Kimmy’s garage would like to highlight Justen Spencer of Twisted Modular Racing:
Justen’s first encounter with racing down the 1320′ was at one of the largest door car races on the West Coast, the Streetcar Super Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After 2 days of qualifying his ’88 daily-driven stick shift mustang, he pulled off a first round win in Mustang Madness. The victory was even sweeter with his father in attendance, making it a family affair. Justen knew he was meant to race “once I felt the rush of emotions, and the elation of accomplishment that goes along with a successful round”.
They didn’t make it through to the next round, after missing a shift in the very car that would later be the vessel their team used to accomplish many victories. Though that round was the last round of the event, both Justen and his father showed their commitment by watching and completing that weekend. Little did they know, their future was to be filled with countless wins and numerous championships.
“The unique partnership we share with Aerospace Components has been a huge contributor to our continued success at the track. When it comes to staging in a class where reaction time is ‘make or break’, my control of the car has vastly improved with the addition of their manual master cylinder and set of 4-piston drag racing brakes on all 4 corners. Control allows us to dial down to the thousandths of a second in reaction time, to qualify at the top of the field or when lining up next to the heavy hitters in later rounds of competition” says Justen Spencer.
Justen states there’s always a second reason why they do this; the camaraderie and level of competition shown to us by the race-track family! “Whether I’m lining up against my long time rival Brent Calvert, or good family friend Dwane Cress, there will always be that family and friend atmosphere off the track and an overwhelming urge to win once you pass the ready line”, Justen mentions of the friendships he’s made during his racing career. This balance is something they’ve come to love and expect from everyone in the racing community. Justen continues, “And, Aerospace Components embodies this exact race track dynamic, making them one of the most grass-roots oriented motorsports companies out there”.
“We are thrilled having Twisted Modular Racing and Justen Spencer as part of our Aerospace Components Team!” says Kim Kussy of Aerospace.
Kimmy’s Garage would like to highlight John Schaeffer on today’s blog:
John’s journey to racing began one day as he was brainstorming with his brother, Josh. They wanted to spend time together and try for the Nitrous SBE record, all with a budget build. They purchased a stock LS1 from a local junkyard and started the process by cutting weight out of the car every free night they had after work, which meant going through several drills and cutting wheels. “We basically called it red car night, every Monday night, where we would work on the car and eat BBQ” states John as he reflects on that time.
The car nicknamed “the JUICE” made some impressive times with a 10.8 NA and a mid 10s NO spray with a heads cam and nitrous combo. After selling that motor set up at the end of the season, John had a Trans Am they raced in the Rumble series of the GM Performance Parts races and always competed in the 9.50 index class with a 408 Nitrous Combo from Nitrous Outlet. After 3 years of racing, the Trans Am was featured in the GM HIGH-TECH magazine “which is any car guys dream come true”, says John.
After watching a Drag Radial and Real Street cars racing at an event, they decided it was time to race with those classes! They began to fit the JUICE for the Real Street class. They partnered with ShoMeSpeed who helped them with tuning and acquiring whatever parts they would need and became a part of Team ShoMeSpeed.
After upgrading to an Infinity 8 ECU to help in controlling the engine management, they knew they would need stopping power. They called Aerospace Components to equip them with the best brakes for ‘lightning fast stopping power’!
The car last year produced a 8.1 @168 in the 1/4 mile and a 5.18 in the 1/8 mile, with a safe tune up on the nitrous. The car has been a family build that John and his brother started together and share in the enjoyment of going to different tracks and competitions; whether it is a NMCA race or Midnight drags.
This year they spent some time changing the set up to Pro Charger and are going to step it up and run Drag Radial and Street Outlaw in the NMCA. “Our partnership grew with Aerospace Components and we are testing the new Pro Eliminator shifter. We can’t wait to see how this improves our times at the track!” states John. They will be heading out to their first race at the LS Fest and are excited to see what the new combo does there.
Kimmy’s Garage would like to highlight Ron DeHoop on today’s blog:
Racing, motors, and speed have always been in Ron’s blood. He reminisces to his childhood when he would take lawn mower motors and install them on his wagons or anything else that had wheels! He always had the fastest go-kart or mini-bike in the neighborhood. This passion continued throughout high school and still remains today.
“I can still remember making my first official pass at Lions Drag Strip in 1968… I say official because I had done quite a bit of street racing prior to that” states DeHoop with a smile on his face. He took a break from racing for a few years, as he was serving our country overseas. Once he returned he focused on his family and decided to buy a flat bottom boat and tried to fill his need for speed on the water. But that wasn’t enough! In 1995 he bought the ’67 Chevelle he still owns today.
Over the past 20 years Ron has worked tirelessly to be competitive in the drag racing scene. Not only does he work hard at the track and shop, but by being present in the motorsports industry spending hours picking up sponsors and other support to improve his chances at the track. DeHoop describes his success, “With the help of sponsors, my wonderful wife Ruth, friends, and most certainly the good Lord above, I have been very blessed to have what I consider to be a very successful racing career.”
Ron also says about one of his sponsors, “Aerospace Components makes some of the best products in the world for the Motorsports enthusiast. Not only do they perform well but are beautifully made. I not only have Aerospace Components brakes on all four corners of my Race Car, I have one of their shifters installed inside as well. This is an awesome combination for anyone index racing or bracket racing. The brakes allow for a much more consistent reaction time and the shifter makes for much more consistent elapsed times. It’s a WIN, WIN situation which in turn creates wins and trips to the Aerospace Components “Winners Circle”! Doesn’t get much better than that.”
Ron has accumulated dozens of wins, a number of championships, but best of all a lot of great friends! He now enjoys the time he spends with his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and of course his 2 1/2 year old grandson who brings much joy to his life! As Ron always says: “God has been good to me and it certainly is: By Grace I Race”.
In a world with a blurred line between street and race, Aerospace Components braking systems have a clear definition. By Michael Galimi
In life we make a lot of decisions, for a gearhead one of the biggest choices when building a drag strip bound car (or truck) is to decide if it will be a racecar or street car. There are plenty of bench racing sessions that can make an excuse for a nitro Funny Car getting tagged and idled down Main Street, however when it comes to braking systems there is the proverbial line in the sand. Depending on which side of the line your vehicle sits, Aerospace Components has a specific braking system to suite its needs.
Aerospace Components has several application-specific designs for the Mustangs of any year, the latest generation Camaro, and general applications but when it comes to the type of use, the only two choices are Pro Street or Drag Race. Both types of brake systems utilize the same high quality parts like billet aluminum components, Hawk performance pads, exceed all NHRA/IHRA requirements, and all of brake kits are proudly made in the U.S.A. But the differences between Pro Street and Drag Race braking systems lie in the specifications.
Kim Kussy of Aerospace Components was kind enough to sit down with us to run through the checklist of different aspects of their braking systems. She shared that the rotors, calipers, brake pads, and mounting brackets are not the same between the two classifications. The line in the sand with Aerospace Components is the minimum weight of the vehicle, with the driver. For cars/trucks over 3,000 pounds—street or strip—the Pro Street brakes must be standard. We must note that lightweight street cars under the 3,000 pound threshold must still run Pro Street brakes; that is not negotiable. Drag Race brake systems are cleared for use under the 3,000 pounds with strip-only applications.
Beginning with the rotors, Pro Street and Drag Race have drastically different performance life as drag racing brakes help decelerate the vehicle and then the car gets a break from the action. On the street, however, the braking systems are constantly in use as the rotors heat up, cool off, heat up, cool off, etc. during the typical stop and go traffic and longer drive time. That said, Aerospace Components builds its drag racing brakes to be lightweight for the ultimate in performance and it begins with a steel plate. The drag racing rotors are thin at just 5/16-inch thick and feature dilled holes to help save rotating weight. On the Pro Street side, Aerospace Components uses a cast iron rotor with a 13/16-inch thickness and its vented through the center so air can pump through the rotor and lower the temperatures quicker between stops.
Comparing the Drag Race (left) and Pro Street (right) rotors, one can see the drastic difference in size and design. A solid steel 5/16th inch thick plate is the foundation for the lightweight racing rotors while all vehicles over 3,000 pounds will require the 13/16-inch thick rotors in the Pro Street kit.
The calipers are designed nearly identical with the Pro Street ones being slightly thicker to fit over the matching rotors. In both instances, Aerospace Component calipers use four-pistons and are made in billet aluminum. Aerospace Components also offers single and dual piston calipers for certain dedicated drag racing applications. A set of dual rear calipers, which are popular in turbo applications and foot-brake racing, are available in both street and strip formats. The caliper mounting brackets that are included in Aerospace Components brake kits are slightly different for each application in order to accommodate the slightly larger diameter rotors.
The billet aluminum calipers look nearly identical between the Pro Street and Drag Race braking systems. The major difference between the two is the overall thickness, the Pro Street rotors are thicker than the drag-only ones, and therefore the calipers are sized appropriately.
Hawk brake pads are used exclusively in all Aerospace Components brake systems and the company uses different pads depending on the application. For Drag Racing kits, a more efficient cold stopping pad has been selected and it is far more aggressive than any street brake pad. The Pro Street kits include a brake pad that has a broader heat range and it is slightly less aggressive to help prevent wear on the softer cast iron rotors.
The line in the sand sits at 3,000 pounds and Aerospace Components is firm on that threshold along with street-use requiring Pro Street brakes, regardless of the minimum weight. As some enthusiasts make excuses for a thinly veiled racecar with license plates, the braking systems from Aerospace Components aren’t open for speculation.
Aerospace Components Water Pump keeps its cool when the competition heats up By Michael Galimi
Right now—as I type this story—it is hot outside. The heat index is pegged at 101-degrees with the humidity and air temperature combined. For many racers across the country triple digit heat is a part of life during certain times of the year. Even in milder conditions, a properly operating cooling system will keep your engine running smoothly and consistently as water circulates through the engine, staving off hot-spots in the cylinder heads and block.
An integral part to the cooling system is the water pump and practically a standard in drag racing is an electric motor to turn the pump. Without a water pump the coolant (water in drag racing applications) couldn’t circulate through the engine, into the radiator to get cooled off, and back into the engine to soak in more heat. Aerospace Components has tapped into its engineering and manufacturing prowess to deliver a durable and high-functioning electric water pump.
Aerospace Components took great care in adding an electric motor that was durable and powerful but also offers a low amp draw (4 amps).
“We all know how hot it has been this summer and the pump [ed note—Aerospace Components Water Pump] is meeting those demands; it performs as good as it looks,” said noted NMCA racer Dave Theisen who competes in the competitive heads-up category of NA 10.5. His 1969 Pontiac Firebird is powered by a 611ci big-block Chevy that routinely pushes Theisen into the high 7s at nearly 175 mph.
The current line-up of Aerospace Components water pumps covers big-block Chevy, small-block Chevy, small-block Ford, the 4.6L and 5.4L Ford Modular engine families, and a universal kit. Each water pump retails in the low $400 dollar range, keeping it affordable given its exceptional capabilities, quality, and it pays back to NMRA, NMCA, and NMCA WEST racers in the form of contingency cash rewards for the winner and runner-up finishers.
The water pump is designed to clear most belt-drive systems on big-block and small-block Chevy and small-block Ford applications.
Aerospace Components Water Pumps, regardless of the application, are capable of flowing 37 gallons per hour (gph) in most applications. Obviously the line size, 12- or 16-volt electrical system, and any water restrictions will have an effect on the flow rate. The water flow pushed by the pump is sufficient to keep the engine cool during longer drive cycles and in higher horsepower applications that have high-compression or a power adder; both are contributors to higher cylinder pressures leading to greater heat production from the engine.
The electric motor that Aerospace Components includes on all of its water pump kits has a very low amperage draw of just 4 amps. Limiting the amp draw of components means it lessens the tax on the electrical system, leaving plenty of juice for other systems like throttle stops, delay boxes, massive electric fuel pumps, lights, etc. And lest you think that the low amp draw comes at the cost of the motor’s capabilities, the Aerospace Components water pump motor moves 37 gph and is rated for continuous duty.
Like so many other Aerospace Components, Al Kussy incorporated a lot of 6061 T6 billet aluminum into the water pump’s design. Every water pump setup, from its universal pump to the big-block Chevy kit, includes a 6061 T6 billet aluminum housing and impeller. Additionally, a high-performance shaft seal is utilized for longevity and durability in the harsh racing environments. Aerospace Components also includes stainless steel hardware in all of its kits.
In typical Aerospace Components fashion, high-quality 6061 T6 billet aluminum is standard in many aspects of the race part. All Aerospace Components products are Made in the U.S.A.
For those who require a remote mounted water pump or repurposing it for use in an air-to-water intercooler system, the company sells a universal kit. It has a single one-inch NPT inlet and two ¾-inch NPT outlets. For the big-block and small-block Chevy and Ford applications, Aerospace Components gives the buyer a choice for the inlet fitting size and each one of those kits clears most aftermarket camshaft belt-drive systems. NMCA West racer Ricky Deuschle said it best when he described the water pump and his other Aerospace Components products, “Boy, what a product!” He went on to tell us that as a career machinist, he is very impressed with the quality as well as the performance of all the Aerospace Components parts he runs on the family’s racecars.
How does it work in the real world? Deuschle offered a story about his recent outing at the Auto Club Speedway, which is located in Fontana, CA. The Deuschle family runs three Top Sportsman racecars and a 1969 Camaro Z/28 in Super Gas, each vehicle is equipped with virtually the entire Aerospace Components catalog of parts. This particular race weekend saw 100-degree weather in Southern California. Any experienced bracket racer knows that as elimination day wears on, the time between rounds diminishes. With just 20 minutes to cool down and prepare the cars, Deuschle said his car and his sisters’ rides were all pushing their water temperature needles to 200 degrees or more. A quick flip of a switch activated the water pump for each car and within 15 minutes the temperature dropped to a more acceptable 130 degrees. The quick cool down allowed the cars to perform without the risk of popping a head gasket or another failure from high water temperature.
The water pump might not be the latest go-fast goody like a new supercharger or a set of cylinder heads, but in the heat of racing, particularly in the summer months, keeping the engine ready for action is vital to success. That includes maintaining reasonable water temperatures through the burnout and during a pass down the quarter-mile. Additionally, running the electric pump in the pits keeps water circulating to cool down the engine before the next round of eliminations.
Aerospace Components vacuum pump systems relieve pressure and free up horsepower. By Michael Galimi
Bolt-on power adders are prevalent in the street car market as many manufacturers produce easy-to-install forced induction components and, of course, nitrous oxide systems. The results are well documented with output increases as high as several hundred horsepower. This month I checked out a bolt-on power adder of sorts, well more of a power enabler, in the form of an Aerospace Components vacuum pump kit. It doesn’t offer the kind of big improvements as a turbocharger, supercharger, or nitrous kit but it does enable your race engine to perform better. Adding a vacuum pump is a simple bolt-on component, which isn’t normally associated with a racing engine either.
An Aerospace Component vacuum pump replaces the generic open element breathers or popular valve cover-to-exhaust hoses that are designed to help pull out crankcase gases. The Aerospace Components pump is driven by the crankshaft to create vacuum to relieve those pressures more effectively and help the engine create 20 to 40 more horsepower in the process. As I said, this isn’t a power adder but a bolt-on component that enables a race engine to generate more horsepower.
Aerospace Components sells vacuum pump kits to fit most popular big-block and small-block engines as well as universal setups. The vacuum pump mounts easily to the front of the engine, is spun by the crankshaft via the supplied mandrel and lower pulley setup, and a breather tank collects the spent gases and retains discarded oil.
“The pump does is exactly what it is suppose to do and that is to reduce windage and the affects of it,” said Keith Jones of Total Seal, a leading piston ring manufacturer who supplies piston rings to racers that span from the upper echelon of professional drag racing to daily drivers. Jones gave us a simple example that if one were to build a 565ci big-block Chevy that means there is 565ci of pumping effort above and below the piston rings. “All of that volume has to have a place to go and open breathers just aren’t going to get the job done,” he said. By adding a vacuum pump, it will help relieve the crankcase of that pressure.
The vacuum pump comes with a universal pulley combination that works for any application. An adjustable bleeder valve fine-tunes the vacuum that is pulled from the crankcase.
Ignoring the excessive windage in many engine combinations can lead to piston ring seal issues such as loss of the seal, blow-by, and—according to Jones—excessive oil consumption as the oil is held in suspension with what he called a “roping affect” that doesn’t drain back to the pan. “I’ve seen severe cases where the windage was so bad that it would blow oil out of the breathers,” he said. The excessive oil expelled out of the breathers is due to the valvetrain oil drainage being pushed back up the same hole that the crankcase is using to relieve pressure. Often times that is diagnosed as a ring seal issue but when in reality it is due to excessive windage, which the Aerospace Components vacuum pump is designed to reduce.
Matt Scranton, former NHRA Sport Compact champion and NHRA Pro Stock driver weighed in our on conversation. He currently operates Scranton Racing Development and utilizes the in-house dyno for various engine projects and manufacturer testing. He recently performed a back-to-back to test with an Aerospace Components vacuum pump on a class-restricted Bonneville Salt Flats land speed engine. “We gained right at 21hp with 12 inches of vacuum on a 461hp engine,” said Scranton. He continued to tell us that several 632ci engines that have come through the shop typically gain around 40hp with the addition of a vacuum pump. He continued, “the vacuum pump helps seal the rings better and allows you to add a lighter tension oil ring to help with power. It is also great for a nitrous engine to help control oil through the rings to prevent detonation.”
All kits come with AN12 ports on the vacuum pump and Aerospace Components supplies one 90-degree fitting, three straight AN12 fittings, and six-feet of stainless steel braided hose to give the end-user plenty of options for connecting the pump to the valve cover and plenty of hose to mount the breather tank in a variety of locations under the hood.
The Aerospace Components vacuum pump is made from high-quality 6061-T6 billet aluminum, including the carrier for low rotational mass. The one-piece shaft is also 6061-T6 billet aluminum and offers zero run-out while rolling on double-sealed ball bearings. The vanes are made from carbon fiber for durability and light rotating weight. All pumps come with a properly sized pulley and Aerospace Components offers mandrels to fit any engine application. The vacuum is regulated through an adjustable relief valve. Aerospace Components does offer various kits to fit popular engines, which includes the vacuum pump, engine-specific brackets, mounting hardware, hose and fittings to attach the pump to the valve covers and billet breather tank (included), relief valve, and other supporting components. All of the components are made in the U.S.A.
Here is the relief valve that attaches to the pump and allows the user to fine tune the vacuum that the Aerospace Components pump is removing from the crankcase. Typically a high-rpm engine will need to bleed off a greater amount of air to regulate the crankcase vacuum because the pump will be turning at a much higher rpm since it is connected to the engine.
“We go back to 1996 with Aerospace Components—the parts are high-quality, they fit, they work, and they are reliable,” said Scranton. And with 20-40hp gains normally seen with the Aerospace Components vacuum pump, bolt-on horsepower isn’t just a term regulated to the forced induction/nitrous oxide injection power adder market.
Form meets function with the Aerospace Components Pro Eliminator shifter By Michael Galimi
It is believed that one of the most critical design aspects of a new automobile’s interior is the steering wheel because of the regular interaction that the driver has with it. Moving to a racecar, that sentiment shifts (no pun intended) to include the gear selector, and what we often consider to be relatively simple acts while driving—steering and shifting—usually have much greater implications while on track. A slight correction with the wheel, or shifting at the just the right moment, can be the difference between winning and losing a round or a race.
The best solutions come from necessity and in the case of Aerospace Components, the company saw a need to design a new style shifter during the assembly of its first drag car. “The other brands were not practical when strapped into a race seat with a five-point harness,” said Aerospace Components co-founder Kim Kussy, who is also the President and CMO of the company. She continued, “the reverse lockout mechanisms required two hands to operate and made it virtually impossible without loosening the belts to get your car in Reverse or Park. So we set out to build a better shifter.”
The result is the Pro Eliminator shifter that can be operated using one hand, is very durable, and comes in several configurations to fit a variety of applications. The durability comes from design and raw materials. The design capabilities are vast, as Aerospace Components has worked with several government agencies, including NASA, and also in the aeronautical and aerospace fields. This has enabled the performance division to draw upon the engineering, computer modeling, programming, and machining capabilities to produce high-end racing products with relative ease.
Aerospace Components built the Pro Eliminator to be both durable and practical thanks to its one-handed operation, including the Reverse gear lockout.
A majority of the Pro Eliminator is constructed using T6061 billet aluminum, including the body and shifter handle. The gate plate and gear selector pin are hardened steel for even the most aggressive driving techniques. Aerospace Components also uses stainless steel hardware to keep the shifter quality high and long lasting. Despite the ruggedness, the Pro Eliminator checks in at a paltry two pounds or less depending on configuration. “When we were looking for a shifter, we wanted something a little nicer than the regular stuff out there,” shared Chris Knapp who is a weekend warrior and races a variety of cars on the Florida drag racing scene. Continuing, “The look and fit of the Aerospace Components Pro Eliminator was so much nicer than the other shifters out there.”
Aerospace Component’s Design Engineer Al Kussy, who is also the CEO and co-founder, and his team have designed and built the shifter under NHRA/IHRA guidelines, which dictate there is a Reverse lockout. The lockout gate prevents drivers from accidently moving the lever past Neutral and into the Reverse gear while the vehicle is in motion. Gear selection is a combination of pulling the shifter back with or without the lever; depending on which gear you are trying to engage. When moving the shifter up towards the Park position, to go from Neutral to Reverse, the driver must push the lever forward to release the safety lock feature and allow the shifter to engage Reverse. It is designed for one-handed use so a driver can remained strapped in the seat when performing that function. The video below is a “Kimmy’s Garage” video showing the one-handed operation of the Pro Eliminator shifter.
Versatility was incorporated into the Pro Eliminator as the transmission cable can be either fed into the shifter base from the front or rear allowing any variety of mounting locations. A cable mount and bell-crank setup for rear-mounted transmission cables are available at an additional cost and mount to most transmission pans for reverse cable operation.
The Pro Eliminator is currently available for use with a Powerglide transmission with a Three-speed version on the design table as you read this article. Knowing that every car is built differently, Aerospace Components offers the shifter to accept both front and rear cable attachment. An air solenoid or electric solenoid can be fastened to the back of the billet case for racers who wish to utilize an auto-shifting mechanism. “It is nice to have the option of running either the air or electronic auto-shift,” Knapp shares and he utilizes the electric shift on his racecar for consistency. Like all Aerospace Components products, the Pro Eliminator is made in the U.S.A.
A proprietary electronic shift solenoid is optional for Pro Eliminator shifters.
For air-shifted setups, Aerospace Components also offers the solenoid and shifting mechanism specifically for the Pro Eliminator shifter. The company sells billet C02 bottle brackets to compliment the air-shifter.
For the average street-going car enthusiast the act of steering and driving might be simple but for the drag racer it could be the difference between winning and losing as every thousandth of a second are paramount to success.
Give your engine the fuel it deserves with Aerospace Components fuel pumps By Michael Galimi
Drag racing is a progressive sport where what you ran yesterday falls short of what you will need to run tomorrow. It doesn’t matter if you race a heads-up car or a bracket racing one where dial-ins are suppose to prevent that; going quicker and faster always creeps into the picture during race strategy sessions. To that end, cylinder heads flow more, engines are bigger, camshafts let in more air, and the entire engine package simply works more efficiently and creates more torque and horsepower to help racers achieve their goals. Aerospace Components designs and manufacturers a vast selection of racing products that help decelerate your vehicle and other billet accessories to make racecar living better and easier. In addition to those products, the Florida-based company also produces three levels of fuel pumps to help on the go-fast part of the racing equation.
Jerry Stamps who races with NMCA, wins with Aerospace Components Fuel Pump in 2017!
Kicking off the triplet set of pumps is the SS 250, which flows 250 gallons-per-hour (gph) and carries a rating of up to 600 HP. The next step is the Ultra 350 and that bumps the horsepower capabilities to over 850 HP. And finally the largest pump in the Aerospace Components portfolio is its Comp 400, which if you haven’t guessed, flows 400 gph and will support way over 1,000 HP and in some cases 1,800 HP. One has to look no further than the fast bracket racing ranks to see the Comp 400 in action. Scott Meals not only works for Aerospace Components but he also relies on a Comp 400 to feed his 1,100hp big-block Chevy, which checks in at 632ci. He runs the wheels off the dragster in a mix of local and national events with consistency and reliability.
All Aerospace Components fuel pumps are made in the U.S.A. and come with a one-year warranty.
The gph results for each pump are free-flow ratings and when flowed with pressure, the readings will change. According to Aerospace Components, a number of factors come into play when flowing pumps under pressure like orifice sizing and fuel line inside diameter. So be careful when comparing pressure flow results as it could vary depending on testing variables. All three Aerospace Components pumps are compatible with gasoline (race and pump gas), ethanol (including E85), and methanol.
Anyone who has worked with Aerospace Components knows its prowess with designing and manufacturing high-quality racecar parts made from 6061 T6 billet aluminum and that carries over into its fuel pump body and bracket. The impeller is cut from billet aluminum, as well, and hard anodized for long life. The electric motor features high-carbon brushes that offer low amp draw—only 9.5 on Ultra 350 and Comp 400 and 7.5 amps for the SS 250—in addition to high torque and long life.
Since racers developed the fuel pumps, like most of the Aerospace Components product line, there are a mix of useful features. Line pressure is adjustable from 14 to 24 psi with an external adjustment that allows pressure changes to occur while the pump is running, and offers no mess. “The external adjustment is beautiful and can be adjusted with no fuss and no mess. Once it is adjusted, it stays solid with no need for changing,” said Meals. Additionally, the external adjuster makes fuel adjustments easy when switching back and forth from gasoline to alcohol.
Like all Aerospace Components products, the fuel pumps are 100% made in the U.S.A. and offer a one-year factory warranty. Every pump is tested for flow, pressure, and leaks before it leaves the manufacturing facility. These pumps are battle tested in the heat of competition from bracket racing to heads-up competition. Noted engine calibrator and street/race car builder Ken Bjonnes of Palm Beach Dyno relies on an SS250 for a NMRA heads-up racecar that he tunes. He stated, “we’ve been running that pump on Sondra Leslie’s Factory Stocker for over five years and it is probably the only part on the car that I haven’t touched or had to troubleshoot through the time with the program. That kind of reliability is something often overlooked but is very much appreciated.”
Aerospace Components offers 2- and 4-port fuel pressure regulators, also made from 6061 T6 billet aluminum. Each can be used with gasoline, methanol/alcohol, or ethanol.
Selecting a fuel pump is only one part of the equation in a fuel system, Aerospace Components also manufacturers high flow fuel filters to go along with its fuel pumps. The filter offers a capacity of 1000 gph, meaning it is compatible with any Aerospace Components fuel pump or just about any pump on the market. The billet aluminum housing encloses a reusable stainless steel filter element that has a 10-micron filtering capability. The housing is sealed with end caps that have O-rings and ½-inch NPT sized inlet/outlet orifices.
As engines get more powerful, so does the need to feed them lots of methanol/ethanol and Aerospace Components has three levels of fuel pumps ready to serve your engine’s needs.
Add a second pair of rear brakes with an Aerospace Components Dual-Rear Caliper Brake kits. By Michael Galimi
Some things just go well in double servings like two scoops of ice cream instead one or a Double-Double for those who enjoy In-N-Out Burger. But when it comes to braking systems, a double set of calipers tends to be just as good as a double helping of your favorite comfort food. Aerospace Components offers several different dual-caliper braking systems for both dragsters and door cars, which are particularly helpful in both turbocharged combinations and top-end stopping force. All Dual Rear Brake kits are specifically engineered for the double calipers with brackets and hardware; each system comes with the same high quality, Made in the U.S.A. products that Aerospace Components has become known to design and manufacturer.
Adding a Dual Rear Brake kit has several advantages, particularly in rear engine dragsters. One of the benefits of the dual rear brake system is to help slow down heavy racecars without brake fade since the braking force is split between two calipers on each side of the vehicle. That brake fade can and will come into the picture as you get later in the rounds and race officials begin to run the class in a round robin style. In both dragsters and door cars, that type of quick turnaround time doesn’t allow braking systems to cool off properly and the second set of calipers prevents the hot pad problems. In the case of a dragster, the benefits are obvious because rail cars only feature brakes on the backside. The system can take more abuse because of twice the amount of pads handling the braking.
The Aerospace Components Dual Rear Brake kits are available in several different configurations for a variety of applications. The multiple holes in the rotor offer three different types of lug patterns and two stud sizes.
The term building boost has been a time-honored tradition for serious turbocharged entries. The driver will stand on the brake pedal right before the pre-stage beams or with the top bulb turned on. As the engine works against the load of the brakes, the turbocharger will start to create positive pressure in the intake manifold. The engine torque and horsepower increases as more boost is present, which in turn attempts to turn the rear tires, however the two sets of Aerospace Components rear brake calipers will hold the car to prevent that from happening. With the engine producing boost, the driver will then creep into the stage beam ready for action with the boost at an optimum level to help the car perform at its best.
In some situations, like in the more serious turbo vehicles, once the engine starts to make boost, the driver will ease the car into the lights by slightly/partially releasing the brake pedal pressure while simultaneously grabbing the transbrake button. This “bumps” the car into the staged beams. The technique can be difficult, particularly for drivers that are new in the turbo world. Thanks to some ignition and digital solution manufacturers, there are now specific pulse modulators, affectionately nicknamed a bump box, that have replaced the driver’s manual control of the transbrake in the staging technique. Despite these awesome electronics, the Aerospace Components Dual Rear Brake kits are still a vital and essential component in the staging process for turbocharged applications to hold the vehicle when the engine revs are brought up against the stopping force of the brakes.
We caught up with noted NMRA racer Brad Gusler of BG Racing, who has been pushing the edge of Ford’s latest engineering marvel, the 2.3L EcoBoost engine. His 2015 Mustang EcoBoost recently eclipsed the ten-second barrier, the first time for that engine platform. He explained the new Aerospace Components S550 Mustang Dual Rear Brake kit was an integral part of his success partly due to class rules and the fact that the aftermarket hasn’t developed a transbrake yet for the factory Ford 6R80 transmission. Gusler relies on his braking system to achieve the proper launching technique for the best performance and consistency when competing in the Index-based Super Stang category.
“It has been a night and day difference from the single caliper to the dual caliper,” commented Gusler as he reminisced about the recent switch to the Aerospace Components kit. Before the dual rear calipers, his 2015 Mustang EcoBoost would push through the lights anywhere from three to five pounds of boost. And according to Gusler, his starting line technique was very inconsistent. Once the new dual caliper setup was installed—“I can hold the car at 4,000 rpm and the engine is at 20 pounds of boost every time. That is a big reason how I can get the car to run 1.45 sixty-foot times,” he concluded. The sixty-foot time is impressive considering the car’s 3,600-pound race weight and IRS style rear suspension.
Staging a turbocharged application and dragster/fast door car aren’t the only usefulness for the dual rear caliper kits. It is also a great tool in footbrake style bracket racing categories where a transbrake is illegal and the extra set of rear calipers makes a big difference when staging and leaving the starting line under the green light. For some applications, the greater clamping force allows a higher launch rpm, which will create a quicker reacting vehicle, as the engine will be closer to peak torque than if the engine was at a lower rpm, letting the torque converter flash too.
The dual calipers fit neatly behind the Race Star wheels on the BG Racing EcoBoost-powered S550 Mustang. The 2015-to-present Mustang is the latest Dual Rear Brake design to be offered by Aerospace Components.
As for the Aerospace Components kit itself, the parts and pieces are all made in the U.S.A. with the same high quality reputation that the company was built upon. It all starts with the 11-3/8 inch diameter, 5/16-inch thick rotors that are drilled to help save weight and dissipate expanding gases. The calipers feature multiple mounting holes to accommodate several different five-lug patterns—4.5-inch, 4.75-inch, or 5-inch. There are also provisions for either ½-inch or 5/8-inch wheel studs. Aerospace Components engineers then turned to its in-house CNC machining capabilities to manufacturer the calipers, brake hats, and mounting brackets. All of it is made from 6061-T6 billet aluminum, ensuring quality, strength, and durability. The Dual Rear Brake kits include either a four piston or two piston floating billet caliper setup, depending on the application.
Aerospace Components has also released a Dual Rear Brake kit for floater rear-end setups.
Hawk brake pads are standard just like all the other brake kits from Aerospace Components. Grade 8 hardware is also paramount to the strength and durability of the brake kits and a standard feature. All Dual Rear Brake kits meet and exceed NHRA/IHRA requirements. Aerospace Components keeps the overall weight down to ensure the lightest possible rotating weight for better performance but high quality materials, manufacturing, and design to ensure the optimum braking. For example, the new S550 Mustang Dual Rear Brake kit tips the scales at a scant 31 pounds, allowing you to have a few extra Double-Doubles at In-N-Out Burger and not worry about adding weight to your Mustang. Or you can skip the extra burgers and reduce the weight of your racecar. Aerospace Components notes that the S550 Mustang kits require rear wheels that have a minimum of 14.125-inch inside diameter in order to clear the twin caliper setup. Most other dual rear brake applications will fit with an inside wheel barrel diameter of 13.15-inches.
Holding the vehicle on the starting line or slowing it down the other end, a second helping of brake calipers can help your racecar perform better on track in order to go faster, run quicker, and be more consistent in your quest for lower elapsed times and/or the win light.
Kimmy’s Garage would like to highlight Michelle Devilbiss:
Michelle has had an incredible 2017 season thus far, with many more opportunities on the horizon for her to beat the competition in her Devils Revenge Mustang GT 600ci BBF with Nitrous.
As if the victories haven’t kept her busy enough, Michelle has been involved with a variety of promotional appearances and exhibitions. She recently had a paid appearance at Cherokee Raceway in Tennessee, where Doc & Monza of the 405 Street Outlaws were the last paid appearance before her. Since then she was asked to make exhibition passes at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania along with Jeff Lutz and The Reaper of the 405. The Devils Reject Shelby were also there with Brian making his quickest pass ever with a 7.32.
Michelle was also asked to do some exhibition grudge racing at the Firecracker Invitational at Mason Dixon Dragway, MD along with Kye Kelley and some of the fastest cars in Pennsylvania. “I won my Grudge Race; making it my quickest pass ever!”, Michelle mentioned. “I am riding the edge of my 4 second pass – this seasons goal. I feel confident I will reach that goal with the help of Patrick Barnhill of PTP RACING coming on board. He is a ‘Tuner to the Stars’ if you will”.
Her next race is an Invitational Grudge Racing Event for the opportunity to run Boosted GT or Kayla Mortinson, both of the 405 Street Outlaws. This season has truly been a blessing for Devilbiss Racing. The constant pressure to perform comes along with her appearances & invitationals where there are always large crowds and high expectations. Michelle continually thrives under pressure and lives up to her given name – The Fastest Chic in PA. “I’m out there running with the fast boys; always trying to make a name and place for us women in motorsports”, Michelle proudly claimed.
Teamwork is also a vital component of Michelle’s success. When she’s not in the drivers seat, she’s wearing her Crew Chief hat for the Devils Reject, because she gets just as much enjoyment and reward seeing Brian Devilbiss win and knowing — as a team — they are unstoppable! Thanks to their race team Evolution Performance, their Chassis Shop HFR Fabrication and their Tuner Patrick Barnhill, the Devils Reject is now running NMRA Street Outlaw. They are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with and have their sites set on being in the Aerospace Components Winners Circle!
“What a great experience it’s been teaming up with such an amazing marketing partner: Aerospace Components!”, Michelle explained of her ever-growing partnership. “Kim and Al Kussy are there every step of the way providing support. From getting top notch racing products to your door when you need them, to phone support, to being at the track in person cheering us on and greeting us in the Winners Circle like we are family. Aerospace Components is the most reputable racing partner out there; standing behind their products and the racers. They provide us with unmatched support and treat us like family”. Watch for a feature in NMRA Race Pages Magazine that talks of Michelle’s partnership with Aerospace Components.
Michelle’s eager and excited for the remainder of this season; as Devilbiss Racing will be at NMRA World Finals, Import vs Domestic (World Cup) and Mod Nationals. Devilbiss Racing will also attend Yellowbullet, local races, and make appearances. Also, this year Devilbiss Racing is sponsoring their local track where Michelle got her start drag racing.
Michelle and her team also sponsor racers and youth getting into the sport, as they want to see it grow. “Our fans and supporters are very important to us, especially the kids…”, Michelle mentioned. “They are the future of our sport and I want to foster a love for racing in their little hearts. Charity and giving back are an integral part of who I am. I help to organize and run several charity events a year for car enthusiasts. Raising money for JDRF Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund and others in need”.
Michelle looks forward to seeing everyone at PRI, Performance Race Industry in December. Race on!
