PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Smeding Performance’s 408″ LS3
December 2, 2024
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Hail to “The King”: Richard Petty’s “Outlawed” Hellcat Unveiled at HPX 2025
The crowd at HPX 2025 in Charlotte was already buzzing, but when the cover came off Richard Petty’s “Outlawed” Hellcat, the energy hit a whole new gear. Built by Petty’s Garage to honor the 60th anniversary of the legendary street HEMI, this jaw-dropping Dodge Charger is unlike anything else on the road—or the track.
Truck Takeover at the Triple Crown of Rodding
Custom trucks have bulldozed their way into the hot rod world, turning what were once old workhorses from the ’30s through the ’90s into show-stopping, tire-shredding machines. These trucks aren’t just about hauling gear anymore—they’re packing serious muscle under the hood, killer suspension setups, and sleek designs that demand attention at events like the Triple Crown of Rodding.
Mahoney’s Two-Toney
It’s always an uphill battle when it comes to acquiring, building and maintaining an old car, and no one knows that better than Dale and Dorinda Mahoney. You’re looking at their ’69 Mustang, and if there was ever a car that fought back, this is it. The initial build didn’t give the father-and-son(s) team of Dale, Craig and Shawn Mahoney too much trouble, as most of the build was handled in-house at their shop, Mahoney’s Auto Service in Highland, Indiana. The guys at Mafco Customs, a division of Mahoney’s Auto, also pitched in with custom suspension components, but the Mustang didn’t travel very far during the entire build, as Mafco is also located in Highland. Just as with any other car, there were problems during the restoration process, but everything turned out great, and the Mahoneys started putting miles on their freshly restored Mustang.
Spotlighter
RETRO IS ALL THE RAGE
Installing the Retro Tek EFI 6-Pack
Hot rodders are a picky lot; some want their rides to look as if they stepped out of a time warp, but they also want them to be equipped with the latest of mechanical improvements. Disc brakes, power steering, air conditioning and even full surround-sound stereos and videos are the norm. So it should come as no surprise that the benefits of electronic fuel injection have been fully embraced by those who drive vintage trucks. But with notable exceptions, the look of the fuel injections systems was mostly unpleasing to the eye.
Author
Matt Emery
Story & Photography
Those who longed for their engines to look as they did back in the old days of multiple-carb setups were out of luck. Cool as they were to look at, there are lots of reasons why the multi-carb setup fell out of favor, and most of them had to do with the fact that they were a bear to sync. The advent of the four-barrel carb was the death for these systems, though the purists among us prayed for a breakthrough.
Thanks to Ken Farrell and his company, Retro Tek, those prayers have been answered. Farrell started off converting old mechanical fuel injection systems (Hilborn & Enderle) when the first aftermarket EFI systems became available. His new system, which uses the latest in EFI mated together with the classic Stromburg 97 design, came about when Farrell saw that there was interest in the benefits of EFI, but he also knew that they were lacking in the looks department. The idea was simple take the best aspects of both and add them together.
One of the problems with the EFI systems was the need for an engineering degree just to get them to work. Retro Tek has addressed that, as its new Injection Logic ECU was designed to give the novice a chance to get with the program. The Retro Tek QTC brings the tech stuff to real terms so that any person who can tune a carb can understand how to work the new system. Retro Tek says that its new PC software takes the ease of tuning to a new level.
While this customer wanted to use an external coiled HEI GM distributor, the Retro Tek system will work with the majority of factory and aftermarket ignition systems. For those with an LS1 engine, operating systems will be available soon, so call for information.
For those who want to have the muscle car look, Retro Tek also has a new 2×4 system that will fit on any existing four-barrel manifold, and 2×4 intakes are available new and used. It is a similar bolt-on using the same ECU, but the regulator is built in and the fuel system is a low-pressure design. According to Farrell, dyno results at Westech have been exceptional, and this is a great kit for a budget-minded build ranging from $1,200 for a single to $2,500 for a polished 2×4 setup.
We were on hand as the crew at Barry White s Street Rod Repair Company installed the system onto this 40 Ford pickup. The truck has been equipped with a Chevy engine, but the Retro Tek system will work on any engine. The install took only about half a day, and it is one that most folks can do in their own garages.
Retro Tek is a family-owned business with Ken as the engineer, Susan Farrell handling the phones and computer programming, and Ken, Jr. and Rebecca helping out where they can.
So, if you like the benefits of the latest technology but love the look of the old days, the Retro Tek system may be for you. Read on and see.
Looks are everything, and the Retro Tek EFI units, which are based on the Stromburg 97, look great. And with the installation of the fuel injectors deep inside of them, they work great, too!
The 40 Ford has been equipped with a 350 Chevy engine.
The first step is to remove the unwanted parts and pieces that will be in the way of removing the intake manifold.
The four-barrel carb has served the truck well, but the future is electronic.
With the carb out of the way, the valve covers and distributor are next.
With the carb out of the way, the valve covers and distributor are next.
Last but not least, the intake manifold is removed, but care is taken not to drop any debris into the intake ports.
As with any intake manifold installation, the mating surfaces need to be very clean so that the gaskets will seal well. Here, an angle grinder has been equipped with a light sanding disc, and a few soft passes are made to clean up any remaining residue from the old manifold.
A few hits with compressed air are used to remove any remaining debris.
Gasket material is used on the end rails. It is allowed to set up slightly before the new intake manifold is set in place.
A few passes around the water openings ensure that there is a good seal.
The gaskets are set in place. Some gaskets are designed to be installed with a certain side up, so look over the gaskets to be sure that they are installed correctly.
The Retro Tek system comes fully assembled, but the throttle bodies need to be removed so that the intake manifold can be installed.
The reason that the carbs need to be removed to install the manifold is because the Offenhauser manifold has one mounting point that is actually inside the runner.
The intake manifold is gently set in place, taking care not to disturb the gaskets.
The mounting bolts are installed.
The mounting bolts are installed.
They will be tightened from the center out in a rotating pattern.
A vacuum fitting is installed at the rear of the manifold. Lines from this fitting will be split, and one line will run to the vacuum fitting on the fuel pressure regulator while another runs to the MAP sensor.
These gaskets have been equipped with a brass screen made by Retro Tek to help disperse the fuel mixture to a finer degree and to keep any debris from being sucked into the engine.
As these throttle bodies pass 225 cfm in their unmodified form, six of them would be way too much for the stock engine. That means that the two in the center will actually be blocked off, and the outer four will provide the fuel.
The throttle bodies are set into position.
The throttle bodies are set into position.
One little trick that Farrell uses when installing the throttle bodies is to use a distributor wrench to tighten the mounting hardware.
he stock fuel pump is removed from the engine, and a block-off plate is installed.
he stock fuel pump is removed from the engine, and a block-off plate is installed.
Supplied in the Retro Tek kit is a piece of 3/8-inch tubing, which connects the two banks of throttle bodies.
The pump provides 45 psi of pure fun, and the filter is a high-quality unit. They are connected and will be mounted onto the frame near the fuel tank.
The pump provides 45 psi of pure fun, and the filter is a high-quality unit. They are connected and will be mounted onto the frame near the fuel tank.
Once the piece of fuel line from the filter has been measured and cut, a few blasts of air are run through the line to ensure that there is no remaining debris.
The fuel actually flows in a circle, in on one side, through the throttle bodies and fuel pressure regulator and back to the tank. Here, the fuel in-line from the tank is connected.
he fuel pressure regulator is actually placed after the throttle bodies. This is done to maintain the highest allowable pressure available to the throttle bodies at any given time. In addition to the various fittings, this vacuum fitting, which will connect to a line from the intake manifold, is installed.
he fuel pressure regulator is actually placed after the throttle bodies. This is done to maintain the highest allowable pressure available to the throttle bodies at any given time. In addition to the various fittings, this vacuum fitting, which will connect to a line from the intake manifold, is installed.
Once the fuel pressure regulator has been mounted to the firewall, the line running from the out of the throttle bodies is connected to the side of the regulator. The line running back to the fuel tank is run out of the bottom of the regulator.
A fuel pressure gauge is supplied with the kit, and the system should be set to 45 psi. This is when the fuel pump is operating, but the engine is not running.
The brain of this operation is the Injection Logic ECU. It comes complete with wiring harness and sensors and features what Retro Tek calls QTC (Quick Tune Commander), which allows the end user to calibrate the system without a computer. It does this by the handheld tuning controller supplied with the Retro Tek kit. The Retro Tek can be adjusted (with the controller), even when rolling down the road. The Injection Logic ECU can be used to operate any EFI system, as well as blown and turbo applications.
An out-of-the-way place is found for the ECU, and the unit is mounted.
Wiring is simple since only three wires need to be hooked up to the car (battery, key-on power and ground). All of the sensor wires are connected with weather-pac GM connectors that are distinct in their appearance, so they can t be confused.
The lead from the ECU is to the water temperature sensor. With this information, the ECU is able to detect engine temp and supply the correct amount of fuel
The throttle-positioning sensor tells the ECU how open the blades are and how fast the blades are opening. This info allows the ECU to apply the appropriate fuel flow for any given situation.
And the job is done. The Retro Tek 6-Pack EFI system is on and looks great. It also works as well as any carb on the planet.
This customer wanted to go with the scoops, but notice that there is a small air cleaner element fitted into it.
ARTICLE SOURCES
Barry's Speed Shop
(Barry White's Street Rod Repair Co.)
1640 Commerce St.
Corona, CA 92880
(951) 273-9284
RetroTec
12705 S. Van Ness Ave
Hawthorne, CA 90250
(323) 599-5032
