Hello and welcome to ModifiedRydz.com. A new web site that will expose the thrilling pursuit of individualism through cars, trucks and everything else that drives. We will explore what makes them all different from custom paint jobs to turbo charged madness we will expose the minds of men and women that find gratification and individualism in their vehicles. We hope that we can feed the beast as we stalk the streets for the information you need to have to end your hunger.

2005 Dodge Ram SRT-10 Review Below

Dodge trucks I my perceptive have always been a farm truck the work horse of the farm but somehow my perceptive has changed a lot with the new 2005 STR10. The exterior of the SRT10 test truck was bright red which fit it well. The front end of the truck is lowered for aerodynamics and takes on a mean appearance with its grill and hood. The front fascia helps direct air toward the brakes to cool down. You can tell that this bad boy isn’t going to have any problems getting air.

The truck is fitted with 22 inch polished aluminum rims that gives the truck a great platform to burn unneeded rubber. The center caps on the rims have the Dodge Ram  symbol and make you want to grab something as they spin. The rear end of this truck looks just as mean as the front with its dual exhaust tips and spoiler that is mounted on the rear tailgate it gives it a look that has speed written all over it.

The interior of this truck screams just as loud as the exterior. The seats of this truck are trimmed out in leather and suede with SRT10 embroider in the headrests. Fitted with an Infinity stereo and speaks and a hidden amplifier that is under the middle seat the SRT10 thumps and has more than enough sound.

The exterior and interior of this truck are very desirable but his truck is all about power. The SRT10 is the fastest production truck to date and is ahead of Ford’s fastest truck the Lighting. The SRT10 has a roaring 500 horsepower with its 8.3-liter V10 Viper motor. Pushing 525 pounds of torque this bad boy will throw you back in your seat.

Having that much horsepower and torque the six-speed transmission with a Hurst shifter makes it a thrill ride as you glide through the gears. The truck not only has power but stability and seems to hold the road great. Reaching high speeds and turning this truck gave no indication that it would slip and lose control.

Coming down the hills from Estes Park, Colorado this truck was stable through sharp corners and gives the driver total control when other trucks would slide and lose control. Out in the plains of Colorado and in my neck of the woods this truck screamed down the road going a 140mph and testing the brakes from that speed brought an unbelievable smooth controlled stop. This maneuver proved the control of the ABS computer and made me wonder why the truck didn’t come with a four point seat belt like it’s cousin the Viper does.

PROCTER & GAMBLE CLEANS UP THE SPORT COMPACT DRAG RACING SCENE  – Mr. Clean AutoDry(tm) Carwash To Sponsor NDRA Events and Add NOPI Marks to Packaging – ATLANTA – June 7, 2004 – One of the world’s most trusted brands plans to clean up the $3.2 billion sport compact scene by teaming up with the largest and most lucrative sport compact drag racing series, the NDRA (NOPI Drag Racing Association) to bring a new way to wash your car to millions of car enthusiasts. Today, the NDRA and Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) announced a unique sponsorship agreement that will name P&G’s revolutionary Mr. Clean AutoDry(tm) Carwash system as the official carwash product of the NDRA and the NOPI Nationals. Mr. Clean AutoDry Carwash cleans all vehicle surfaces and eliminates the need to hand-dry after washing. Spot-free results are guaranteed. As part of the deal, P&G and NOPI will rev up a licensing agreement that will include NOPI’s official trademarks on packages of Mr. Clean AutoDry Carwash. “This is a great opportunity for all parties involved,” explained Michael Meyers, CEO of NOPI, one of the largest distributors of automotive parts for the tuner market. “We could not ask for a better partner than P&G and Mr. Clean AutoDry Carwash. The licensing agreement and the sponsorship of all NOPI events will provide both parties with more visibility, credibility and legitimacy in the auto industry.” Over 20,000 fans attended the first NDRA event of the season at Virginia Motorsports Park, where racing fans saw a number of drag racing records fall. With 12 events, 60 professional teams and a party atmosphere that appeals to a young demographic of car enthusiasts, the NDRA is the premier sport compact racing experience and an attractive outlet for mainstream sponsors to connect with potential customers. The sport compact racing scene has become a growing demographic that is coveted by mainstream and automotive marketers. According to SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association), there are approximately 58 million enthusiasts between the ages of 15-29 that are influenced by car culture and purchase related items. In relation, there are approximately 8 million skateboarders, 2.5 million surfers and 6 million motorcross riders, making the car enthusiasts a significantly larger culture. As part of the agreement, Mr. Clean AutoDry Carwash will sponsor NOPI’s crown jewel event, The NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow, the largest import / compact car show in the world. The huge outdoor event is back for its 17th year, September 18-19, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. At each NDRA and NOPI event, there will be a special NOPI-style carwash using Mr. Clean AutoDry Carwash to demo the product and provide fans with a chance to experience the product before and after they race their cars. In addition, Mr. Clean AutoDry Carwash will have event signage at all race tracks, logos on all NDRA materials and public address announcements during the races. “Mr. Clean AutoDry participated in the NOPI Nationals in 2003 and we were thrilled with the enthusiastic reception our product and Mr. Clean himself received from the crowd,” said Bob Gilbreath, Mr. Clean brand manager. “Tuners get the fact that Mr. Clean AutoDry Carwash is a radical advancement in carwash technology, so it made sense to us to become a full partner with NOPI in 2004.” The Mr. Clean AutoDry Carwash system puts all of the elements needed for a home carwash into a single hand-held sprayer that eliminates the need for dirty buckets, drying towels and chamois. The carwash system combines proprietary polymer soap, a pure rinse filter that removes impurities from the final rinse and the sprayer to deliver the soap and filtered water. Mr. Clean AutoDry Carwash is the first at-home carwash to deliver a spot-free finish with no hand drying, saving time while helping to prevent swirl marks caused by rags, towels and chamois. The NDRA’s third season of events will travel the country for 12 races and culminate with the NDRA World Finals on October 16 and 17, 2004, in Ennis, Texas. About the NDRA The NDRA (NOPI Drag Racing Association) is the hottest and most innovative sport-compact drag racing series. The country’s top drag racers are also competing for more than $140,000 in prize money and for the Xbox Cup, the year-end trophy awarded to the top points winner of the series. The NDRA combines the highest payouts per event in professional drag racing with the lifestyle of the sport-compact scene, including the appeal of swimsuit competitions, the adrenaline-rush of burnout contests and the thrill of live entertainment. The NDRA was the collaboration of NOPI executives after they saw a high interest from the company’s young customers for something more out of the NOPI NATIONALS Motorsports Supershow. About NOPI Founded in 1966, NOPI (Number One Parts, Incorporated) is one of the country’s leading parts distributors in the $1.5 billion market for sport-compact automobile accessories. With six stores in Georgia, NOPI has more than 300,000 parts and accessories in stock for its worldwide customer base. In addition to providing quality performance enhancing parts, NOPI NATIONALS, LLC stages the NOPI NATIONALS Motorsports Supershow, the largest outdoor compact automotive show in the United States. About P&G Two billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the largest and strongest portfolios of trusted, quality brands including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Bounty®, Pringles®, Folgers®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Actonel®, Olay®, and Clairol nice ‘n Easy®. The P&G community consists of nearly 98,000 employees working in almost 80 countries worldwide. Please visit www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

NDRA SPEEDS INTO 2004 SEASON WITH RECORD BREAKING OPENING WEEKEND

— Female Drag Racer Lisa Kubo Sets Historical Record Time –

 

ATLANTA (May 4, 2004) — The NOPI Drag Racing Association (NDRA), the country’s largest and most lucrative sport compact drag racing series, opened up its 2004 season in spectacular fashion on April 24-25, 2004 at the Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, Va.

The two-day sport compact racing extravaganza saw the second largest crowd in NDRA history.  The weekend race was filled with record-breaking drag racing performances, more than 450 car show contestants and in typical NOPI style, evening activities that kept the more than 20,000 drag racing and tuner fans rocking into the early morning.

The story of the weekend was Lisa Kubo (Saturn Motorsports, San Diego, Calif.). Her 2003 Saturn ION Coupe shattered all NOPI.com Pro Outlaw Front Wheel Drive (FWD) records becoming the first driver in that class to record a time in the seven-second range.   Kubo’s record-breaking 7.722 seconds at 191.38 mph in the final round run, bested her equally impressive 7.828 seconds at 190.62 mph in the semi-final run.  For breaking the seven-second barrier, the country’s best female drag racer received a $10,000 bonus and was the first inductee into the NDRA’s FWD Seven Second Club.

Non-stop drag racing excitement filled the Virginia Motorsports Park the entire weekend.  In what many NDRA experts feel may be the upset of the young season, Craig Paisley (Paisley Racing, Hicksville, N.Y.) defeated the reigning Xbox Cup Champion, Ara Arslanian, (Bullish Motor Racing, Hackensack, N.J.) in the final round of the NOPI TV Pro Compact class with an exceptional run of 7.303 seconds at 183 mph.

Brent Rau (OSOFAST Racing, Farmington, Minn.), in his ACT Eclipse, kicked off his 2004 NDRA season in the NOPI Street Performance Compact Pro Outlaw RWD class by breezing through the competition and setting a new time record at 7.73 seconds and the mph record at 175.46 mph.  What was even more impressive was Rau’s victory in a class featuring Paul Efantis and his record 11 straight NDRA event wins dating back to 2003.  Car trouble prevented Efantis’ Lucas Oil Toyota Solara from reaching the finals.

In other NDRA race action, Joe Demaree (Super Street Concepts, Whitestone, Ind.) drove his way to the top of the Nitrous Express Pro 4 Cylinder, posting a time of 9.363 seconds and a top speed of 164.41 mph, defeating Gary Gardella (Gardella Racing, Jackson, N.J.) in the final round. The NOPI AEM Pro Stock class saw new names in the final round as Dedrick Medina (Linden Autobody Racing, Linden, N.J.) beat out Otis Evans (Phantom Grip Racing, Lake Worth, Fla.) to win the first event of the season with a 10.697 seconds, 116.58 mph run, and the BFGoodrich Pro Street Tire had a new winner as NDRA new comer John Shepherd (Shepherd Racing, North Lawrence, OH) who ran a 9.424 seconds final race and his top speed 153.84 mph defeated Orin Bivins Sr. (Boosted By Popular Demand Racing, Tampa, FL).

“Our weekend at Virginia Motorsports Park was a great way to kick-off the 2004 NOPI Racing Series Xbox Cup Championship” said Michael Meyers, NDRA President. “Our great fans, drivers and sponsors made this event a truly spectacular season-opener and if this is a glimpse into what our season will bring, the NDRA and its fans and drivers are in for a real treat in 2004.”

In addition to the great races, NDRA events bring the lifestyle of the sport compact culture to life.  NDRA fans got a chance to experience live entertainment including Kudzo and SOTO and DRJ.  In addition to the great music,  coupled with burnout competitions, neon competitions, foam parties, USAC & dB audio competitions and the debut of “NWE” (NOPI Wrestling Entertainment) Professional Female Jello Wrestling made the NOPI Race Wars Virginia a weekend to remember.

The NDRA will be racing into Bradenton Motorsports Park for NOPI Street Wars on May 15 and 16 in Bradenton, Fla.  For results of this weekend’s action and other NDRA event information log on to www.nopi.com and stay tuned for NOPI TV, which will debut on the Speed Channel beginning July 6, 2004.

About NDRA

The NDRA (NOPI Drag Racing Association) is the hottest and most innovative sport-compact drag racing series.  The country’s top drag racers are also competing for more than $140,000 in prize money and for the Xbox Cup, the year-end trophy awarded to the top points winner of the series.

 

 

The NDRA combines the highest payouts per event in professional drag racing with the lifestyle of the sport-compact scene, including the appeal of swimsuit competitions, the adrenaline-rush of burnout contests and the thrill of live entertainment.   The NDRA was the collaboration of NOPI executives after they saw a high interest from the company’s young customers for something more out of the NOPI NATIONALS Motorsports Supershow.

 

About NOPI

Founded in 1966, NOPI (Number One Parts, Incorporated) is one of the country’s leading parts distributors in the $1.5 billion market for sport-compact automobile accessories.  With six stores in Georgia, NOPI has more than 300,000 parts and accessories in stock for its worldwide customer base.  In addition to providing quality performance enhancing parts, NOPI NATIONALS, LLC stages the NOPI NATIONALS Motorsports Supershow, the largest outdoor compact automotive show in the United States.

SIX TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT CRATE ENGINE

Smeding Performance Offers Guidelines To Help You
Get The Right Motor For Your Ride

Rancho Cordova, CA (March 4, 2004)—Clearly, not all crate engines are created equal. Prices vary widely, and so do the components used in their assembly. That’s why Smeding Performance has put together these six tips to help you get past the hype, so you spend your hard-earned money on the right crate engine for your ride.

Tip #1: Pay attention to torque, not horsepower.
   “Everybody’s looking at horsepower, but they’re not looking at torque,” says Ben Smeding, owner of Smeding Performance. “Two different motors could have the same amount of horsepower at, say, 5000 rpm, but at low rpm, one could have substantially more torque. Torque at lower rpms is what gets the vehicle moving, and it’s what you need when you have taller gears or an overdrive transmission.” Smeding specializes in building stroker motors because this type of engine makes tons of torque at low rpms.
When you’re shopping for a crate engine, Smeding recommends checking out the engine’s powerband, either via a dyno sheet or a graph that shows the engine’s horsepower and torque output at various engine speeds.

Tip #2: Consider the block.
   An engine is only as good as its foundation: the engine block. So, you’ll want to find out if the engine builder started with a new block or a used block, as well as whether it’s a 2- or a 4-bolt block. If the block is used, how much has it been overbored?
“It’s getting harder and harder to find pristine blocks for rebuilds,” says Ben. “So we’re seeing blocks getting bored beyond .030 over. Also, if you’re getting a reman motor, you never know what you might be getting as far as it being salvaged, or was it somebody else’s problem?”
Smeding uses brand-new blocks for its crate engines to avoid these issues. “Because we use new blocks, there will be no rust in the water jackets,” says Ben. “That’s good for heat dissipation, and it increases the life of the radiator. Plus, the cylinder walls are nice and thick because the block hasn’t been overbored, and that also allows for better cooling. Also, we only use late-model-style blocks with one-piece rear main seals and we use a one-piece silicon oil pan gasket, which will help eliminate oil leaks.”

Tip #3: Look for signs of durability.
   Unless you love tinkering, you’ll want to get a crate engine that’s going to live a long time—and be easy to live with. For instance, Smeding uses hydraulic camshafts in all its crate engines, so you don’t have to check and set valve lash.
A relatively low compression ratio ensures that Smeding’s engines can run reliably on premium pump gas, too. Ben recommends getting a crate engine with 10:1 compression or lower if you want to avoid expensive racing fuel.
Other components in the engine can provide a clue to durability, too. “With the roller valvetrain that we use, there’s a lot less friction, so it produces less heat and wear,” says Ben. “Also, we use hypereutectic pistons because they fit a lot better, so they don’t rock and make noise and lose ring seal.”
Plus, Smeding blueprints its crate engines, and the rotating assembly is spin balanced to within 1 gram to assure smooth operation and longer engine life.

Tip #4: Don’t forget about vacuum.
   Camshaft selection is going to have a major effect on the amount of vacuum that a crate motor produces. “You would like to have enough vacuum to power your accessories,” says Ben. “All of our engines are compatible with power brakes and accessories.”
Smeding recommends getting an engine that produces 10 to 12 inches of vacuum.
“Big camshafts might sound neat,” adds Ben, “but in the long run, having a slightly milder camshaft is better. It’s more drivable, and you’ll get better fuel economy.”

Tip #5: Know the engine builder.
   It’s important to know what components are going into a crate engine, but it’s even more important to know the reputation and experience level of the company that’s building the motor.
Smeding recommends buying a crate engine from a company with ample experience—and you may even want to look for a firm that specializes in a particular style of engine, rather than building all things for all people.
“You build five motors and you think you know what you’re doing,” says Ben. “You build 50 and you’re getting better. You build 500 of one combination—the same engine combination—and then you really know what you’re doing.”
On the other hand, flexibility can be valuable, too. While automakers typically get locked into one set of components for their crate engines because of contracts and other purchasing issues, an independent engine builder like Smeding can respond quickly if there’s an improvement or a better part comes along.

Tip #6: Ask about a warranty.
   Some crate engines come with a warranty and some don’t. Some even come with a warranty that’s only good until the engine runs—which is the same as no warranty in our book.
Smeding offers a one-year warranty with all of its crate engines, and buyers can pay a little extra to extend that warranty up to three years or 36,000 miles.

About Smeding Performance
Smeding Performance specializes in building reliable, low-maintenance crate engines for truck, car and marine applications. These engines are not rebuilds: Smeding crate engines feature brand-new engine blocks and brand-new premium components. For more information, contact Smeding Performance, Dept. ___, 3340 Sunrise Blvd. #E, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742, 916-638-0899, www.smedingperformance.com.

HIGH-VALUE, LOW-DOLLAR 350

Smeding’s Chevy 350/330HP Crate Engine
Provides Amazing Value For The Money

Rancho Cordova, CA (February 11, 2004)—When budget and value are important, it’s hard to beat Smeding Performance’s Chevy 350/330HP crate engine. Compare the components in this small-block Chevy engine with other crate engines on the market, and you’ll be impressed that Smeding’s 350 retails for just $2,495.

Smeding’s Chevy 350/330HP is built with the same attention to detail and quality as the company’s renowned stroker motors. Unlike most economical 350 crate engines, Smeding blueprints the Chevy 350/330HP, and the rotating assembly is spin balanced to within 1 gram to assure smooth operation and longer engine life. Plus, Smeding uses reconditioned late-model 350 blocks with one-piece rear main seals exclusively, and no block is more than .030 over.

What’s more, Smeding builds the Chevy 350/330HP crate engine with brand-new top-quality components that are rarely seen in a budget offering. The Smeding motor features new high-performance Pro-Action cylinder heads with 2.02/1.60 stainless valves, 67cc combustion chambers and screw-in studs. It also boasts an Edelbrock Performer intake manifold, forged connecting rods with ARP rod bolts, hypereutectic pistons, Fel-Pro gaskets, a new double roller timing gear set, Melling oil pump and a split-duration .443/.465-lift camshaft. Plus, new hypereutectic pistons are used, along with moly rings, to assure a better combustion seal and virtually no piston scuffing.

The Smeding Chevy 350/330HP produces 330 hp at 4,800 rpm, and peak torque of 350 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm.

This economical engine comes complete down to the chrome oil pan and new timing cover. It even includes a new 8-inch heavy-duty balancer and an automatic transmission flex plate, both of which have been balanced with the rotating assembly. (For those who want to run a manual transmission, the Chevy 350/330HP is available with a flywheel for an additional $150.)

Smeding’s Chevy 350/330HP crate engine features 9.0:1 compression, so it can run all day on pump gas. And to reduce maintenance demands, Smeding uses a hydraulic camshaft. There’s no valve lash to set, so vehicle owners can treat this engine just like the one in a brand-new vehicle. It also accepts a mechanical fuel pump.

Smeding sells the Chevy 350/330HP for $2,495 (buyers can get a polished intake manifold for an additional $150). The small-block crate engine comes with a standard one-year limited warranty.

Smeding Performance specializes in building reliable, low-maintenance crate engines for truck, car and marine applications. For more information, contact Smeding Performance, Dept. ___, 3340 Sunrise Blvd. #E, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742, 916-638-0899, www.smedingperformance.com.