE TO MAINTAIN PROPER FUEL TO NITROUS RATIOS. HEY MAN, LOOK WHAT I BROUGHT YA. ARE YOU SPRAYING OR YOU PLAYING BACK HERE?

(JOE)>> I HOPE TO BE SPRAYING SOON.

(CHUCK)>> I TELL YA WHAT, WHILE YOU GET GOING I'M GONNA START MOUNTING THAT CONTROL BOX UP FRONT.

(JOE)>> GOOD DEAL. NOW, THE BEST PLACE TO MOUNT THIS THING IS OUT BACK HERE SO WE CAN GET TO IT EASILY TO OPEN THE VALVE OR REMOVE IT FOR REFILLS. NOW, WE'RE GONNA SEND THE FEED LINE UNDER THE CARPET OF THIS ACURA, OF COURSE, AVOIDING ANY SHARP EDGES ALONG THE WAY THAT MIGHT CHAFE IT. NOW, WE'LL SEND IT IN THROUGH THE FIREWALL USING A FACTORY GROMMET.

(CHUCK)>> THE LINE FROM THE CONTROL BOX TO THE NITROUS NOZZLE'S ONLY TWO FEET LONG AND SPACE IS A LITTLE BIT LIMITED UNDER THE HOOD, HERE. BUT WE FOUND A SPOT FOR THE BOX RIGHT HERE ON THE FENDER WELL. NOW, WE HAD TO FAB UP A COUPLE OF MOUNTS USING LBRACKETS THAT WE GOT AT THE LOCAL HARDWARE STORE AND WE JUST SCREWED 'EM TO THE FRAME RAIL.

(JOE)>> WELL, NOW WE CAN MOUNT OUR INLET TUBE WHICH WE'LL HAVE TO SNAKE DOWN BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE LOWER FRAME RAIL. IT CLAMPS RIGHT HERE TO THE THROTTLE BODY. NOW, WE CAN CONNECT THE NITROUS LINE AND WE'RE GONNA JET IT FOR THE FULL 75 HORSEPOWER. NEXT, THE FILTER GOES IN FROM DOWN UNDER HERE. 'COURSE OUR NITROUS NEEDS AN ARMING SWITCH SO I'M GONNA FIND US A GOOD LOCATION IN HERE TO MOUNT IT.

(CHUCK)>> ADDING THAT NITROUS IS GONNA CREATE A LOT OF CYLINDER PRESSURE, SO WE'RE GONNA NEED A GOOD HOT SPARK TO FIRE IT ALL OFF. MSD HAS COME UP WITH THIS NEW IGNITION JUST FOR SPORT COMPACTS. AND SINCE ROOM IS SO TIGHT UNDER HERE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SACRIFICE OUR CRUISE CONTROL TO MOUNT THE BOX RIGHT IN HERE. WE JUST FABBED UP AN ALUMINUM PLATE AND THEN ATTACHED IT RIGHT HERE TO THE STRUT TOWER. NOW WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MOUNT THE BOX WHERE IT'LL GET PLENTY OF AIR CIRCULATION SO IT CAN OPERATE PROPERLY.

(JOE)>> THIS BLASTER SS COIL'S GONNA GIVE US EVEN MORE FIRE POWER, AND UNLIKE THE HONDA STOCK COIL, IT MOUNTS EXTERNALLY, SO AGAIN WE FABBED UP SOME BRACKETS SO WE COULD MOUNT IT HERE ON THE END OF THE HEAD. TO COMPLETE OUR IGNITION UPGRADE WE'LL ALSO USE THEIR CAP AND WIRES, ALONG WITH THESE ACCEL PLUGS.

(CHUCK)>> OF COURSE, PLANTING ALL THAT POWER WITH A FRONT DRIVER PRESENTS A WHOLE NEW SET OF PROBLEMS, LIKE STRUT TOWER FLEX. BUT, WE'RE GO AHEAD AND FIX THAT PROBLEM AND PUT THE POWER TO THE PAVEMENT WITH THIS MOROSO STRUT TOWER BRACE. NOW, IT'S MACHINED FROM LIGHTWEIGHT BILLET ALUMINUM AND IT COMES IN A NUMBER OF COLORS.

(JOE)>> COLOR'S DEFINITELY WHAT'S HAPPENING UNDER THE HOOD AND TO ADD SOME EXTRA TOUCHES WE GOT THESE COOL COVERS FROM HOT ROD CUSTOM AUTOMOTIVE IN MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE, EVERYTHING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE OIL FILTER.

(CHUCK)>> IT REALLY DOES LOOK GOOD UNDER HERE, BUT THIS PUTS THE WRAPS ON ALL OUR ACURA UPGRADES. WHAT DO YOU SAY WE PUT THE DRIVE WHEELS ON THE DYNOJET AND SEE WHAT ALL OUR HARD WORK IS WORTH?

(JOE)>> WE'LL DO OUR FIRST RUN WITHOUT NITROUS. [ ENGINE REVVING ] THROTTLE RESPONSE IS CRISPER, REVVED UP QUICKER. HOW ARE THE NUMBERS?

(CHUCK)>> WELL, YOU CAN TRUST THE SEAT OF YOUR PANTS. WE GOT 127 HORSES. NOW, THAT'S 16 MORE THAN OUR BASELINE. WHAT DO YOU SAY WE PUT THE SPRAY TO IT?

(JOE)>> WELL A FLICK OF THE SWITCH DOES IT. NOW, THE CONTROL BOX WE MOUNTED IS WIRED DIRECTLY TO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS, SO WHEN WE MATT THE THROTTLE WE'RE ON THE BOTTLE. [ ENGINE REVVING ]

(CHUCK)>> ALRIGHT! 169 HORSEPOWER. NOW, ISN'T THAT ABOUT WHAT YOUR FIREBIRD DID? AND, THIS IS A LOT LIGHTER CAR.

(JOE)>> YEAH, I'M AFRAID SO. YOU KNOW, WE JUST MIGHT HAVE US A POCKET ROCKET ON OUR HANDS HERE AFTER ALL.

(CHUCK)>> YOU BET. NOW THE PARTS COST ABOUT $25-HUNDRED DOLLARS AND YOU CAN PLAN ON SPENDING THE BETTER PART OF A DAY OUT IN THE DRIVEWAY.

(JOE)>> WELL, HANG ON. WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW SOME OF THESE HOT SPORT COMPACTS ACT AT THE TRACK RIGHT AFTER THIS.

[ MUSIC ]

(JOE)>> HI, WELCOME BACK TO HORSEPOWER TV AND TO MUSIC CITY RACEWAY. WELL, WE GOT A TASTE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK ON ONE OF THESE SPORT COMPACTS. NOW, WHAT DO YOU SAY WE SEE HOW THESE FOURBANGERS BEHAVE OUT ON THE STRIP? [ MUSIC ] (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> AT TRACKS AROUND THE COUNTRY SPORT COMPACT NIGHT ATTRACTS A NEW BREED OF DRAG RACERS. THEY'RE MOSTLY YOUNGER. MOST DRIVE IMPORTS OF COURSE, WITH CIVICS LEADING THE PACK. AND WHILE MANY ARE NEW TO DRAG RACING, THEY'RE ALL BUSY BOLTING ON AFTERMARKET POWER PARTS FROM TURBOCHARGERS UP FRONT TO THREEINCH EXHAUST OUT BACK. SOME MAY NEED HELP ANALYZING THEIR TIME SLIPS. ( )>> YOUR REACTION IS ONE THING, YOUR LAUNCH IS SOMETHING ELSE. YOU HAD MUCH BETTER LAUNCHING. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> BUT EACH SEEMS TO SHARE AN INFECTIOUS AMERICANSTYLE SPIRIT OF COMPETITION.

(JONAH)>> I LIKE BEING THE UNDERDOG. I LIKE SMOKING MUSTANGS AND CAMAROS IN A FOURCYLINDER CAR. [ ENGINE REVVING ]

(JOE)>> WOW. NINE SECOND ET. OH, DID I MENTION, THIS IS AN EIGHTH MILE TRACK? [ TIRES SQUEALING ] (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> OKAY. WHILE MOST DON'T HAVE THE POWER AND PERFORMANCE OF THE CAMAROS OUT HERE, OR THE MUSTANGS, THEY ARE SNEAKING UP ON IT AND SOME ARE TURNING THEIR COMPACTS INTO LIGHTWEIGHT LAND ROCKETS.

(JONAH)>> THERE'S A LOT OF POWER HIDDEN IN THESE LIGHT MOTORS. THAT'S THE GAME, YOU KNOW, PULLING IT ALL OUT OF THERE, USING YOUR HEAD, SEEING WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> A BIGGER TURBO, EXHAUST, AND FRONT MOUNTED INTERCOOLER WORKS FOR BRANDON WISE. HE'S GETTING 350 HORSEPOWER FROM HIS EAGLE TALON AND RUNNING IN THE LOW EIGHTS OUT HERE.

(BRANDON)>> IT'S COMPLETELY BOLTON HORSEPOWER THAT WE'VE ADDED TO IT, SO THE SKY'S THE LIMIT REALLY, WHAT YOU WANNA DO, HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'RE WILLING TO SPEND. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> THIS '94 SUPRA SPORTS A DUAL TURBO- CHARGED INLINE SIX THAT PROPELS IT INTO THE LOW EIGHTH MILE EIGHTS, AS WELL.

(DAVID)>> WITH THE SAME BOTTOM END AND WITHOUT CHANGING THE INTERNALS, I'M ABOUT AT THE MAXIMUM. WHICH I GET ABOUT 405 REAR WHEEL HORSEPOWER TO IT. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> WITH NOHOLDSBARRED BUDGETS, HONDA'S HAVE RECENTLY MADE OVER 600 HORSEPOWER WHILE RECORDING NINE SECOND QUARTER MILE RUNS. HEY, WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO BE THAT FIRST GUY TO BREAK INTO THE EIGHTS?

(JONAH)>> OH MAN, I WOULD LOVE IT. WHO WOULDN'T, YOU KNOW? IT WOULD BE GREAT.

(FAISAL)>> I WOULD LOVE TO GO IN THE EIGHTS SOME DAY. HELL, WHY NOT SEVENS? [ ENGINE REVVING ] [ MUSIC ] (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> HEY, WHAT ABOUT IT YOU FELLOW FORD, CHEVY, AND MOPAR GUYS? ARE YOU IMPRESSED YET? ( )>> NAW, IT'S JUST NOT ME. I DON'T LIKE 'EM. PARTS COST TOO MUCH. ( )>> YOU KNOW THE OLD SAYING, 'THERE'S NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT. SO I'M GONNA STICK WITH MY AMERICANMADE PRODUCTS. ( )>> WELL, THEY DON'T GO VERY FAST, BUT THEY LOOK GOOD. YOU KNOW, I MEAN I THINK EVERYBODY OUGHT TO HAVE A CHANCE TO COME OUT HERE AND RUN. THAT'S FOR SURE. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> ONE THINGS'S FOR SURE. SPORT COMPACT RACING'S HERE TO STAY. AND WHILE THE POPULARITY GOES UP WHILE THE ET'S GO DOWN, WELL MAYBE THERE'S ROOM FOR EVERYBODY IN THE STAGING LANES OF AMERICA'S DRAG STRIPS IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM AHEAD.

(FAISAL)>> HOPEFULLY THE FORD, DODGE, AND CHEVY GUYS WILL UNITE AND THE IMPORT GUYS WILL UNITE, AND WE CAN JUST BATTLE EACH OTHER INTO THE FUTURE THIS WAY. [ ENGINE REVVING ] [ MUSIC ] [ ENGINE REVVING ] [ MUSIC ]

(JOE)>> ROCKERS, THEY PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN YOUR CAR'S PERFORMANCE. WE'LL HELP YOU FIND THE RIGHT ROCKER FOR YOUR ENGINE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

[ MUSIC ]

(CHUCK)>> WELCOME BACK. NOW MY PARTNER, ON OCCASION, HAS ACCUSED ME OF BEING OFF MY ROCKER, AND WELL HE MAY BE RIGHT. BUT, IF THE ROCKERS ON YOUR ENGINE ARE OFF, WELL THAT CAN COST YOU SOME HORSEPOWER.

(JOE)>> YOU'RE RIGHT ON BOTH COUNTS. NOW, MOST PRODUCTION ENGINES USE INEXPENSIVE STAMPED STEEL ROCKERS LIKE ON OUR DISPLAY ENGINE HERE. NOW SMALL BLOCK CHEVY'S ROCKER ARM RATIO IS SUPPOSED TO BE 1.5. , BUT MASS PRODUCTION CAN LEAD TO LOOSER TOLERANCES.

(CHUCK)>> NOW, I'VE CHECKED STOCK ROCKER ARM RATIOS AND I'VE SEEN THEM AS LOW AS 1.42. NOW, THAT MEANS THAT A CAM WITH .300 LIFT AT THE LOBE AND A 1.5 ROCKER IS GONNA GIVE US .450 LIFT AT THE VALVE SEAT. A ROCKER WITH A 1.42 RATIO THOUGH IS ONLY GONNA GIVE US .426.

(JOE)>> WHAT PROFESSOR POWER'S REALLY SAYING IS YOU'RE LOSING .024 LIFT AT THE VALVE SEAT, YOUR ENGINE CAN'T BREATHE LIKE IT SHOULD, AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA REACH YOUR HORSEPOWER POTENTIAL.

(CHUCK)>> WELL, ISN'T THAT WHAT I SAID? NOW, DYNO TESTS HAVE SHOWN THAT OPTIMIZING YOUR ROCKER ARM RATIOS CAN YIELD 12 TO 15 MORE HORSEPOWER. SO WE ORDERED AN ASSORTMENT OF ROCKER ARMS FROM COMP CAMS TO HELP YOU GET YOUR VALVE TRAIN BACK ON TRACK. AN INEXPENSIVE UPGRADE IS THEIR MAGNUM ROLLER TIP ROCKER. NOW, IT'S A PRECISE INVESTMENT CASTING TO HELP MAINTAIN A TRUE 1.5 RATIO, AND IT'S GOT A ROLLER TIP TO HELP REDUCE FRICTION. NOW, THIS IS A GOOD ROCKER FOR STREET AND BRACKET RACING APPLICATIONS.

(JOE)>> OF COURSE, A FULL ROLLER ROCKER REDUCES FRICTION EVEN MORE WHILE ALSO GIVING YOU A PRECISE ROCKER ARM RATIO. THAT'S BECAUSE BOTH THE TIP AND TRUNION ARE ROLLERIZED PLUS THE BODY IS MORE RIGID TO RESIST DEFLECTION WHEN YOU'RE USING STIFF VALVE SPRINGS. NOW, THEY COST MORE BUT THEY'RE GREAT FOR SERIOUS STREET AND ALLOUT RACING USE.

(CHUCK)>> FULL ROLLER STAINLESS STEEL ROCKERS ARE NEXT, AND THE MAIN BENEFIT HERE IS REDUCED WEIGHT WITHOUT SACRIFICING STRENGTH OR ACCURACY. OF COURSE, INCREASING YOUR ROCKER ARM RATIO CAN ALSO INCREASE YOUR HORSEPOWER. FOR INSTANCE, .450 VALVE LIFT WITH A 1.5 ROCKER JUMPS ALL THE WAY TO .480 WITH A SIMPLE SWAP TO A 1.6 ROCKER ARM.

(JOE)>> PLUS, YOU CAN EVEN MIX AND MATCH RATIOS TO COMPENSATE FOR THINGS LIKE INEFFICIENT PORT DESIGN OR TO GET MORE OUT OF YOUR CAM WITHOUT SWAPPING IT OUT.

(CHUCK)>> PLUS, YOU CAN EVEN USE A ROCKER LIKE THIS 1.3 TO HELP BREAK IN A NEW CAMSHAFT. NOW, TO SUM IT ALL UP, ROCKER ARMS ARE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT WHEN IT COMES TO REALIZING THE FULL POWER AND PERFORMANCE POTENTIAL OF ANY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

(JOE)>> WELL PUT, PROFESSOR, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE STILL OFF YOUR ROCKER. HEY, STAY TUNED. WE'VE GOT SOME HOT PARTS FOR YA NEXT.

(NARRATOR)>> NOW HORSEPOWER'S HOT PARTS. BROUGHT TO YOU BY SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT. YOUR SOURCE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE PARTS FOR 30 YEARS.

(CHUCK)>> WE'VE GOT SOME HOT PARTS FOR HOT IMPORTS TODAY STARTING WITH THIS COMMAND FLO FUEL REGULATOR FROM B&M. NOW, IT'S A BILLET ALUMINUM REPLACEMENT FOR THE STOCK REGULATOR THAT'S ADJUSTABLE FROM 25 TO 60 PSI. NOW YOU CAN FATTEN UP YOUR FUEL FLOW AND PICK UP A FEW EXTRA HORSES ON YOUR HONDA, ACURA, OR MITSUBISHI FOR UNDER $60 BUCKS.

(JOE)>> HERE'S ANOTHER BILLET BOLTON THAT CAN PUMP UP THE POWER ON YOUR SPORT COMPACT. IT'S A SET OF ADJUSTABLE SPROCKETS FROM AEM THAT'LL ALLOW YOU TO ADVANCE OR RETARD YOUR CAM TIMING UP TO TEN DEGREES. THIS LASERETCHED SCALE MAKES THOSE ADJUSTMENTS EASY, AND THESE THINGS ARE AVAILABLE FOR MOST POPULAR SPORT COMPACTS AT ABOUT $160 A PIECE.

(CHUCK)>> INCREASING TRACTION IS ALWAYS A STICKY SUBJECT, EVEN FOR IMPORTS. NOW, MICKEY THOMPSON'S SOLUTION IS THEIR ET. DRAG TIRE IN A SPECIAL SIZE JUST FOR SPORT COMPACTS WITH WRINKLE WALL CONSTRUCTION AND A SPECIAL STICKY RUBBER COMPOUND, WELL, NOW YOU CAN TAKE YOUR IMPORT OUT TO LAUNCH FOR ABOUT $280 FOR THE PAIR.

(JOE)>> NOW, WE'VE MOUNTED OURS ON SOME 15X7 CENTERLINE GRAND NATIONALS WITH FRONT DRIVE OFFSET. THEY GO FOR ABOUT $14O BUCKS EACH. YOU KNOW TWEAKING ON THAT MINI MUSCLE CAR WAS KINDA FUN BUT ARE YOU READY FOR SOME ALL AMERICAN IRON? CATCH OUR SHOW NEXT WEEK. THE FORD FLATHEAD, ONE OF HISTORY'S MOST MONUMENTAL MOTORS. THEY'RE HOT AGAIN AND WE'LL BUILD ONE WITH SOME NIFTY NOSTALGIC PIECES AND SOME HIGH TECH BOLT ONS LIKE A SUPERCHARGER. THEN WE'LL TEST OUR BUILD UP'S BENEFITS ON A STATE OF THE ART DYNO, AND A HOT ROD FACE OFF BETWEEN A FIVE WINDOW COUPE FROM THE LAST MILLENIUM VERSUS A MODERN ROD FROM THE NEW ONE. AND REMEMBER HIGH PERFORMANCE FUN IS WHAT THIS SHOW IS ALL ABOUT.

(NARRATOR)>> HORSEPOWER TV IS AN RTM PROUDCUTION.