Got questions?

            We’ve got the answers—Mondays when the Summit Racing tech department tackles your automotive-related conundrums. This week, we’re talking cylinder heads and Chevy S10 upgrades..

From: Gary Button • San Clemente, CA
Q: I have a 1963 Corvette with a 327. It produces around 300 horsepower, but I want to bump it up a bit. Should I use aluminum or iron heads? Which will give me the biggest power gains? I’ve been told to use heads with 65cc combustion chambers, 2.02-inch/1.60-inch intake/exhaust valves, and 1.6-ratio rocker arms. What do you think?

 
A: To get the biggest bang for your buck, equip your Corvette with aluminum cylinder heads. They tend to make more power than their iron counterparts and you can still run pump gas. The 65cc combustion chambers and 2.02-inch/1.60-inch intake/exhaust valves are perfect for your application and the 1.6-ratio rocker arms will generate good top-end power. A pair of Edelbrock Performer cylinder heads (EDL-60909) will produce the gains you’re looking for at a price that can’t be beat. They’re made from lightweight A-356 aluminum and come fully assembled with high performance internals.

 
From: Jackie Childers • Ridgeland, SC
Q: I want to add more horsepower to my 1997 Chevy S10. It has a 4.3L Vortech engine and an automatic transmission. What upgrades do you suggest?

A: You’ve picked a popular truck for upgrades! You have hundreds of parts and accessories to choose from, but you can start by adding three essential power-building components.

Swap out your stock air box for a K&N High-Flow intake (KNN-57-3017-2). It increases airflow for better acceleration and is backed by a manufacturer’s million mile warranty. Next, hook up your pickup with a Summit Racing cat-back exhaust system (SUM-680031). The three-inch aluminized steel system will reduce exhaust flow restriction and increase overall power. Lastly, tune your mods for maximum performance with a Hypertech Power Programmer III (HYP-370202). Just plug it into your OBDII port, pick a tune, and feel the power!

Next time you crave horsepower, enter your vehicle specs into the Make/Model search at SummitRacing.com—with over 3,300 ‘92 S10 parts to choose from, you’ll never have a project shortage.

 

 

Be sure to use a pushrod length checker to find the proper rods to go with your aftermarket heads.