Hundreds of new product announcements cross the desks of PRI editors each month. Following are our top picks for March.

Spark Plug Wire Sets & HEI Distributor

SQR Performance
flex-a-lite.com

Expanding beyond cooling products, Flex-A-Lite in Burlington, Washington, now offers performance ignition wire sets and an HEI distributor under the SQR Performance brand.

“SQR Performance is a new line of high-performance ignition products designed with the sportsman racer in mind,” explained Cole Quinnell. He added that SQR Performance ignition wires have 150 degrees F better heat resistance on both the boots and the wire than some competing products, while delivering at least 50% less resistance for better performance.

The wire sets are offered in 8 mm and 8.5 mm in both universal and direct-fit for select applications. They come in a black-and-gray color combination and feature a suppression core with black silicone sleeves. The 8.5-mm wires feature a spiral-wound core and extra-thick molded boots. The kits are available with either straight or 90-degree boots.

The HEI distributor is a direct replacement for small and big block Chevy engines with the standard deck height. An all-new design, it features a CNC-machined cast-aluminum body, brass terminals in the cap, and an SQR Performance HEI ignition module. It also comes with a mild performance mechanical advance timing curve, and the vacuum advance is easily adjusted. The four-pin module provides high coil output and is constructed from solid state electronics.

 

Baja Eliminator Racing Muffler

Vance & Hines
vanceandhines.com

Developed for Trophy Trucks and other off-road applications, the Baja Eliminator racing muffler from motorcycle specialist Vance & Hines in Santa Fe Springs, California, features stainless-steel construction and a rebuildable baffle core assembly.

“Our extensive research and experience in exhaust development was instrumental in finding the right combination of materials to address heat dissipation while maintaining weight savings, all without sacrificing power delivery,” said Raphael Paula.

Baldi Racing first approached Vance & Hines with the need to reduce cabin noise in the truck without sacrificing power. The mufflers are made from 304 stainless steel, and the proprietary baffle core can withstand temperatures up to 1,800 degrees F.

“Our commitment to noise mitigation guarantees an optimal in-cabin experience, striking the perfect balance between power and comfort,” said Paula. 

The mufflers weigh 14 pounds each and feature ceramic-coated billet aluminum end caps. Inlet sizes range from 3.5 to 4.0 inch, and the mufflers are sold as a left and right pair.

“The inlet adaptor introduces a new level of versatility, allowing for a customized experience based on the header OD, and tailoring the system precisely to specific racing needs,” added Paula. “Finally, the removable baffle core assembly ensures easy maintenance.”

 

Steering Coupling Device

LaPlante Racing Products
laplanteracingproducts.com

Designed to reduce the severity of wrist injuries to drivers following a head-on impact, the Steering Coupling Device (SCD) from LaPlante Racing Products in North Scituate, Rhode Island, is welded to the steering shaft and can be adjusted for adult or youth drivers.

“The SCD is designed to always provide the driver with control of the race car,” explained Paul LaPlante. “The device reduces the wrap effect of front-wheel impacts, without yielding control of the vehicle. Impacts aside, drivers experience no change in the drivability after the SCD is installed.”

A common practice among drivers is to withdraw their hands from the steering wheel and hold them to their chest before an impact. With the SCD, drivers can maintain their grip on the steering wheel.

“I have witnessed and experienced wrist injuries attributed to open wheel and full-fendered racing,” added LaPlante. “I became frustrated that this injury seemed to have no opportunity for remediation and impacted so many drivers for months after a race. So, I set out to conquer it.”

The SCD is available in two versions: 6.0-inch long that weighs 2.4 pounds and has a 2.5-inch OD, and another that’s 4.5-inches long, weighs .74 pounds and has a 1.5-inch OD. LaPlante advised that racers send the units back every five years to service the spring pack.

 

Hydraulic Cam-bearing Installation Tool

Bonefied Customs
bonefiedtools.com

A big hammer is no longer necessary to install camshaft bearings. Bonefied Customs in Lowell, Michigan, has developed an installation tool that uses an integrated hand-operated hydraulic pump that gently inserts the bearing into its respective bore in the cam tunnel.

“It’s very gentle on the bearings,” said Jamie Hamm. “It maintains the bearing integrity. You almost never have to scrape the bearings.”

The tool is designed with centering cones and a steel shaft to support the bearing mandrel. Spacers get the bearing in position one at a time for installation in the cam bore. With just a few pumps on the hand lever, the bearing is slowly moved into place. The tool is then quickly disassembled, and the spacers can be set up to install the next bearing.

“There are no distorted bearings, and they’re all installed with the correct orientation to the oil holes,” added Hamm.

Much of the tool is CNC machined from 6061 T6 aluminum and finished with a Type III hard-coat anodizing. The steel pieces are CNC machined and treated to a black-oxide finish. The tool can also be used to remove bearings. Currently, the kit comes with mandrels to support bearings for LS, big block Chevy, and small block Chevy engines. More mandrel sizes will be available soon.

 

Pro Level Oil Pump

Schumann’s Sales & Service
schumannoilpumps.com

 

The Pro level oil pump from Schumann’s Sales and Service in Blue Grass, Iowa, is available for popular racing applications, and engine builders can customize their pumps with up to 14 patented options.

“Many racers attest our wet-sump-performance oil pumps have a dry-sump attitude,” said Verne Schumann. 

Perhaps the most popular option is the paddle-wheel design that improves the exit flow speed of the oil to the engine in gear-to-gear pumps.

“It makes a conventional gear pump behave like a rotary pump,” added Schumann. 

Another popular option is the 140 ball valve that is a significant improvement over the factory cup-valve system by reducing oil foaming and yielding a lower oil temperature. If the factory cup valve system is retained, adjustable quick-change color-coded springs are available to control oil volume and pressure.

Additional modifications like oil-slot lubrication for the idler shaft and the driven shaft are also available. 

Finally, all pumps are supplied with a copper mount gasket to prevent oil leakage and aeration foaming of oil supply to the engine. The gasket seals up scratches in the machined surfaces or corrects misalignment during mounting.

 

BBC Eight-stack EFI Intake Manifold

Speedmaster
speedmaster79.com 

 

A new downdraft eight-stack EFI intake manifold for big block Chevys is now available from Speedmaster in Rialto, California. 

“Thanks to the individual throttle body EFI system, racers can experience crisp throttle response and stable idle, essential for both street and track performance,” said Erickson Pereira. “While specific dyno figures can vary based on the overall setup and tuning, users have reported significant improvements in engine responsiveness and efficiency. The system is designed to work optimally within a basic operating range from idle to 7,000 rpm.”

The system comes with an innovative linkage set that includes integrated throttle stops, idle controls, lever arms, and joiner/balancer. There’s just a single-screw adjustment for calibration between the front and rear throttle shafts. The throttle bodies are CNC machined from 601 cast aluminum and support precision-machined butterflies.

“The system supports high horsepower, making it ideal for racers looking to maximize engine output,” added Pereira. “It’s compatible with 50 lb/hr injectors for 700–750 horsepower and 80 lb/hr for over 1,100 horsepower naturally aspirated, and it caters to a wide range of racing needs.”

In addition to its performance qualities, the system is also visually appealing with a classic design that bridges contemporary engineering and traditional car culture.

 

uC-10 Color Dash Display

Haltech
haltech.com

Following the success of its first color dash display, the 7-inch iC-7 model, Haltech in Wetherill Park, New South Wales, Australia, has released a 10-inch version named the uC-10. It’s designed to work alone or with the vehicle’s ECU, and it can be tied in with a tablet or laptop for data or tuning purposes.

“Both the 7- and 10-inch displays can be used standalone, and you can actually utilize many of our other CAN devices, so you’ll be able to data log things like your wide-bands utilizing just our dash,” explained Andrew DiMartino. “If you want to pair with the ECU, it just opens everything up a little bit further.”

The 10-inch display offers plenty of viewing area to monitor critical data in real time. The full-color TFT screen is optically bonded to ensure clear visibility, even in bright sunlight. The sleek aluminum enclosure is designed to enhance the appearance of any interior.

The uC-10 is compatible with Haltech CAN, OBD2, and select aftermarket ECU brands. It offers plenty of scope for sensors and other inputs in standalone or for use as an I/O expander in a Haltech environment. The uC-10 has the same mounting points as the iC-7, so an upgrade is quite easy, and it fits a variety of dash profiles.