Page 19 - Engineering

It's safe to say that a large majority of excursions don't just happen on a whim. There are months of plotting the route, researching the terrain, and gathering the supplies needed to survive the rugged wilderness. In essence, one does not traverse the Amazon or climb K2 on a random weekend in May. There needs to be some more thought put into the journey.

That is, of course, unless you're driving a Ranger. That is the idea behind this truck, after all, to add a little more spontaneity to your daily life. Even though Ford engineered this truck with traversing the great outdoors in mind, it still requires a little extra planning and modification to make sure those spur-of-the-moment adventures go according to plan. Much like explorers of the world, we're not setting off on our snorkel journey without a path in mind.

For us here in the States, the Ranger is making its return home after almost a decade abroad. The 2019+ Ranger is a brand new truck, both figuratively and literally,

Our 2007-2009 Nissan 350Z VQ35HR Baffled Oil Catch Can Kit is now available for purchase! Click the link to get yours today, and make sure to keep reading for more information about our final kit and product testing.

Baffled Oil Catch Can Kit, fits Nissan 350Z VQ35HR, 2007-2009

A few months and a thousand miles, that's what it takes to elevate our 2007-2009 Nissan 350Z catch can kit from a one-time bit to a full-fledged superstar. For most celebrities, it takes years to land the role that finally makes their career; but the time has come for the 350Z kit. Before our catch can kit walks the red carpet, let's look back at its earlier work.

When we last left

If you remove the body from your 2011-2019 Ford F-Series Super Duty, you'll be left with less of a truck chassis and more of a factory. This assembly line is spec'd out for one product, made to order torque shipments, and you're the primary customer. Like a non-truck-based factory, the process is a group effort, with every component depending on each other to create the final product. The 6R140 TorqShift transmission mated to the 6.7L Powerstroke is the torque factory's distribution wing, and we felt that it was time for an expansion.

It's no secret that Ford's Super Duty trucks are towering metal machines, which require massive amounts of cooling. The stock liquid-to-liquid transmission cooler provides adequate cooling in a compact package, but it has its limitations. Some Powerstrokes need extra cooling power, especially when it comes to towing or hauling a heavy payload. We already went over this concept in our last post, so let's dive into our final production-level transmission

It's the end of a journey for our C8 Corvette catch can, both figuratively and literally. We've reached the end of our R&D process and completed over 1000 miles on our road test. Let's dive in and see where this journey has taken us.

As the saying goes, "it's not the destination, but rather the experiences gained along the way." For our C8 Corvette catch can kit, it's a little bit of both. If you remember the last post, our donor vehicle left the R&D facility sporting a matching set of our baffled oil catch cans; but if you scroll down, you'll notice one is missing now. The reason for the change comes down to our testing results.

The 2017+ Ford F-150 EcoBoost would be like if a diehard endurance runner had a baby with a bodybuilder. Both disciplines are on almost opposite sides of the athletic spectrum, yet every variant of Ford designed its twin-turbo V6 to run a marathon while also doing barbell curls. If there's one function that both of these athletes rely on, it's controlled-breathing. In either case, each athlete won't make it very far, both figuratively and literally, if there's not a constant flow of fresh air to their lungs. The same could be said about the EcoBoost. Increasing their lung capacity works wonders in terms of strength and endurance for each of these trucks' hearts. That's why we're developing a performance air intake for the 2017+ Ford F-150 and all of its EcoBoost engines.

First, however, we need to understand the OEM intake system fully. So, we started our process with a closer look at the intake system from our 2020 Raptor.

No matter the size, shape, or purpose of your vehicle, keeping engine oil temperatures in check is vital. However, some vehicles, like the 6.7L Powerstroke, require a little more cooling power. The stock liquid-to-liquid cooler is adequate for most Ford F-series owners. Yet, these types of coolers have their faults and limitations, which we're already improving on.

When we last left off, we developed our prototype block-off plate to ensure a leak-free connection to our new oil cooler. Since our last post, our plate has received a makeover for an even better look.

With the block-off plate complete, our engineer set their focus

It's no secret that the 2.3L EcoBoost powered 2019+ Ford Ranger is chock-full of potential. On and off-road, Ford's mid-size pickup with the heart of a turbo Mustang packs the necessary grunt for the highway and the trails. If we learned anything from our experience with the EcoBoost Mustang, though, it's that a robust intercooling system is key for big power. Since our plan is already in place for the Ranger's intercooler, we're diving into the piping system to fortify the Ranger's intercooler kit further.

Overall, Ford's take on intercooler piping is relatively robust. There's much less plastic than we would typically find on

To many, Hondas are blank canvases. For years, enthusiasts of all kinds have found the Accord to be an ideal base for their unique brushstrokes of modification. Given the tenth generation's addition of forced induction, it comes as no surprise that this Accord is also popular among tuners. Every build starts with a vision, though, and our intercooler project is no exception. We might only be in the sketching phase of our next masterpiece, but we're eager to share the plans.

We have our work cut out for us to improve on the Accord's intercooler design. Specifically, the space available to us is extremely limited. In Honda's never-ending quest for driver safety and comfort, every Accord model comes with Honda Sensing as standard equipment. That's all well and good for the driving experience but less than ideal for us since the radar sensor is mounted very close to the OEM intercooler. In short, this sensor doesn't leave us much room to expand core thickness.

And we're back. We couldn't just mention reality makeover shows without building the tension somehow. It's the unforgettable two-part season finale for the MK7's radiator overhaul, and since I'm sure you're already brimming with anticipation, let's dive right in.

Previously on the Mishimoto Engineering Blog, we left you with the first look at our design in its prototype form, along with some questions about the flow pattern. How many passes will the coolant make through our new design? Hang around to find out. But first, our production sample is in the house, and we're eager to show it off.

Here it is in all its shiny, all-aluminum glory. When we say all-aluminum, we mean it. This