SEMA 2008 Friday Coverage

[mark@streetlegaltv]

It is the last day of SEMA. Everyone is beat and our shoes and cameras are worn out. Below is even more great product reviews and new stuff, including an all-new Edelbrock LSX "Ram-style" Intake manifold that really raised some eyebrows.

You can fast forward to coverage of the show each day here:

• Tuesday New Products & SEMA Cars - Click here
• Wednesday New Products & SEMA Cars - Click here
• Thursday New Products & SEMA Cars - Click here
• Friday New Products & SEMA Cars - Click Here

We also shot over 30 videos during the SEMA show below is the list of videos shot on Friday:

• MSD Releases a Trick New MSD 6AL-2 Programmable - Click Here
• FAST's New EZ EFI and LSX-R Manifold Debut at SEMA - Click Here
• Eaton Gets Inducted into the Hot Rod Hall of Fame - Click Here
• Vortech's V3 Ready for 2009 Challenger - Click Here
• Paxton Teams up with Formula D Champ Sam Hubinette - Click Here
• Garret's New Turbo for EVO/STI Applications - Click Here
• Plum Floored Newest Creations at SEMA 2008 - Click Here
• Edelbrock's New Street/Strip Suspension Kits - Click Here
• Hotchkis's New Project Cars Debuted at SEMA - Click Here
• Edelbrock's New Pro-Flow XT for LSX Engines - Click Here
• Mopar's Wicked Challengers on the Floor - Click Here
• HP Sales 100 mph 400 HP E85 Mustang - Click Here

Edelbrock LS Series Intake Manifold

Edelbrock has come out with a new intake manifold for LS series engines. They claim that it will pick up 25 horsepower over a stock LS6 intake manifold and more on earlier generation LS manifolds.

**** VIDEO: Edelbrock's New Pro XT Intake Manifold Video ***



The long runner design keeps the velocity up for the strong bottom end torque, while the large plenum is designed for max horsepower. The manifold is designed for 1500-6500 RPM range. It comes in as cast and black powder coated finish. This manifold will not clear the stock hood. According to these numbers by Edelbrock, this may be one of the highest HP LSX cathedral port intakes on the market.

Visit www.edelbrock.com for more information

[mark@streetlegaltv]

I went over to MSD to cover some of their new products. Todd Ryden of MSD takes me over to a 6AL-2 box. Initially, I was confused as the 6AL-2 is not THAT new. But this isn’t your normal 6AL-2 box, it’s an all-new programmable box. The only way you can tell on the outside of the box is the serial port and no dial knobs for RPM. Now you can fine your ignition timing on your carbureted engine. No more vacuum advance, you can electronically control your timing curve over your entire power band, similar to a fuel-injected vehicle. There is three stop functions and mapping to name a few of the options.

*** VIDEO: MSD's New Programmable 6AL-2 ****

The Programmable 6AL-2 is an all new digital ignition designed for the street and strip. The ignition delivers the multiple sparks and capacitive discharge power you expect from MSD. Modern components efficiently produce nearly 23% spark energy and voltage improvements of 15% (135mJ and 535 primary volts) so there’s plenty of fire to light up your muscle car, street rod or weekend racer.

The Ignition delivers laptop programming giving you total control over your timing curve, rev limits and more! Plug-in your PC and call up MSD’s Pro-Data+ software and you can easily map out a timing curve, boost timing map and a variety of performance building controls.

Visit www.msdignition.com for more information

[mark@streetlegaltv]

Happy with your stock LS ignition but miss having two step? Well, MSD now has a complete plug-and-play model that hooks up to all your factory plugs. The module also has their “Smart Launch” technology, which keeps you from activating your two step by accident.

Basically, if you set your launch RPM at 3500 RPM, you have to come under that RPM again before you can activate the two step again. It all hooks up with a simple clutch/trans-brake switch. We'll have to see if these work with LS3 engines, because we could use a 2-step badly on our 2008 Corvette.

Visit www.msdignition.com for more information

[mark@streetlegaltv]

Tired of grinding down your F-Body rear caliper to clear a drag wheel? Well, now you don't have to. Billet Specialties now makes a direct bolt on 15x10 rear wheel with a 7.5 inch rear back space. It is a SFI certified street and strip wheel. It is two piece wheel made from 6061 T6 aluminum and also accommodates a 5/8ths stud. This is the F-Body Street Lite Wheel.

Also, Billet is introducing their new Comp Series Drag wheels are created for speed and engineered to put down the power, launch after launch, round after round. Features include 6061-T6 forged centers and a lightweight package. Available in 15X3.5 spindle mount or bolt-on front and 15X8 thru 15X15 rear, SFI 15.1 and 15.2 approved.



Check out the new Billet LS Top Tru Trac Serpentine system for LS 1, 2, 3 & 6. Engineered for Muscle cars to clear cross members and steering boxes while keeping a compact efficient profile.

This all in one kit includes everything you need -- the ATI Damper, the new Edelbrock LS water pump, A/C compressor, power steering pump (with AN fittings), Powermaster alternator, billet tensioner, ARP stainless hardware, Good Year Gatorback belt and all the pulleys. This kit will be available in a black anodized finish also. Plus it all fits within the silhouette of the motor allowing it to fit within the frame rails of popular muscle cars.

For more information, visit www.billetspecialties.com

[Tom@StreetlegalTV]

A name proven in street legal drag racing, ERL Performance came to SEMA this year to show off some of their blocks. No matter which one you are talking about all of ERL’s shortblocks are CNC machined ductile iron sleeves and decks. They all also hot tanked and stress relieved three times before you are able to buy them.

The new 427ci LSX engine is designed for naturally aspirated applications and featuring ERL’s Superdeck 1 ‘4 bolt’ is comes complete with Wiseco 4.125 bore with 11.0:1 compression and Carrillo 6.125 rods, the fully assembled shortblock is ready to be finished off and dropped in whatever fits your desire. With the 427 you also get Callies 4.000 crankshaft, Clevite race bearings and an ARP main stud kit.

The 426ci HEMI short-block is the brain child of ERL and Power Ported Performance this 426 ci block features K1 6.125 rods and 4.080 billet stroker crankshaft. Distributed exclusively by Power Ported Performance it also has Clevite race bearings and comes with ARP min and head stud kit. Fully blueprinted, balanced and featuring a micro-polished crankshaft it comes to you assembled as well.

Visit www.erlperformance.com for more information

[Tom@StreetlegalTV]

I found one of the most interesting parts at the Tech Line booth. Their coatings have an almost endless list of possible uses. With these coating you can coat parts such as the piston tops, valves, or heads. Doing so you can turn reduce the amount of heat that soaks into your engine.

What you end up doing a few different things. You create a thermal barrier, protect the part, and/or add lubrication. For example if you were to coat your pistons, heads and valves you would be keeping heat in the chamber by not allowing it to be soaked into the bock or other parts. This effect results in a more complete burn due which can mean more power. But the most interesting part is the coating that Tech Line has to retain oil on it to aid in lubrication. Now you can coat your piston with it to help keep your new block in prime condition.



The other product that Tech Line was showing was their new Headlight Restoring Kit. The kit is a complete do it yourself kit so you don’t have to worry about paying big money for this kind of work anymore. The other thing about Headlight restore is that you save the money for new lights, and in some counties, they are requiring clear headlights and if you have an older head light that is hazed, they will right you a fix it ticket. Pretty cool.

Visit www.techlinecoatings.com for more information

[poweradmin]

Tuning a car used to be as simple as turning a screw, but with the advent of electronic fuel injection the name of the game changed. Now it takes a computer to tune a computer, and the variables involved are many and complicated. But tuning doesn’t have to be a daunting task anymore, as long as you ask the guys at EFILive, a logging and tuning tool that in the right hands can pull impressive amounts of power from otherwise stock cars.

Based out of New Zealand, the EFILive tool works with any 98+ GM OBDII engines including the diesel Duramax models. For most cars there are between 600-800 different tuning parameters and variables can be anything from transmission shift points to freeing up errant horsepower from overusing your fan. For example there are 693 different tuning options for a 2001 C5 Corvette, and just from tuning alone EFILive was able to free up about 22 horsepower. On Duramax diesels, horsepower can be doubled (as long as the stock transmission is beefed up) without adding any other modification according to Guy Trip of SoCal Diesels.

For more information, check them out at www.efilive.com

[poweradmin]

Swapping modern engines into classic cars has become big business, and no engine series is more popular than GM’s LS series of engines. These engines have found their way into nearly every car conceivable, and it should come as no surprise that somebody has developed a drop-in engine swap kit for most GM cars. Thanks to Hedman headers and Muscle Rods, these kits are now available for just about any 55-96 GM platform.

Each kit is custom made for each car to ensure proper fitment and ease of installation. Each kit comes complete with all the hardware necessary for a proper swap including engine brackets, frame mounts, crossmember and a poly trans mount. You can swap any LS based engine from cheap truck engines to a beastly LS6 monster swap.

Additionally, Hedman Headers worked alongside Muscle Rods to develop easy-to-install headers that require no modification or specialty spark plugs, a common problem in classic car swaps. Together these two companies are making it much easier for the backyard mechanic to turn their classic car into a fuel injected resto-mod.

For more information, visit www.hedman.com

[poweradmin]

When it comes to freeing up parasitic horsepower loses and dramatically improving the under-hood look of your car, few modifications are as helpful or attractive as underdrive pulleys. For twenty years, March Performance Pulleys and Brackets has been producing high quality pulleys for just about every American application that are both symmetrical and effective.

For 2008 March has introduced an underdrive pulley set for LS1, LS2, and LS7 engines. Designed with electronic throttle bodies in mind, these kits provide enough clearance and good looks. The lightweight pulleys reduce strain on the engine freeing up horsepower and lowering the rotating mass. March also makes underdrive pulley kits for Oldsmobile, HEMI, and Pontiac applications.



Also, if polished metal isn’t your look, March also now offers the Black Onyx finish on most pulley and bracket kits. March powdercoats a standard kit, regrinds sections of the brackets and finishes it off with a clear coat that provides a unique and symmetrical look for nearly any application. Most kits are available with or without power steering or air conditioning pumps. The Blank Onyx finish only costs an extra $150 over a standard kit making it a worthwhile upgrade for anyone wanting to stand out.

For more information, visit www.marchperf.com

[poweradmin]

ACT Clutch is a well known name when it comes to producing clutches for import cars, and their recent foray into LS-based clutches was met warmly by GM enthusiasts! However, due to the incredible power produced by LSX engines, ACT has found the need to upgrade their single-disc clutch system to a dual disc clutch, supporting much higher horsepower numbers than their single disc versions

Whereas their earlier discs were good for about 750-800 horsepower, their new double disc clutches can handle anywhere from 850-1,450 horsepower, more than enough for any street and most drag cars. ACT’s clutches also provide a higher clamp load for longer distances, all the while helping to put more power to the pavement. Their twin disc clutch kits are engineered for smooth engagement and moderate pedal effort so you don’t have to put through the floor every time you want to shift gears.

Visit ACT for more info at http://www.advancedclutch.com/