New Products March 2010

SUSPENSION TECH:
Black Series ShockWave
Since its introduction in 1999, the ShockWave has proven to be a significant development in air suspensions. With billet bodies and adjustable damping, the Shockwave air suspension has become a favorite of both track rats and car show winners. Now with the tough economy, Ride Tech has decided a more economical model is in order. The Black series is not only an affordable option for air suspension, it's also the easiest way to install air suspension on your vehicle. The new Black series ShockWaves are designed around a quality steel body twin-tube non-adjustable shock absorber, combined with quality Firestone bellows. This makes an exceptional product that will stand the test of time. Systems start at $600.

COATINGS NO CHARGE!
SRP Pistons
In these tough times JE Pistons has decided that their popular SRP Professional piston kits will now include piston skirt coating at no extra charge. Every SRP Professional piston kit already includes several features used in top-level professional racing engines, such as a lightweight side relief (FSR) forgings, high-quality wrist pins, and precision CNC-machined ring grooves. Every SRP Professional piston kit also includes a high-performance JE Pro Seal Ring set. This set uses a 1.2mm steel LS7-style top ring, a 1.5mm Napier (hooked face) second ring, and 3mm oil ring. According to SRP, their Professional ring package is superior to the "cheap" ringset included with other piston kits, and can provide up to 60 percent less wear. SRP also claims their Professional pistons and rings are compatible with nitrous and forced induction and have been dyno proven to provide up to a 12 hp gain and 20 percent weight savings over other aftermarket forged pistons.

COOL TOOLS:
Digital ValveSpring Tester
Thanks to Proform's new digital valvespring tester, you can check the valvespring force of your cylinder heads with the heads bolted to the block. This cool tool can save you time and money, removing the aggravation of tearing apart your top end to check your springs. This adjustable digital valvespring force tester (PN 67601, $294.39 from Summit) is available with a digital force readout from zero to 600 pounds. According to Proform, the base of the tool can be adjusted to fit all common aluminum rocker lengths and offsets. The digital gauge displays force in 5-pound increments with peak hold and backlighting features. This looks like a tough tool; it's made from billet aluminum with a knurled handle area for a positive grip. Black anodizing protects the surface, with the bright readout powered by a single 9-volt battery.

800HP OVERDRIVE
B&M Street/Strip
Does your motor sound like it's going to explode at 55 mph while trying to keep up with traffic? Do you measure your mileage by gallons per mile instead of miles per gallon? If so, B&M thinks they might have the solution for you with their new 4L80E automatic overdrive. B&M's Street/Strip 4L80E transmission is a complete ready-to-run unit (less converter) for high-performance street and mild strip use, although we'd have to say that anything built for 800 hp is probably far from mild on the dragstrip. The transmission is said to provide firm shifts and feature a standard shift pattern. In any case, B&M's 800hp unit can be used with their Compushift Controller, which you'll need unless you've got a late-model car that already has a 4L80E. B&M's website offers the '93-96 version (PN 118001) for $1,874.25, and the '97-up version (PN 118002) for $2,008.13.