AutoWorks

21/09/2026

🔧 RETRO TECH: OLD FORD, MODERN CONTROL

The classic Ford body, straight-six engine and “Power by Ford” rocker cover remain—but the technology has moved forward.

Turbocharging gives the original six more airflow and power, while electronic fuel injection and individual ECU-controlled coils provide accurate fuel and ignition control.

The ECU can adjust for boost, engine temperature, intake temperature and load while also providing engine protection.

But modern parts alone don’t guarantee reliability. The fuel system, wiring, cooling, turbo oil supply and tuning must all work together.

The goal isn’t to turn it into a modern vehicle. It’s to keep the character of the original Ford while improving its power, driveability and protection.

Old-school character. Modern control.

Autoworks Performance Centre

18/09/2026

🔥 Are side pipes or side-exit exhausts legal?

In Queensland, they can be—but simply pointing the exhaust out the side does not make it compliant.

For a passenger vehicle, the outlet generally needs to:

• Finish behind the back seat
• Extend to the edge of an enclosed body
• Stay within the vehicle’s widest point
• Discharge rearward or towards the right
• Point horizontally or no more than 45° downwards
• Remain below 750 mm from the ground

The exhaust must also retain effective silencing and emissions equipment, meet the applicable noise limit and not create a dangerous hot surface or projection.

That applies to full-length side pipes and shorter side-exit exhausts.

Legal comes down to the complete installation—not just where the pipe exits.

Autoworks Performance Centre

17/09/2026

Carburettors have their place. So does fuel injection.

Sometimes the choice is dictated by the racing class. Other times it comes down to the vehicle, the build or simply what the owner prefers.

A properly set-up carburettor can work extremely well. EFI offers precise control, compensation, data logging and engine protection.

Neither is automatically right.

Your car. Your choice. No judgement—we’ll help make it work properly.

Autoworks Performance Centre

17/09/2026

🌡️ A better intercooler is about more than the peak number.

This 79 Series improved from 161.5 hp to 191.4 hp following an intercooler upgrade and tuning—a gain of 29.9 hp.

More importantly, controlling charge-air temperature helps reduce heat soak and maintain more consistent performance under sustained load.

Exactly what matters in a hard-working LandCruiser.

Autoworks Performance Centre

16/09/2026

. Fuel Pressure

⛽ Fuel pressure is one of the most important things to monitor on a performance engine.

An engine can have perfectly sized injectors and a good tune, but if fuel pressure drops under load the engine can quickly run lean.

A proper fuel system needs to consider:

✅ Pump capacity
✅ Fuel pressure regulator
✅ Filters
✅ Line size
✅ Electrical supply to the pump
✅ Fuel pressure under actual load

For modified and boosted vehicles, fuel pressure data can also be logged through the ECU.

15/09/2026

🔧 Seriously… when did the automotive trade get this complicated?

One oil filter? Nope.
Now there are 47 different part numbers for engines that look almost identical.

Engine oil? Forget it.

5W-30 isn’t just 5W-30 anymore. Now we’ve got different ACEA specs, API specs, OEM approvals, low-SAPS, mid-SAPS, diesel-specific, petrol-specific, DPF-compatible, timing-belt-in-oil compatible…

Then we get to:

😵 Air filters
😵 Cabin filters
😵 Brake pads
😵 Spark plugs
😵 Batteries
😵 Sensors

Two cars built in the same year, same model, same engine size… and somehow they can still take different parts.

And people wonder why we ask for the VIN.

The modern automotive trade isn’t just about knowing how to fit a part anymore.

It’s about making damn sure you’ve got the right one first.

15/09/2026

🔧 More boost means more torque—and the original clutch may no longer cope.

This Xtreme twin-plate clutch provides the extra holding capacity, but modified cars always involve compromise. Stronger clutches can be less forgiving, and transferring more torque places greater load on the gearbox, driveshafts and differential.

More power doesn’t remove the weak point. It often moves it.

14/09/2026

13/09/2026

Clutch fluid shouldn’t look like this.

Dark, contaminated fluid can damage seals and affect clutch operation. Time for a flush.

11/09/2026

This little MAP sensor spends all week under pressure. 💨

But it’s Saturday morning—time to drop the boost and chill.

Have a great weekend!