Hot rod builds a mouse trap and tries to catch a rat. Originally published in the August 1998 issue of Hot Rod magazine. To celebrate HOT ROD's 75th anniversary, we teamed up with CASTROL GTX to bring ...

This 427ci sleeper is a good reason why you don’t judge an engine by the size of its block. The art of deception plays a significant role in the hot rod world. Although most enthusiasts are ...

Freeze plugs don't make your engine freeze up, and they aren't useful only when it's freezing out. They're a crucial part of ...

Big-block engines have always traded on mythology as much as on dyno sheets, yet some of the most imposing cast-iron V8s deliver surprisingly modest output once you look past the badge. When I line up ...

When it comes to classic American muscle cars, you'll hear the terms "small block" and "big block" thrown around quite a bit. As one might assume, it's in reference to the actual physical size of V8 ...

A lot of people were celebrating when white smoke over the Vatican meant there was a new pope in town -– and that included plenty of gearheads with great ideas about what the new guy should use as his ...

In automotive nomenclature, small-block V8 engines are typically physically smaller than their big-block counterparts, hence the nickname. With some exceptions, the piston bores, stroke, cylinder head ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Diesel engines, known for their great fuel efficiency, are sensitive to cold temperatures. Instead of using spark plugs, as gasoline-powered ...