Engine Performance Expo
Season 2
Aired live in January (part 1) & October (part 2) 2022
Expo 2 – Episode 1 – Get Boosted! How to get 1,000HP from a stock stroke
In the season 2 Expo opener, we go to EFI University to see Professor Ben Strader for a tutorial the calculations you need to get 1,000HP from a stock stroke
Episode 2 – Align Boring vs Align Honing
We dive deep into Align boring and honing do's, don't, theories, tips and trade-offs with live demos and Q&A from Rottler's Ed Kiebler and AERA's Chuck Lynch
Episode 3 – Engine Builder Interview : Jon Kaase
In episode 3 Joe and Lake sat down for a live interview and audience Q&A with the legendary engine builder, Jon Kaase. Episode originally aired October 13, 2021
Episode 4 – Advance Tech Feature : Anatomy of a Hydraulic Roller Lifter
In Expo2 episode 4 engine building legend John Callies gives us an advanced course in the anatomy and use of hydraulic roller lifters
Episode 5 – Business Opportunities : Profit is Not a Dirty Word
Lake Speed Jr sits down with Chris Straub of Straub Technologies to talk about the secrets to running a successful shop in the engine building industry
Episode 6 : Engine Builder Interview – Roy Johnson
Lake and Joe sit down with drag racing hall-of-famer Roy Johnson of for a wide ranging talk about his experiences and his "30-year overnight success."
Episode 7 – How Speeds, Feeds & Lube Affect Surface Finish
Lake and Ed site down with Don Miller and dive into speeds, feeds and lube and getting that perfect grind every time. Part 1 of a 2 part can't miss episode.
Episode 7 – How Speeds, Feeds & Lube Affect Surface Finish (Pt 2)
Three of the industry's leading experts dive into the tools, tips and techniques they and their customers use to get the ideal finish and engine performance
Episode 8 – REM Finishing and Diesel of the Day with SoCal Diesel
We go inside REM finishing with Shaver Racing's "Dyno" Don MacAskill, then head on over to SoCal Diesel to talk Duramax Diesel performance
Episode 9 – Block Work
The guys head over to CNC Blockworks to go through the steps and best practices in prepping and machining an iron LS block to build their boosted engine.
Episode 10 – Fulltime Schooling and a Career in Engine Building
In this episode, we look at careers in engine building, heading down to Houston to learn why "if you can put chips on the ground, you'll always have a career."
Episode 11 – Engine Builder Interview : Warren Johnson
In this episode Lake and Joe sit down with the Professor of Pro Stock, Warren Johnson to talk about his career in racing and his new best-selling biography.
Episode 12 – Industry Careers Roundtable
In day 1's last segment Joe and Lake sit down for a roundtable on careers in the industry with Scooter Brothers, John Callies, Warren Johnson, and Jon Kaase.
Episode 13 – Tech 101: Bore Geometry
Ed & Lake head into the shop for a Tech 101 on Bore Geometry and the tools, techniques, and considerations you'll need to hone a cylinder for perfect ring seal.
Episode 14 – Balancing
In pursuit of 1,000 HP for his engine, Lake Speed Jr heads down to Georgia to learn from CWT Industries' Randy Neal the whys and hows of perfect balancing.
Episode 15 – Engine Builder Interview : Scooter Brothers
Lake and Joe sit down with SEMA Hall of Famer Scooter Brothers to talk about his incredible impact on the racing industry both on the tack and in business.
Episode 16 – Advanced Tech Feature: 3D Printing and Digitizing Parts
Lake and Joe talk with Charles Navarro of LN Engineering about 3D printing for prototyping and making engine parts. Ed Isky gets a lifetime achievement award.
Episode 17 – Time is Money: Putting Tech and Automation to Work in the Shop
Lake Speed Jr talks with Chris Straub of Straub Technologies about using tech and automation to make your shop more efficient and profitable with fewer staff
Episode 18 – V-Twin Engines with George Bryce
In this episode we put the eight cylinders aside and head down to visit motorcycle drag racing legend George Bryce and talk about building winning V-Twins.
Episode 19 – Engine Builder Interview: George Bryce
Joe Castello and Lake Speed Junior interview legendary Pro Stock Engine Builder, George Bryce of Star Racing.
Episode 20: Tech 101 – Welding
We head on over to Tim Wilkerson's Capitol City Machine Shop for an in-depth lesson in repairing & welding an aluminum top fuel block to race-ready condition.
Episode 21 – Tech 101: Engine Bearings
In this segment Lake Speed Jr heads on over to Petty’s Garage in to take a deep dive into everything you need to know about bearings with Mahle’s Dan Begle
Episode 22 – Diesel of the Day: Powerstroke
Lake Speed Jr heads over to Bolivar, TN to see the Diesel Doctor, Cass Choate of Choate Performance Engineering, where they dive into Powerstroke diesels
Episode 23 – Parts Supply Rountable Discussion
Industry experts discuss the shift away from just in time inventory and strategies they’re using to limit the effects of inflation and employee shortages.
Episode 24 – AERA & Educational Resources
Lake visits Steve Fox & Chuck Lynch of the AERA to learn about the many career and educational resources available from the Engine Builders Association.
Episode 25 – Engine Builder Interview: Tim Wilkerson
A joint broadcast with the Hidden Horsepower podcast, Joe and Lake sit down for a fun and enlightening interview with NHRA nitro funny car racer Tim Wilkerson
Episode 26 – Day 2 Closing Roundtable
In the closing episode of Day 2 of the Engine Performance Expo, Joe and Lake host a roundtable with George Bryce, Charles Navarro, Randy Neal, and Tim Wilkerson
Episode 27 – Featured Engine Build: Heads & Valvetrain
Lake & the boys review their engine project build and the cylinder head and valvetrain options they think will help them boost this engine to 1,000HP
Episode 28 – Tech 101: Selecting Fuels for Boost
Joe and Lake sit down with Ben Strader of EFI University and Freddy Turza of VP Racing Fuels to discuss how to pick the right fuel for boosting their engine
Episode 29 – Head Porting, Seats & Guides
The boys head to the Straub Technologies shop floor for a discussion and hands-on demo on how we get horsepower through CNC porting of the cylinder heads
Episode 30 – Short Block Assembly
Lake packs up the newly finished block and heads down to Roush Yates Racing Engines to see Jimmy Barton for assembly of the (soon-to-be boosted) short block
Episode 31 – Engine Builder Interview: Mark Cronquist
Joe Castello and Lake Speed Jr sit down for a wide ranging, entertaining interview with Mark Cronquist, the legendary lead engine builder for Joe Gibbs Racing
Episode 32 – Advanced Tech Feature: Reverse Blueprinting
Lake heads west to Arizona to visit Ben Strader at EFI University and see how microscopic inspection can help find problems you can't see with the naked eye
Episode 33 – Piston Measuring
Lake Speed Jr heads out to Southern California and QMP Racing to see Brad Lagman and get a demo of his amazing piston measuring center, the MC-1
Episode 34 – Engine Builder Interview: Keith Dorton
In a joint episode with the Hidden Horsepower podcast, Joe Castello and Lake Speed Jr sit down for a conversation with racing legend Keith Dorton.
Episode 35 – Tech Feature: Motor Oil 101
Lake heads over to Driven Racing Oil HQ to see fellow Certified Lubrication Specialist Bill Alexander and drill into everything you need to know about motor oil
Episode 36 – Mechanical Fuel Injection with Ron Shaver
In this episode Lake Speed Jr heads to So Cal to see Ron Shaver at Shaver Specialty Engines and get the lowdown on mechanical fuel injection
Episode 37 – Featured Engine Build: Pushrods, Distance to Coil Bind and System Stiffness
Lake & Joe are joined by Ben Strader & Billy Godbold to talk valvetrains, component upgrades, troubleshooting, and tips & tricks to boost engine performance.
Episode 38 – Featured Engine Build: Short Block Engine Assembly (Part 2)
Picking up where they left off in episode 30, Lake Speed Jr and Jimmy Barton work through a few problems to finish the assembly of our boosted short block.
Episode 39 – Engine Builder Roundtable: Testing
Some of the world's leading engine builders sit down to discuss engine testing methodologies, and best practices any builder can put to use in their own shop
Episode 40: Day 3 Closing Roundtable
Lake and Joe are joined by Keith Dorton, Ben Strader, Mike Mucha and Mark Cronquist for a freewheeling discussion about the industry and thoughts on the future
Episode 41 – Featured Engine Build: EFI Installation
Lake Speed Jr and Ben Strader head out to EFI University in Arizona to do the EFI install on the LS engine before they load it up on the dyno for testing
Episode 42 – Featured Engine Build: Break-in
Ben and Lake load the LS engine on the dyno and go through the oil and fuel and diagnostic steps for proper break-in before trying for the full boosted 1,000 HP
Episode 43 – Engine Builder Interview: Billy Godbold
Hosts Joe Castello and Lake Speed Jr sit down with physicist and Camshaft Maestro, Billy Godbold, to talk about his science-based approach to parts engineering
Episode 44 – Preventing Cylinder Wall Surface Rust
Joe & Lake are joined by legendary NHRA engine builders Gary Stinnett and Steve Williams to talk about how they prevent surface rust on engine cylinder walls
Episode 45 – Diesel Power: Cummins Diesel
Lake visits D&J Precision Machine's Drew Pumphrey to talk about how it is that they get so much performance and power from the Cummins diesel engine
Episode 46 – Technology Rountable
Joe and Lake sit down with a panel of engine technology experts to talk about where it’s best to invest your money and how to measure the results in your shop
Episode 47 – Cross Hatch Angle and Surface Finish
Lake is joined by Keith Jones for a lesson on two terms often confused but unrelated—Cross Hatch Angle and Surface Finish—and their role in performance engines
Episode 48 – Engine Builder Interview: Vic Hill
In a joint broadcast with the @hiddenhorsepowerpodcast, legendary Dirt Late Model racer and engine builder, Vic Hill, sits down for a chat with Lake and Joe
Episode 49 – Advance Tech Feature: Profilometer Setup
Keith Jones returns in this advanced technology feature to go through the unboxing and proper setup of a profilometer. Bonus: Tech Chip from Liberty Performance
Episode 50 – Parts Supply Roundtable
A panel of performance engine industry experts talk about strategies to overcome parts shortages and inflation, and how racers can adapt in their own projects.
Episode 51 – Procharger on the Dyno
Lake and Ben Strader put the procharger-boosted engine on the Dyno to finally answer the biggest question of the Expo: Can their engine can make 1,000 HP?
Episode 52 – Cylinder Head Roundtable
In one of the last roundtables of the 2022 Expo, Joe and Lake are joined by John Callies, Brodix, Vic Hill, and Straub Technologies to talk cylinder heads.
Episode 53 – Engine Builder Interview: Tony Bischoff
For the final engine builder interview of the 2022 Expo, Joe and Lake sit down with the Horsepower King, Tony Bischoff of BES Racing Engines
Episode 54 – Career Path Feature: EFI University
Ben Strader talks about EFI University and its mission to both the new and the not-so-new develop next generation of high performance engines.
Episode 55 – Roundtable: Day 4 Wrap-up and Show Close
In the final episode of the 2022 Expo, the guys talk about the value of sharing ideas and their knowledge to help the next generation make motorsports better
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