Engines & Components - �ֲ��ý is the Tuner's Source for Modified Car Culture since 1999

HKS Releases G16E 1.75L Low-Comp Step 3 Closed-Deck Short Block

2026-07-21T16:13:43+00:00

Images Courtesy of HKS USA

HKS has expanded its lineup of G16E engine components with the release of the new G16E 1.75L LOW-COMP STEP3 CLOSED-DECK short block for the G16E-GTS engine.

The assembled short block features HKS’ BCD Piston Full Kit G16E 1.75L LOW-COMP STEP3 and adopts a closed-deck design to help minimize cylinder deformation under high combustion pressure. To compensate for changes in cooling water flow created by the closed-deck layout, HKS machines the water jackets for optimized coolant flow and adds an additional cooling water jacket around cylinder No. 2 for use with the company’s Grommet Head Gasket SUPER COOLING Pro.

HKS also machines the deck surface to improve flatness, performs cylinder boring to improve cylindricity, and thoroughly cleans the main oil gallery after machining to help reduce the risk of engine trouble.

The short block uses HKS machined low-compression BCD pistons, STEP3 high-strength machined I-beam connecting rods, and a machined chrome steel full-counter crankshaft. According to HKS, the connecting rods provide a 25 percent increase in strength over the OEM components while improving torque capacity.

The assembly also uses ACL main and connecting rod bearings, with HKS specifying the main bearings for excellent load capacity.

Displacement increases from the factory 1,618 cc to 1,746 cc through an 88.0 mm bore and 95.7 mm stroke. HKS notes that the factory balance shafts cannot be used with this setup and recommends HKS Racing Pro 10W50 engine oil.

HKS also recommends pairing the short block with its Grommet Head Gasket SUPER COOLING Pro and HEAD STUDS KIT Pro when building a complete engine package.

For more information, visit hksusa.com.

Ford Power Meets Performance: New Megazilla 2.0 and Coyote Crate Engines

2025-01-30T19:22:41+00:00

Ford Performance is shaking up the crate engine market with two high-powered, street-legal options that live up to the brand’s no-boring-products philosophy. Enter the supercharged 7.3-liter Megazilla™ 2.0 V8 and the supercharged 5.0-liter Coyote V8—two engines designed for enthusiasts who crave maximum horsepower.

For those looking to unleash serious power, the Megazilla 2.0 is a beast. Equipped with forged pistons, steel crank, and ported cylinder heads, it’s boosted by a Gen 6 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger. The result? A projected 1,000+ horsepower—perfect for high-performance builds like desert racers or dragstrip machines. But be warned: it’s a competition-only engine.

On the street side, the 5.0-liter Coyote V8, lifted from the Mustang Dark Horse, gets a supercharger upgrade, plus a reprogrammed powertrain control module. The result is over 800 horsepower and 615 lb.-ft. of torque, perfect for both straight-line speed and corner carving on the track. What’s more, it’s street legal and backed by a 2-year/24,000-mile warranty for peace of mind.

Both crate engines come with easy installation, thanks to an intuitive control pack harness, and feature race-ready components, making them perfect for building your dream car.

The Megazilla 2.0 and supercharged Coyote will be available through Ford dealers or Ford Performance Parts in Q4 2025. Get ready to elevate your ride.

Kelford Cams Valve Springs for 2017+ 3.0L EcoBoost V6

2024-09-13T16:18:36+00:00

Kelford Cams’ high-performance PACALOY beehive valve spring and Titanium Retainer Kit for 2017+ 3.0L Ford EcoBoost engines provides a critical upgrade for enthusiasts pushing their builds to the next level. Featuring 110lb intake and 128lb exhaust seat pressures, the kit ensures consistent valve control under high-RPM conditions, reducing the risk of valve float while maintaining optimal performance. The progressively wound design offers improved durability and longevity, even under the demanding stress of aggressive lift profiles. With coil bind at 24mm, this kit maximizes lift potential, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a reliable, high-revving solution without sacrificing stability.

For more information, visit KelfordCams.com

Brian Crower Mazda MZR / Ford Duratec Cams

2023-04-12T16:37:40+00:00

Brian Crower has released Mazda MZR VVT / Ford Duratec cams ground from semi core that maintains stock base circle and factory valve train geometry.

Fits the Mazda MX-5 Miata (NC) and Ford Focus with the 2.0L LF-VE.

Also fits:
2.0L LF-DE, LF-VD
2.3L L3-VE, L3-NS, L3-DE
2.5L L5-VE

For more options, and more information, visit BrianCrower.com

Ford F-150 5.0L Supercharger Tuner Kit by Vortech Superchargers

2023-03-06T09:44:22+00:00

Vortech Superchargers continues with their domination of power adders for the Coyote engine platform with the release of a 2021 Ford F-150 Tuner Kit for the 5.0L engine. This latest Centrifugal Supercharger kit can take your F-150 to the next level of performance and standout in the popular truck crowd. Utilizing the proven V-3 Si-Trim supercharger and an air-to-air charge cooler, the F-150 Tuner kit can boost your stock 5.0L to an average estimated 606HP and 596 LB/FT Torque with 8-10 PSI using CA 91 Octane fuel. With over 30 years experience building well engineered, efficient, and reliable Superchargers, Vortech has your Ford F-150 5.0L covered. Complete systems and other model year applications are forthcoming. 2021 Ford F-150 5.0L Tuner Kit Features Include:

V-3 Si-Trim Supercharger (Self-Lubricated) with 3.40” Drive Pulley
Billet Aluminum and Steel Supercharger Mounting Bracket Assembly includes Idlers, Drive Belt, and all High-Grade Hardware
Air Inlet Assembly includes Mandrel bent 3.5” Aluminum Tubing, High Flow Roto Molded Duct which mates to OEM air box and some aftermarket CAI assemblies, Silicone Sleeves and Reducers and Stainless-Steel Clamps
Discharge Components includes Welded Air to Air Charge Cooler, Mandrel Bent 3” Aluminum Dis charge Tubes, Silicone Sleeves & Stainless-Steel Clamps and Recirculating Bypass Valve
Optional Maxflow Race Blow Off Valve Upgrade Assemblies Available

Part Numbers:

P/N 4FV218-110L- Satin Finish- MSRP $7,348.99
P/N 4FV218-114L- Black Finish-MSRP $7,733.99
P/N 4FV218-118L- Polished Finish- MSRP $7,733.99

Optional Maxflow Race BOV P/N’s:

P/N 4FV212-100- Race BOV Upgrade Assy- Satin Finish- MSRP $742.99
P/N 4FV212-104- Race BOV Upgrade Assy- Black Finish- MSRP $768.99

Visit VortechSupercharger.com for more information.

Unitronic Shatters Expectations with Performance Software for Mk8 VW Golf R/GTI Platforms

2022-12-12T18:14:24+00:00

What if we told you that gaining an extra 100 horsepower and torque was attainable in 5 minutes, and you could do it from the comfort of your own home? It may sound too good to be true, but Unitronic came to us to deliver the good news.

Unitronic Performance ECU & TCU Software is now available for the MK8 GTI, MK8 Golf R and 8Y S3 equipped with the 2.0TSI EVO4 engine and DQ381.2 7-speed DSG transmission. They're the first on the market with an off-the-shelf ready tune for the platform, and the results are downright impressive. Gains of +109 horsepower and +100 lb-ft were achievedon the Mk8 Golf R with Unitronic Stage 1+ 93octane/98ron Performance Software, for a maximum of 446 HP / 410 lb-ft. Power outputs on the Mk8 GTI are increased by up to +95 horsepower and +93 lb-ftwith Unitronic Stage 1+ 93octane/98ron Performance Software for a maximum of 361 HP / 377 lb-ft.

As if the numbers weren't impressive enough, the fact you can do this yourself with the Unitronic UniCONNECT+ cable from the comfort of your own home in 5 minutes is part of what makes this so great for enthusiasts! Forget taking your almost stock car to a professional tuner and shelling out even more money to unlock your car's potential once you already have the parts.

With extensive experience with SIMOS controllers found in modern VW and Audi vehicles, Unitronic Engineers wasted no time recalibrating the SIMOS 19.6 ECU found in the MK8 GTI, Golf R and 8Y S3 to achieve optimal performance through an increase in boost, optimized ignition timing, lambda, camshaft timing, and much more. R&D continued with further dyno, track, and road testing while closely monitoring running conditions through high-speed data logging tools and equipment to ensure maximum performance is achieved, while maintaining complete OEM-like reliability and drivability. Part of ensuring OEM-like reliability meant extra attention was paid to turbocharger shaft speed, exhaust manifold absolute pressure, intake pressure, and many more factors that were monitored closely.

Since they are constantly collecting data, Unitronic often discovers a vehicle's choke point in the pursuit of power. In the case of the 2.0TSI MQB EVO4 engines, Unitronic found the factory intercooler quickly heat soaks and loses its ability to keep charge air temperature at reasonable levels before the ECU's logic intervenes to reduce output based on IATs being too high. Luckily, they're also in the business of replacing hardware parts too.

Performance Software results are made possible in part by the Unitronic Intercooler Upgrade, which is required to achieve the advertised power figures. The graph below compares horsepower and torque from Unitronic's 8Y S3 before and after adding Unitronic's Intercooler Upgrade. As you can see, simply adding the Unitronic Intercooler Upgrade significantly reduced charge air temperatures and unlocked +35 horsepower/+23 lb-ft.

The modern SIMOS 19.x ECU's, similar to those found in previous generations, are highly intelligent controllers that can effectively adapt to environmental and operational data collected from the system's sensors to ensure an unmatched level of reliability in ever-changing conditions. Unitronic Engineers further enhance these models to ensure an unmatched OEM-like level of reliability without compromise, while simultaneously engineering hardware upgrades that will solve critical short-comings present with the factory hardware. Similarly, Unitronic's Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake System with Air Duct and upcoming Cat-Back Exhaust Systems for the MK8 GTI, MK8 Golf R, and 8Y S3 will address air-flow restrictions both on the pre-compressor intake side, providing an increase in compressor efficiency and exhaust side of the turbocharger with a backpressure reduction.

With these upgrades combined, Unitronic Engineers were able to achieve increased performance and boost pressures through reducing turbocharger shaft speed made possible only with its expertly engineered performance hardware that functionally and aesthetically performs to the absolute maximum. With such, Unitronic ECU Performance Software calibrations are engineered to stay safely within the maximum turbocharger speed limits, because exceeding maximum turbo shaft speed limits can reduce the life and reliability of the turbocharger.

Unitronic Engineers also quickly identified gearbox torque limitations on the TCU side of the DQ381.2 gearbox. In order to overcome these limitations while ensuring proper torque management and clutch operation, TCU Performance Software is required. Unitronic Stage 1 TCU Performance Software was developed to improve your overall driving experience with adjustments including an increased torque limiter, advanced torque management, adjustable launch control, optimized gear shift points, quicker shifts, and gear display enabled. At the moment, only DQ381.2 gearboxes with BLvXXXX0301 are currently tunable through the OBD2 port with support for the newer TCUs with BLvXXXX0401 in the works.

If you have a vehicle with the latter TCU, Unitronic offers both Stage 1 and Stage 1+ ECU Performance Software suitable for safe use with the stock TCU calibration in a limited torque format with Stage 1+ for 93 octane fuel on a MK8 Golf R or 8Y S3 making 430 horsepower / 377 lb-ft. Once support is unlocked for the latter TCU types, you'll be able to purchase Unitronic TCU Performance Software with a $150 DSG Combo Discount, and use their Stage 1 and Stage 1+ ECU Calibrations engineered for use with their Stage 1 TCU Calibrations to unleash your vehicle's full potential.

For users with access to a prepped surface or with drag radials/slicks who think they can handle a bit more on the launch, not only does Unitronic have TCU calibrations with increased torque on launch available, but you can utilize their Adjustable Launch Control to choose between 3500rpm and 4000rpm setpoints. The higher 4000rpm launch control setpoint is engaged with the kickdown button at the end of the accelerator pedal travel. It's important to note that it doesn't stop here for the Unitronic development team as they're committed and anxiously looking forward to getting the dev cars back to the track in the near future to continue to push onward in their never-ending pursuit to further improve on results and welcome feedback, data, and information from their customers all over the globe.

For more information, visit @unitronic and www.getunitronic.com.

Project KICS - NEODYMIUM Magnetic Drain bolt

2022-11-16T20:45:06+00:00

A high quality and simple replacement for the oil drain plug of Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Mazda, and Nissan/Infiniti. The Project KICS NEODYMIUM magnetic drain bolt is a stylish and simple upgrade for any import vehicle.

For more information, visit Mackin-Ind.com

Engines & Components - �ֲ���ý is the Tuner's Source for Modified Car Culture since 1999