2016 Top Infographic Posts (Year in Review)

Editor’s Note: Time flies when you’re having fun. As we close out another year, we’re spending the last week of 2016 looking at our top stories of the year. Today, we’re re-examining some of our most-read, most-popular infographic posts of the year.

Torque Sequence Guides for GM, Ford & Chrysler Engines

Unless you’ve blown a head gasket due to getting it wrong, or was schooled by a trusted tech who impressed this upon you, it’s not hard for less-informed or less-experienced DIY mechanics to undervalue or overlook the importance of torque sequence.

Your fasteners are important. Using the right amount of torque is important. And tightening head bolts in the proper order (depending on the engine) is important. Important like the difference betweeen a functioning vehicle and a non-functioning one.

Find engine torque sequence guides for GM, Ford, and Chrysler engines of many sizes here.

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Firing Squad: A Graphic Guide to Common V8/V6 Engine Firing Orders

Firing order is important because it helps evenly distribute the power strokes along the crankshaft, reducing vibration and providing smoother operation. Many engine- and ignition-related projects and repair jobs require that you know the cylinder numbering and firing order of your engine.

There are a lot to remember, so we assembled the most common ones in one place.

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Axle ID: A Quick Guide to Identifying Common Rear Axles

The ability to identify a vehicle’s rear axle is a handy skill — especially when scouring junkyards for replacement axles or evaluating potential project vehicles. We put together a visual guide to help you hone your rear axle spotting skills.

Rear axles can sometimes be identified by a casting number and date stamped on the differential cover or axle tube. However, road debris, dirt, grime, and general age can obscure these numbers and make them unreadable. Fortunately, you can tell a lot about rear axles by their shape and number of bolts on the differential housing.

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Vac Visual: Quick Guide to Vacuum Gauge Readings

Engine vacuum gauges are extremely valuable tools.

By measuring vacuum under different engine loads and conditions, you can track down problems within your engine and make necessary adjustments or repairs. The key is having a reliable engine vacuum gauge and knowing how to read it properly.

We made a chart of common gauge readings to help you better understand what your vacuum gauge is telling you.

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Ride Guides: A Quick Guide to Identifying Early Model Pontiac GTOs

In its fairly short lifespan (from 1964-74), the GTO left an indelible mark on the American automotive scene. Although Pontiac would resurrect the GTO name in 2004, we think true American hot rodders (and those who fancy themselves hot rodders) should be well versed in those first 10 years of the Pontiac GTO. As a public service, we put together this quick guide identifying various early model Goats.