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Monthly Archives: August 2022

  1. Low Road - 2021+ Ford Bronco 2.3L/2.7L Performance Stock Location Intercooler R&D, Part 4 - 2.3L Dyno Results

    Low Road - 2021+ Ford Bronco 2.3L/2.7L Performance Stock Location Intercooler R&D, Part 4 - 2.3L Dyno Results

    Deep in the bowels of every EcoBoost engine is a penned-up herd of wild horses dying to run free. These ponies are destined to stretch their legs, but Ford's quest for a comfy, affordable off-road machine forces some of the herd back into the stable. Luckily, we have the right tool to break them free to join the pack and maybe even add a few more to the 2.3L's numbers.

    To find out how enticing our intercooler is to the wild horses living under the hood of the 2.3L powered Bronco, we needed to run some tests, starting on our flow bench. Our SuperFlow Dynamics SF-1020 is packed with an array of air pumps and complex metering tools that help us determine how well the charged air will flow through our improved core. Make sure you head to our equipment profile to learn more about our

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  2. Cool Cousins - Toyota Tacoma and FJ Cruiser Transmission Cooler R&D, Part 2 - FJ Cruiser Design Plans and Prototyping

    Cool Cousins - Toyota Tacoma and FJ Cruiser Transmission Cooler R&D, Part 2 - FJ Cruiser Design Plans and Prototyping

    Toyota's toughness isn't just limited to the multifaceted pick-up trucks in their lineup. Some of these trucks developed super-specific skills like navigating challenging terrain without breaking a sweat. Enter the FJ Cruiser. This towering off-roader might not share the same skeleton as its pick-up cousin, the Tacoma, but both of these trucks share the same beating heart dispersing power and traction to dominate dunes, crawl through crevasses, and ford raging rivers, all of which are not places you'd want your transmission to give out.

    Unlike the utilitarian-based Tacomas, the FJ Cruiser lacks the external support for maintaining transmission fluid temperatures. Both platforms utilize a heat exchanger built into the radiator's cold-side end tank, which manages the automatic transmission fluid,

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  3. Remember your Roots - 2022+ Subaru VB WRX Performance Intake Kit R&D, Part 1 - Stock Review and Design Plans

    Remember your Roots - 2022+ Subaru VB WRX Performance Intake Kit R&D, Part 1 - Stock Review and Design Plans

    The WRX will forever be an enthusiast car. While the initial reactions to the latest iteration of Subaru's sporty sedan we're as gleaming as they once were, the essence of what made this namesake legendary still lurks under the slick new styling, layers of tech, and plush comfort features. The turbocharged flat-four mated to a full-time AWD system that still powers the WRX today is why it rumbled its way into our hearts and many of our driveways. As this rally racing legend evolved into the VB platform, however, some of those rambunctious roots were forgotten along the way, but we hope to jog its memory.

    Some things never change. Like how Subaru hasn't strayed from its boxer engine layout since its introduction, we enthusiasts often start our automotive attitude adjustment with

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  4. Cool Cousins - Toyota Tacoma and FJ Cruiser Transmission Cooler R&D, Part 1 - Tacoma Design Plans and Prototyping

    Cool Cousins - Toyota Tacoma and FJ Cruiser Transmission Cooler R&D, Part 1 - Tacoma Design Plans and Prototyping

    The toughest trucks on the planet are typically sporting a Toyota badge. The Hilux might be the model responsible for Toyota's rugged reputation, but that same DNA runs through the oil passages of the trucks we see on and off the roads here in the States. Specifically, the multifaceted Tacoma has become our crowd favorite, from commuting to the office to hauling you and all of your things across the wilderness. While plenty of things make all of this possible, the transmission is the driving force to accomplishing these tasks, so keeping the drivetrain in good health is imperative.

    Extreme heat is the enemy to any component driving the Tacoma, especially the transmission. The fluid running through the planetary gears and clutch packs pulls double duty between cooling and lubricating the long

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