Monthly Archives: December 2019

  1. Still a Class Act - Direct Fit Catch Can R&D, Part 2 - Production Sample and Test Results

    Still a Class Act - Direct Fit Catch Can R&D, Part 2 - Production Sample and Test Results

    Physical health is key for any athlete's performance. The same applies to anything mechanical, such as the Audi B9. Just as our bodies have defenses against sickness, the B9 S4 and S5 came equipped with a robust system to mitigate the effects of blow-by. However, as we went over in our last post, this separator might need some backup.

    When we last left off, our in-house fabricated prototype made its way onto our donor S5 and was ready for our standard 1000-mile road test. This test provides us with a benchmark on the rate of blow-by collection while also being the final check against any dreaded check engine lights.

    While our kit was on its inaugural test run, Jason worked on the final touches to make sure this system looked right at home under the hood of the B9. Thanks to our in-house fabrication abilities there wasn't that much on the to-do list.

    For starters, this is a complex system with the PCV lines tying back into the intake system in multiple locations and the inclusion of two

    Continue Reading »
  2. Rival Nature's Power - Intercooler Pipe R&D, Part 6: Dyno Testing

    Rival Nature's Power - Intercooler Pipe R&D, Part 6: Dyno Testing

    As the Jeep pulled onto the Dynojet, our anticipation grew. Would the increased flow equate to more power, or would our pipe fall flat? We removed the stock intercooler pipe from the JL and installed our free-flowing cast-aluminum replacement. We strapped down the Jeep and fired it up.

    Last time we saw our 2018+ JL performance intercooler pipe, we were finishing our flow testing. The flow bench showed that our 3D printed prototype flowed 27% more air than the stock pipe. We expected our cast aluminum pipe to flow a little better, but when we tested our production sample, we were surprised by just how much better. Thanks to the smoother interior of the cast aluminum, our production sample flowed over 36% better than the stock pipe. But, as we saw with our 2018+ JL intake, more flow doesn't always translate to more power.

    To see if all the extra flow would translate to more power, we needed to

    Continue Reading »
  3. Keep Oil out of your Intake - Oil catch Can R&D, Part 4 - 2018+ Update

    Keep Oil out of your Intake - Oil catch Can R&D, Part 4 - 2018+ Update

    The automotive world never stands still, both literally and figuratively. Technology is always improving and evolving to produce mountains of power with maximum efficiency. Back during the Mustang's inception, all it took was a massive V8 and just enough traction to make it to the finish line in order to blow your socks off. These days, however, drivers want a muscle car that can do more than flex. They want it to be flexible. With over 50 years of engineering, Ford has been able to outrun most issues that keep their Mustang confined, except one"blow-by.

    In 2015, Ford brought us the most modern Mustang yet. It was a familiar 5.0L powerplant, but we finally saw some much needed 21st century touches, like independent rear suspension for example. Ford went even further with the 2018 refresh, giving the old name an even more futuristic look.

    The combination of the revised fascia, updated headlights, and longer hood give Ford's classic silhouette its most modern outfit yet. The challenge for

    Continue Reading »