SEMA 2008 Thursday Coverage

[mark@lsxtv]

It's the next to last day at SEMA and we are still there to bring you coverage. Check out some of the new products that we found today:

You can fast forward to coverage of the show each day here:

• Tuesday New Products & SEMA Cars - Click here
• Wednesday New Products & SEMA Cars - Click Here
• Thursday New Products & SEMA Cars - Click Here
• Friday New Products & SEMA Cars - Click Here

We also shot over 30 videos during the SEMA show below is the list of videos shot on Thursday:

• STS Turbo - The ZR7 C6 Vette is unveiled at STS Turbo
• MSD Ignition's New 6AL-2
• AFCO's New Suspension and Header products
• EATON Superchargers has a variety of supercharger applications
• Air Ride releases the Tiger Cage for racing and street applications
• ZEX Nitrous Black Out kits for all applications
• AFCO has racing and street suspensions for a variety of vehicles

World Products New Motown LS Combines LSX Induction with Small Block Chevy Internals

World Products has released one unique block. It is a hybrid block between a small block Chevy and LSX. The idea is to have a conventional Chevy small block foundation and use it with modern-day head technology. This block does require a fair amount of custom parts.

It all starts at the bottom of the block, which is partitioned for all standard SBC cranks and clearance for a 4.00” stroke and accepts SBC rods. Caps are available in steel and nodular. From there, we move to the cam tunnel. The tunnel size is increased to 55 MM but comes with 50 MM bearings, and the oiling holes are now set to the 5 o’clock position. This helps oiling on high sprung engines by keeping the cam from forcing the oil hole closed if it is positioned on the bottom. The cam for this block will be a custom grind piece that they have been working with Comp Cams to develop.



Up on to the top. Piston will be an LS based piece. The cooling system has been redesigned to fit the LS heads. Besides the custom length push rods, the motor takes LS rockers and lifters. The block will be the same price has conventional small block Chevys, but will require an installation kit. This includes parts like a valley cover and coolant crossover plates for the front of the head (since the LS intake doesn’t have a crossover like the SBC does). World feels that this block will pick up 80 horsepower, 60 from the heads and 20 due to the SBC windage.

The only custom part you have to buy is a SBC cam with LS lobe positions.

Visit www.worldcastings.com for more information

[mark@lsxtv]

Like all other LSX powered vehicles, it’s no surprise that aftermarket companies are quick to market with performance mods to make this sedan scream down the drag strip and to keep up with it’s rivals and related power-plant vehicles. The new G8 is loaded with performance potential with it's 6.0L LS engine, and all it needs is some nitrous.

ZEX Nitrous has put together the first G8 specific nitrous kit. The ZEX G8 Nitrous kit is a sure bet if you are looking for easy and inexpensive power. The kit offers a bolt-on 75 to 175 additional horsepower to the LS2 engine. The kit includes G8 specific mounting hardware for a perfect fit requiring no customization. Additionally, all the lines are custom length for the G8 application and the required fuel rail fitting.

An added technology to the kit, the ZEX Pontiac G8 GT Nitrous System incorporates an electronic throttle position sensor switch that ensures perfect activation at wide-open throttle every time by hooking up to the TPS signal wire.

Check out www.zexnitrous.com for more information.

[Chris DeMorro]

ACT clutches is a well known name when it comes to producing clutches for import cars, and their recent foray into LS-based clutches was met warmly by GM enthusiasts. However due to the incredible power produced by LS engines, ACT has found the need to upgrade their single-disc clutch system to a dual disc clutch, supporting much higher horsepower numbers than the single discs.

Whereas their earlier discs were good for about 750-800 horsepower, their new double disc clutches can handle anywhere from 850-1450 horsepower, more than enough for any street and most drag cars. ACT’s clutches also provide a higher clamp load for longer distances, all the while helping to put more power to the pavement. Their twin disc clutch kits are engineered for smooth engagement and moderate pedal effort so you don’t have to put through the floor every time you want to shift gears.

Visit ACT for more info at http://www.advancedclutch.com/

[Chris DeMorro]

SEMA attracts auto enthusiasts and parts manufacturers from all over the world, bringing together an international collection of car parts and knowledge. Disc Brakes Australia, as the name implies, came all the way to Las Vegas from the Land Down Under to bring their patented “Kangaroo Paw” rotor design, which allows for improved cooling and greater strength.

Featuring 144 precisely placed pillars, this unique design increases heat dissipation while also strengthening the rotor while also lightening them by a substantial amount. DBA also employs their special Thermo-Graphic heat paint, which changes color at specific temperature levels so racers can monitor brakes more effectively. DBA is currently producing rotors for a number of applications including the Corvette Z06.

Visit DBA at www.dba.com.au

[Chris DeMorro]

Air filters are an integral part of any car, and much has been done to improve the airflow on just about every car on the market. Air intake systems are often the first upgrade done to just about any car, but as far as the systems have come they can still become clogged with dirt and road debris and eventually will require replacement.

That is unless you put on an Outwears Pre-filter. Using a terraflow process, these pre-filters keep out most dirt and debris while promoting maximum air flow, extending the life of your filter and keeping down maintainence costs. These are especially useful for off-road or desert applications where dirt can quickly choke your engine and limit your performance. Outerwears currently makes pre-filters for just about any cone-shaped air filter application, and they are currently working on a flat filter system. They even make pre-filters for shop-vacs, which we checked at SEMA. If you want to save your Shop-vac's long life, check them out!

Visit www.outerwears.com for more information

[mark@lsxtv]

In a sea of purple, one stands alone. It’s bad. It’s powerful. It’s Black. Standing out from the normal ZEX purple branded Nitrous Kits comes a new visual treatment to the line up; ZEX Black Out.

Now we have nothing against Purple, in fact, many powerful icons are represented by the color purple; the Minnesota Vikings, The Incredible Hulks pants, and ZEX Nitrous kits, just to name a few. But ZEX has gone off it’s purple path to produce an entire line of black themed nitrous kits to accommodate those looking for a more moderate look.

***** VIDEO: ZEX Black Out Nitrous Kits & Challenger System ***



The ZEX Black Out kits are fundamentally the same as the regular ZEX kits but feature a few characteristics beyond it’s color that stand out. Each Black Out kit comes with carbon fiber themed nitrous lines with chrome accented nuts, black anodized nitrous plates, and black nitrous nozzles.

The new look does not only make it dark and mysterious. The coating used on the kit to “black-it-out” adds a scratch resistant property to keep from rubbing against other components. The Nitrous bottle also has a nice shinny black finish with a chrome valve. Expect the Black Out nitrous plates to start shipping in about 2-3 weeks and EFI Black Out kits to begin shipping in January.

Visit www.zexnitrous.com for more information

[Chris DeMorro]

QA1 has taken NASCAR technology and brought it down to an affordable, weekend warrior level with their line of “Racer Rebuildable Revalvable” shocks and other suspension components. For SEMA 2008 they brought a bunch of new products from rod ends to ball joints that will benefit circle track racers and drag strip junkies alike.

Also, QA1’s Rock Ends offer hardcore performance for hardcore applications and they feature an unprecedented 44 degrees of misalighment and QA1’s exclusive EMG style of self-lubricating and sealing that is molded with a Teflon/Kevlar compound. QA1 offers a whole line of rod ends for just about any application whether its street strip or dirt.

Additionally QA1 has introduced their 15 and 12 series of low pressurized gas shocks which reduces downward rod force from about 40lbs to just 5lbs of pressure, substantially increasing traction and grip on all kinds of tracks. Whats more, each part for the shocks are individually purchasable, so if you bust a valve or an aluminum tube, theres no need to toss out the whole shock. Instead you can call up QA1 in purchase the specific part you need to fix, saving you money and headaches.

Visit www.qa1.net for more information

[Tom@LSXTV]

DynoJet was on hand showcasing their new Linx system for the 424x and 424xLC2 dyno. With the new system you can now dyno modern AWD cars without fear of damaging the center differentials or avoid ‘reduced power mode’ on newer cars because the front wheels aren’t spinning. You already know what the 424x Dyno looks like, (it’s the one you’ve seen in all of our videos) here is the Linx System.



The nest product available from DynoJet was their CMD, which stands for Combustion Management Device. With this small tool you can plug it into the computer on your OEM forced induction vehicle to optimize the power from your engine. The plug and play tool is contested right into the wiring harness so there are not wires to splice or lengthy installs. DynoJet claims that vehicles with the CMD installed typically gained 12-36 wheel horsepower. While right now the device is offered for the Cobalt SS, Neon SRT-4, ION RedLine as well as the Lancer Evo and WRX/STI you can also get a tuner version to be used on any forced induction vehicle.



Visit www.dynojet.com for more information

[Tom@LSXTV]

Lucas Oil is a name that many of us know and love. New this year is their new Engine Break-In Oil Additive, Power Steering Fluid with Conditioner, and Automatic Transmission Conditioner. These products as well as many others were on display at this year’s SEMA show.

The Lucas Oil Power Steering Fluid with Conditioner is useful in that it helps to protect the power steering system from high heat conditions. This makes it an extremely useful tool in the building of not only a race car, but a performance street car as well. By keeping heat out of the system you can make it last longer and perform better.

Also new is their Automatic Transmission Fluid Conditioner. This is to keep everything in your transmission well lubricated under extreme conditions. Compatible with Dextron 6 this fluid is a must if you plan to work your automatic transmission to the limits or daily driving or the race track.

Visit www.lucasoil.com for more information

[Tom@LSXTV]

Howards Cams was here showing off their Mechanical Roller Lifter for LS engines. The link bar style lifters were designed to work with not only standard cams but high lift ones as well. With these lifters they allow you to remove the stock GM lifter tray.

The bodies are made from a steel alloy and finished with a enhanced finished for extra protection. Howard Cams heat-treats the stainless steal link bars to ensure reliability and fits these lifters with case hardened 8620 rollers fitted with the best bearings and pins that they have to offer. To top things off they are also fully rebuildable.

Howard also had their LS Hydraulic Roller Cams on display at SEMA. These cams offer the advantage of additional lift to deliver more power. Designed with fast ramp speeds they are offered in both 22/232 and 236-242 duration with 280/286 or 290/296 advanced lift. Making them a perfect fit in any aggressive street/strip car looking for good torque in the upper RPM range or a large cubic inch race only application.

Visit www.howardscams.com for more information