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Auxiliary Relay: Do I really need one for my classic car?
Most American classic cars from the fifties, sixties, or some seventies never came with electrical accessories like factory-installed cooling fans, fuel pumps, or aftermarket driving/fog lights. In most cases, these vehicle wiring systems do not support the additional power consumption of these upgrades. Most of these accessories will be controlled by the ignition feed and switched on and off by the ignition switch. However, these components can draw a considerable amount of
Buddy Faulk
Automotive Electrical Information You May Need to Know
Before starting any electrical DIY project, whether you're adding a cooling fan or replacing the wiring harness on your classic car, there's some basic information you may need to familiarize yourself with. Automotive electrical systems are those in a vehicle that use electricity to power components such as the engine starter, lights, radio, and sensors. These systems rely on a circuit that starts with the battery and uses wires to deliver power to various parts, with the car
Buddy Faulk
Max Hurley's 1972 Dodge Demon Pro-Stock
Oscar Max Hurley, also known as "Max" from West Jefferson, North Carolina, established himself as one of the most prominent drag racers in North Carolina's history. Inducted into the North Carolina Racing Hall of Fame in 2009, Hurley's impressive career spanned 28 years, during which he claimed victory in around 280 races. In addition to his success on the track, Hurley was renowned for his generosity and support of fellow drag racers through his famous "Max Hurley Speed Shop
Buddy Faulk
Auxiliary Relay: Do I really need one for my classic car?
Most American classic cars from the fifties, sixties, or some seventies never came with electrical accessories like factory-installed cooling fans, fuel pumps, or aftermarket driving/fog lights. In most cases, these vehicle wiring systems do not support the additional power consumption of these upgrades. Most of these accessories will be controlled by the ignition feed and switched on and off by the ignition switch. However, these components can draw a considerable amount of
Buddy Faulk
4 days ago4 min read
Automotive Electrical Information You May Need to Know
Before starting any electrical DIY project, whether you're adding a cooling fan or replacing the wiring harness on your classic car, there's some basic information you may need to familiarize yourself with. Automotive electrical systems are those in a vehicle that use electricity to power components such as the engine starter, lights, radio, and sensors. These systems rely on a circuit that starts with the battery and uses wires to deliver power to various parts, with the car
Buddy Faulk
7 days ago5 min read
Max Hurley's 1972 Dodge Demon Pro-Stock
Oscar Max Hurley, also known as "Max" from West Jefferson, North Carolina, established himself as one of the most prominent drag racers in North Carolina's history. Inducted into the North Carolina Racing Hall of Fame in 2009, Hurley's impressive career spanned 28 years, during which he claimed victory in around 280 races. In addition to his success on the track, Hurley was renowned for his generosity and support of fellow drag racers through his famous "Max Hurley Speed Shop
Buddy Faulk
Nov 233 min read
Mooresville, NC. The passion for hot rods and drag racing is beyond paint and horsepower.
Faulk's Classic Car Repair , Detroit Garage , and The Speed Shop had the opportunity to attend the 5th annual Henry Dana Memorial Car Show at the Trackhouse Motorplex in Mooresville, NC, on October 25, 2025. Melissa Wise , founder of the Henry Dana Foundation, allowed us to unveil the restored Rod Shop Dodge Dart Sport driven by Bob Riffle at her show. The car was revealed to Bob's wife, Lucy Riffle, and his family. Although the weather was cold and cloudy, the reception
Buddy Faulk
Nov 233 min read
Engine Bay, A Sea of Distractions Part One
Most classic cars, especially daily drivers that have been partially restored, have nice paint and interior. However, in the engine bay, it often has some neglected areas or is filled with exaggerated adornments. It’s very easy to get caught up in what I call “Shiny Stuff”. All parts catalogs and websites sell many different chrome and brightly colored accessories. These parts are readily available, mostly affordable, and easy to install. They grab our attention, and over tim
Buddy Faulk
Nov 213 min read
Car Shows, It’s More Than an Award
I recently attended a local car show, and our entire team won an award. With excitement, I made a Facebook post thanking everyone involved and the car club hosting the event. A comment on my post made me think about car shows and the value of an award. The comment read: “I was stunned that a gorgeous 1970 Mercury Cougar there with Flawless paint, custom interior and Engine Cougar was not awarded anything!!! Shameful.” In a typical situation, you may have spent the last four
Buddy Faulk
Nov 193 min read
Is Your Classic Vehicle Grounded?
The electrical ground for your vehicle's negative ground electrical system is the most important connection. Inadequate or improper grounds can cause a variety of electrical problems. Parking, taillight, and brake lights illuminate when a power accessory is turned on. Low voltage or components not functioning. Corrosion, poor terminations, improper wire size, or loose connections can compromise these ground connections. The grounding system of your vehicle connects the neg
Buddy Faulk
Nov 173 min read
HEMI Penalty and The Boycott Car
In 1972, NHRA implemented a weight-to-cubic-inch penalty to control engine dominance in the Pro Stock class. The “Weight Break” rule created separate weight-to-cubic-inch ratios based on engine type to balance the competition and encourage smaller engines and compact cars. The rule established a new base of 6.75 pounds per cubic inch for small-block engines and a higher 7.25 pounds per cubic inch for big-block engines. It was designed to address powerful engines like the Hemi
Buddy Faulk
Nov 152 min read
Pro-Stock's Elephant
Chrysler's D5 HEMI Dual Plug Engine The D5 HEMI was an experimental 426 HEMI engine by Chrysler in the early 1970s for Pro Stock drag racing. The program was a top-secret project, as Chrysler wanted to keep the competition in the dark. Tom Hoover and Harry Weslake, of Chrysler, designed the engine to improve performance at higher RPMs, from 6000 to 9000. The key features included round intake ports, a wider block, a fabricated tubular intake manifold, dual distributors, and
Buddy Faulk
Nov 82 min read
Survivor for Over 50 Years
The Rod Shop 1973 Dodge Dart Sport, driven by Bob Riffle, has been a survivor for more than 50 Years. Bob Riffle was a distinguished drag racer who excelled both behind the wheel and under the hood as an engine builder. He was a two-time US Nationals champion and gained recognition for building Pro Stock engines. Bob held the position of Head Engine Builder at Petty Enterprises, contributing to the success of drivers such as Mark Martin and Ted Musgrave at Roush Racing. He al
Buddy Faulk
Oct 274 min read
Bob Riffle and The Rod Shop
Bob Riffle On March 9th, 2025, we pay tribute to Bob Riffle and his lasting impact on the world of racing. While we never had the...
Buddy Faulk
May 171 min read
What is a Restomod?
A "restomod" is a vintage or classic car that has been restored and enhanced with contemporary performance and comfort upgrades while preserving its original visual appeal. It combines classic design with modern technology and components. Restoration A Restomod starts with a comprehensive restoration of the car, typically aiming to return it to its original condition or to a similar state. Engine Modifications However, unlike a traditional restoration, a Restomod is modified
Buddy Faulk
Apr 196 min read
HEI Distributor Swap, Facts You May Not Know!
High Energy Ignition, also known as H.E.I., is an electronic ignition system designed by Delco-Remy, a division of General Motors. It was introduced in limited numbers in 1974 and was used on all GM vehicles from 1975 through the mid-1980s. Most HEI systems have the ignition coil mounted in the distributor cap. Instead of breaker points and condenser, a control module, and magnetic pickup are mounted at the distributor base. The HEI system produces a more powerful spark, whi
Buddy Faulk
Sep 2, 20242 min read
Wiring Harness Replacement: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started!
Like any project, whether you're tackling it yourself or hiring someone to do it for you, a little bit of research can save you time and money. First things first, always start with a plan! Changing your mind halfway through can lead to unnecessary costs and delays. Next, research the repair shop, parts, and technical aspects of the task. Even if you don't fully understand everything, a basic understanding can help you avoid potential pitfalls. Lastly, set a realistic budget.
Buddy Faulk
Sep 1, 20243 min read
Shocking Facts about Old Factory Wiring
Shocking Facts about Factory Wiring
Buddy Faulk
Aug 31, 20242 min read
Auxiliary Relay: Do I really need one for my classic car?
Most American classic cars from the fifties, sixties, or some seventies never came with electrical accessories like factory-installed cooling fans, fuel pumps, or aftermarket driving/fog lights. In most cases, these vehicle wiring systems do not support the additional power consumption of these upgrades. Most of these accessories will be controlled by the ignition feed and switched on and off by the ignition switch. However, these components can draw a considerable amount of
Buddy Faulk
Automotive Electrical Information You May Need to Know
Before starting any electrical DIY project, whether you're adding a cooling fan or replacing the wiring harness on your classic car, there's some basic information you may need to familiarize yourself with. Automotive electrical systems are those in a vehicle that use electricity to power components such as the engine starter, lights, radio, and sensors. These systems rely on a circuit that starts with the battery and uses wires to deliver power to various parts, with the car
Buddy Faulk
Max Hurley's 1972 Dodge Demon Pro-Stock
Oscar Max Hurley, also known as "Max" from West Jefferson, North Carolina, established himself as one of the most prominent drag racers in North Carolina's history. Inducted into the North Carolina Racing Hall of Fame in 2009, Hurley's impressive career spanned 28 years, during which he claimed victory in around 280 races. In addition to his success on the track, Hurley was renowned for his generosity and support of fellow drag racers through his famous "Max Hurley Speed Shop
Buddy Faulk
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