How to Make a Drag Car Engine
Introduction
Drag racing is a sport that involves two cars racing each other over a straight track. The cars are typically modified to improve their performance, and one of the most important modifications is to the engine.
In this guide, we will show you how to build a drag car engine. We will cover everything from choosing the right parts to assembling the engine and tuning it for maximum performance.
Choosing the Right Parts
The first step in building a drag car engine is to choose the right parts. The most important parts to consider are the block, heads, crankshaft, camshaft, and pistons.
Block
The block is the foundation of the engine. It houses the cylinders, crankshaft, and camshaft. When choosing a block, you need to consider the bore and stroke of the engine. The bore is the diameter of the cylinders, and the stroke is the distance the pistons travel from top to bottom.
For a drag car engine, you will want a block with a large bore and stroke. This will give the engine more displacement, which will result in more power.
Heads
The heads are responsible for sealing the combustion chambers and providing a path for the air/fuel mixture to enter the cylinders and the exhaust gases to exit the cylinders.
When choosing heads, you need to consider the port size and shape. The port size determines how much air/fuel mixture can flow into the cylinders, and the port shape determines how efficiently the air/fuel mixture can flow into the cylinders.
For a drag car engine, you will want heads with large ports and a efficient port shape.
Crankshaft
The crankshaft converts the reciprocating motion of the pistons into rotary motion. When choosing a crankshaft, you need to consider the stroke of the engine and the journal size.
For a drag car engine, you will want a crankshaft with a long stroke and large journals. This will give the engine more torque and durability.
Camshaft
The camshaft controls the timing of the valves. When choosing a camshaft, you need to consider the duration, lift, and lobe separation.
For a drag car engine, you will want a camshaft with a long duration, high lift, and wide lobe separation. This will give the engine more power at high rpm.
Pistons
The pistons are responsible for compressing the air/fuel mixture and transferring the force of the expanding gases to the crankshaft.
When choosing pistons, you need to consider the bore and stroke of the engine, the compression ratio, and the ring thickness.
For a drag car engine, you will want pistons that are made of a high-strength material, have a high compression ratio, and have thin rings.
Assembling the Engine
Once you have chosen the right parts, you can start assembling the engine. The first step is to install the block. The block should be bolted to the engine stand using the proper bolts and torque specifications.
Next, you need to install the crankshaft. The crankshaft should be installed into the block using the proper bearings and seals.
After the crankshaft is installed, you can install the pistons and connecting rods. The pistons should be installed into the cylinders using the proper rings and piston pins.
Next, you need to install the heads. The heads should be bolted to the block using the proper bolts and torque specifications.
After the heads are installed, you can install the camshaft. The camshaft should be installed into the block using the proper bearings and seals.
Finally, you need to install the intake manifold and carburetor. The intake manifold should be bolted to the heads using the proper bolts and torque specifications. The carburetor should be bolted to the intake manifold using the proper bolts and torque specifications.
Tuning the Engine
Once the engine is assembled, you need to tune it for maximum performance. The first step is to set the timing. The timing should be set using a timing light.
Next, you need to adjust the carburetor. The carburetor should be adjusted for the proper air/fuel ratio. The air/fuel ratio can be adjusted by changing the jet size.
After the carburetor is adjusted, you need to adjust the ignition. The ignition should be adjusted for the proper spark plug gap. The spark plug gap can be adjusted by using a spark plug gapping tool.
Finally, you need to break in the engine. The engine should be broken in by running it at a low rpm for a period of time. This will allow the engine to seat the rings and valves.
Conclusion
Building a drag car engine is a complex process, but it is also a rewarding one. By following the steps in this guide, you can build an engine that will give you the power and performance you need to win races.
