David Vizard’s How to Build Horsepower: Proven Methods for Increasing Horsepower in Any Engine (S-A Design)
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(as of Jul 09, 2025 03:02:37 UTC – Details)
Proven methods for increasing horsepower in any engine. High-performance street and race engine builders are always looking for the latest techniques and combination of parts to build a better, stronger, more powerful engines. Building an engine is a complex, demanding process that requires careful planning, bulls-eye parts selection, and exceptional attention to detail. If someone is building an engine for the first time, they need the information contained in this book.
Extracting maximum torque and horsepower from engines is an art as well as a science. David Vizard is an engineer and more aptly an engine building artist who guides the reader through all the aspects of power production and high-performance engine building. His proven high-performance engine building methods and techniques are revealed in this all-new edition of How to Build Horsepower. Vizard goes into extreme depth and detail for drawing maximum performance from any automotive engine. The production of power is covered from the most logical point from the air entering the engine all the way to spent gasses leaving through the exhaust. Explained is how to optimize all the components in between, such as selecting heads for maximum flow or port heads for superior power output, ideal valvetrain components, realizing the ideal rocker arm ratios for a particular application, secrets for selecting the best cam, and giving unique insight into all facets of cam performance. In addition, he covers how to select and setup superchargers, nitrous oxide, ignition and other vital aspects of high-performance engine building.
Vizard’s top-selling How to Build Horsepower explains the latest and most effective engine building techniques and strategies. The reader is treated to the secrets and methods for building virtually any automotive engine. Vizard’s unique and entertaining style of writing clearly explains the key principles and provides extreme detail and uncommon insight, so at-home engine builder can realize their performance goals.
From the Publisher
David Vizard’s top-selling How to Build Horsepower explains the latest and most effective engine building techniques and strategies. The reader is treated to the secrets and methods for building virtually any automotive engine. Vizard’s unique and entertaining style of writing clearly explains the key principles and provides extreme detail and uncommon insight, so at-home engine builder can realize their performance goals.
Fuel Delivery Systems
The power valve opens when manifold vacuum drops below a certain predetermined level. This allows fuel from the float bowl to enter the emulsion well through both the main jet and the power valve restriction channel (PVRC). If the fuel calibrations are done with both optimal power and optimal cruise in mind, then the WOT calibrations should be done with the PVRC, not the main jet. The main jet should be sized for the best fuel economy under high-speed cruise conditions. In the right-hand illustration the power valve is closed. In the inset enlargement (left), its open and the fuel flow route can be seen.
Supercharging
Mounting a modern high-efficiency unit, such as this Magnacharger, on an intercooled base/intake manifold, leads to higher power on otherwise lower-octane fuel.
Cylinder Heads
The latest Chrysler Hemi engine is an up-to-the-minute, high-tech design. In stock form, the heads flow as well as many good aftermarket heads for the small-blocks from GM and Ford. In ported form, they rival a set of 10,000 US Dollar Cup Car heads
Camshaft Science
The cam and valvetrain components chosen are critical to engine’s success as a power producer. The subject of optimal valve events has been poorly covered in countless books and magazine articles. In this chapter I will start you down the road toward what will actually work first time around in your engine.
Porting and Flow Testing
This Ultra Pro Machining CNC-ported LS6 Chevy head not only had more flow but the intake swirl was also increased over stock. With a minimal cut out of the intake to keep velocity up, this head improved output at low RPM while delivering more than 40 hp over stock.
Ignition Systems
The RPM-induced advance, often referred to as mechanical advance, is tailored to suit the engine’s requirements by spring selection (yellow arrows) and the shape and mass of weights (white arrows).
Exhaust Science
This 3-inch Borla muffler flowed the same as a straight piece of pipe of equal length because its core flow was higher than the inlet- and exit pipe flow.
Publisher : SA Design
Publication date : June 17, 2010
Edition : New
Language : English
Print length : 144 pages
ISBN-10 : 1934709174
ISBN-13 : 978-1934709177
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 8.5 x 0.38 x 11 inches
Part of series : S-a Design
Customers say
Customers find the book to be an excellent resource with useful information that explains complex subjects. Moreover, the book is easy to understand and serves as a great learning tool, with one customer noting it’s still considered the bible for building horsepower. Additionally, customers consider the book worth its price.
