ASPHALT/DIRT CRATE ENGINES

Ron Stanislawczyk of RCS has been involved in Late Model Circle Track racing in both asphalt and dirt for the past 30 years. RCS's experience lies with big and small block engines, carbureted and injected engines, alcohol, E85, 390 cfm engines, restricted plate engines, 350 & 500- 2 barrel engines, and popular today the GM and Ford Crate engines.

UNDERSTANDING

We understand that when you research to purchase an engine you want to do business with people that understand not only how to make power, but also make a power band and how to implement it to a particular track and or driver.

WHY CHOOSE RCS

Those persons that feel their newly purchased Crate engine from GM or Ford will allow them to compete with the top runners, or that they have just as much power as the top runners have, are kidding themselves. Racers have always wanted as much power at their beck-en-call they can get for many reasons. If the setup is off for the night, the added power down the straightaway can help compensate and at least keep you in contention or hold your position. There are two types of power, advertised Dyno power and the accelerating power that comes out of the car on the track. You can have two of the same types of engines creating the same Dyno power, but will run entirely different to each other on the track. If everyone is using the same engines supposedly, then why is there such a noticeable difference in car's performances? Many racers will say it's the chassis, yes in many cases it can be as well as the drive. All things being equal you would expect the same results, but not true. Things are not equal on the track, knowledge and skill is what makes the difference. Total power, accelerating power (two different things), torque, rpm band, the exhaust system (from one end to the other), gearing and air box are the areas we focus on and so should you. Most teams are not knowledgeable enough about all these areas and how they all have to work together.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO

If the new engine you purchased has more power then your old one did and the car's straightaway entrance speed is greater, what should you do? Slow the car down to drive through the corner based on your current setup or readjust the setup based on the car's new entry speed? Although circle track racing has to two straightaways you just can't use that new power for just drag racing down them. You should make the chassis setup work with this new entrance speed, although the physics that support controlling the car can only be mastered by understanding the car’s chassis and geometry to achieve this. That being said a balance between the two would make a huge improvement.

We have seen so many drivers in the past brake their cars harder or get off the throttle earlier than they normally would entering the corner due to the higher speeds down the straightaway. We feel that many drivers when they experience an increase in car speed on the straightaway, mainly because it’s different they lose their depth perception as to where they are on the track and how fast the car is actually moving and the perception of how much distance (feet per second) the car is traveling in given second of time.

Driver's that don't increase their corner speeds find it difficult to commit to hard throttle coming off the corner due to the added power and acceleration affecting their exit speeds. We feel the faster the corner speed the faster the straightaway speed is. Yes there are limiting factors to all of this, but the racer that takes advantage of the whole track makes everyone else scratch their heads walking away as the winner.

With added entrance speed different springs and shock rates are required to deal with increased forces being applied to the tires, while this added weight transfer also affects sway bar adjustments and bar rates as well. In most cases it’s not that hard to get a handle on a new setup, small changes in the setup can make big differences on the track and in many cases a slight change in driving techniques brings it all together.

COVERING IT ALL

In the unrestricted engine classes with 800-900 Hp RCS has the supported technology, experience and facility to make their customers winners.

In the lower power restricted classes where the GM 604 and the Ford D347SR Crate Engine is being used customers can start with a new or used engine. You can then have it Blueprinted by RCS and with both the Fords and GM Crates you see a generous increase of power and controlled acceleration when committing off the corner. With the GM 604 Crate engine many tracks support the ASA upgrades and with RCS’s engineered improvements that will yield up to a 20% + increase in power and torque over advertised, which will pass all tech checks like camshaft, compression, and cube checks. Similar combinations were applicable are also available for the Ford Crate engines.

We also inform our customers how to gain as much power and accelerating power from the air intake box down to the end of the exhaust system. Accelerating Hp and torque is what moves the car, without it you'll never get off the corner fast enough to reach your needed straightway speed. When trying to move as much air through the engine at low engine speeds as possible for torque and accelerating power the exhaust play's a huge rule in saying when it's going to happen.

Choosing the correct exhaust for the power band is an art, just putting some pipes through the car, or buying just a selection of tubing, elbows and Y's while sticking any old muffler under the car won't cut it. Exhaust systems with the Crate engines should be tailored to the driver, track and car setup and should start with a good engine Dyno tuning session first before choosing the best exhaust system.

WHAT YOU GET

When purchasing a RCS Racing Engine they are fully assembled and Dyno tested for leaks, mechanical operations and tuned for max power. Each engine comes with an assembly warranty, which covers any workmanship performed by RCS for a period of one year. Part and related labor from part failure warranties if applicable would be warranted by the part manufactures if accepted.