News & Events Archive

May 1, 2019

Tom's Turbo Garage Project Firebolt: LS Engine Mods and Reassembly

Tom Tharp of Tom's Turbo Garage is cooking with gas in Part 3 of Project Firebolt, his turbocharged LS-powered 2000 Toyota Tacoma project. With the 5.3L engine torn down to the short block, Tom installs some goodies--a Summit Racing Pro LS Stage 2 turbo camshaft, billet timing chain set, oil pump and Pro LS oil pan, and a valve spring upgrade kit for the remanufactured factory truck cylinder heads.

Check it all out in the Project Firebolt: LSX Turbo Tacoma Part 3 story and video at our OnAllCylinders blog. If you missed Parts 1 and 2, you'll find them on OAC too.

Apr 30, 2019

Ask Away with Jeff Smith: Steering Box and Torque Converter Lockup Issues

Jeff Smith has lockup issues. No, not the kind with bars and orange jumpsuits--we're talking about steering boxes not functioning properly and lockup torque converters that stay locked. Let's investigate.

Apr 16, 2019

Tom's Turbo Garage Project Firebolt: LS Engine Teardown

Tom Tharp of Tom's Turbo Garage is rolling right along with Project Firebolt, the 2002 Toyota Tacoma that is getting a bid dose of turbocharged GM LS engine. We're following the build on our OnAllCylinders blog.

In Part One, Tom provided an overview of the project. In this latest episode, he's breaking the junkyard 5.3 V8 down to see what's good and what will need replacing before adding a bunch of Summit Racing Pro LS parts and a TURRRRBO! It's like a kid at dinner--you have to eat your veggies before you can have dessert. Catch the Project Firebolt: Part 2 at OAC.

Apr 3, 2019

Tom's Turbo Garage is Back with Project Firebolt, an LS-Powered Tacoma Truck

Our friend Tom Tharp of Tom's Turbo Garage is at it again, stuffing an LS engine in a place GM never intended one to go.

You may remember when Tom did shoehorned a Chevrolet Performance LS376/525 HP LS3 crate engine and a Tremec T-56 Magnum six-speed in a 2004 Mazda Miata. If you don't, you can see the entire Project Thunderbolt build at our OnAllCylinders blog.

Mar 29, 2019

Ask Away with Jeff Smith: Setting Piston Ring Gap and 302 Ford Hop-Ups

In this month's episode of Ask Away, Jeff Smith explains the proper way to set piston ring gap and helps a guy choose the proper cam and cylinder heads for his small block Ford.

Mar 9, 2019

Watch This: Installing a Right Stuff Detailing Disc Brake Conversion Kit

That man with the wrench is Rich Bosch, proprietor of DeBoss Garage in up in Canada-land. His bread-and-butter is commercial diesel truck repair, but his passion is building anything with an engine and a throttle, and showing everyone how to build and repair their own junk on the DeBoss Garage YouTube channel.

Mar 4, 2019

Summit Racing Helps Archaeologists Find Lost Treasures of the Maya

Archaeologist Francisco Estrada-Belli is one of the world’s leading authorities on early Mayan civilization, which flourished in southern Mexico and northern Central America from 2000 B.C. to 900 A.D. You can see what he and other archaeologists found during a 2018 expedition in Lost Treasures of the Maya on the National Geographic Channel. Part One premieres tonight at 9 pm Eastern—check your local listings for exact times.

Feb 28, 2019

Ask Away with Jeff Smith: LS Chevy IIs and Using E85 with DI Engines

In this episode of Ask Away, Jeff Smith helps out a fellow gearhead with an LS engine swap in a Chevy II, and explains the benefits of ethanol-blend fuels in a late model LT1 with a direct injection (DI) fuel injection system. The man just gives and gives.

Feb 13, 2019

Chevelle Restomod Unveiled in Georgia

Allow us the elaborate on the rather cryptic headline. Our Retail Super Store in McDonough, Georgia, played host to the public unveiling of a 1969 Chevelle restomod on Tuesday, February 12.

Built by Mark Engels of Atlanta Auto Restoration for owner David Hamilton, the car started life as a lowly Malibu. Engels did a total frame-off restoration, plugged a build 402 cubic inch big block under the hood, and added some styling touches from the '71 Chevelle SS model, including the famous stripes.

Want to learn more about the car? Of course you do. Check out the story at our OnAllCylinders blog, and watch this video of the actual unveiling.

Jan 31, 2019

Ask Away with Jeff Smith: Curing Wheel Hop, Fuel System Woes, and Stumbling Carburetors

In this round of Ask Away, Jeff Smith helps cure wheel hop, troubleshoots fuel systems, and explains why a carburetor is not always the cause for an engine stumble.

News You Can Use