By David Reher, Reher-Morrison Racing Engines

“Under extreme pressure and temperature, the cylinder charge virtually explodes in the chamber.”

Back in drag racing’s Dark Ages when Reher-Morrison Racing Engines was building 287ci small-blocks by the dozens for Modified Eliminator, I used to wish that we could build engines without fighting for every point of compression. That desire now falls under the heading, “Be careful what you wish for.” Now that we are building scores of big-block Chevrolets with nearly twice the displacement of those vestpocket small-blocks, it’s very easy to end up with too much compression!

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By David Reher, Reher-Morrison Racing Engines

“Dynamometers have dramatically expanded the pool of knowledge in drag racing – and knowledge is power in our sport.”

In my view of the world, three discoveries changed the course of human development: fire, which ultimately led to the invention of internal combustion; the wheel, which evolved into the drag racing slick; and the engine dynamometer, which has been the great equalizer in drag racing.

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By David Reher, Reher-Morrison Racing Engines

“If we had Pro Stock cylinder heads fifteen years ago that were as good as the heads you can buy off the shelf today, we’d have killed ’em.”

I am truly astounded by the choices in competition cylinder heads that are available today. When I started my racing career 27 years ago, the only source for cylinder heads was a junkyard. Now racers can buy heads that are better than anything we raced in Pro Stock not too many years ago.

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By David Reher, Reher-Morrison Racing Engines

“Reliability is more important than horsepower when you have to pay your own engine repair bills.”

You don’t have to be a cardiologist like my fellow back-page columnist Dr. Torstveit to appreciate the importance of blood in the human body. I’ve watched enough episodes of “ER” and “Chicago Hope” to know that even a momentary interruption in the flow of blood to the brain can cause permanent damage.

At the risk of repeating a cliché, I’ll state categorically that oil is the lifeblood of an engine. The consequences of erratic oil delivery in a racing engine can be just as traumatic as the medical emergencies on television shows – but instead of comas and strokes, the likely results are broken connecting rods and catastrophic engine failures.

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By David Reher, Reher-Morrison Racing Engines

“A race car deserves the same respect as an airplane”

Racing engines are like dogs and babies: They communicate in ways that not everyone can understand. When Duke, my Labrador retriever, is thirsty or wants to go outside, he doesn’t need to send me a memo or speak to me in perfect English. We communicate in nonverbal ways, and he has trained me how to interpret his actions and expressions. I have also learned that if I ignore what Duke is telling me, it’s very likely that I’ll end up with a mess on the kitchen floor to clean up.

A racing engine will also tell you when it is in distress. There are early warning signs that indicate when something is wrong. If you learn how to listen to your engine and interpret its messages, you can save a ton of money. And if you chose to ignore what your engine is saying, you will probably end up with a mess in the bottom of the oil pan to clean up.

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By David Reher, Reher-Morrison Racing Engines

“We learned some shocking truths about valvetrains.”

In the last two months, I have discovered a new kind of power: the power of the press. I’ve worked with mills, lathes, and hones for thirty years, so it was a real challenge for me to sit down at a word processor and begin my second career as a writer. I genuinely appreciate the comments and compliments I have received since I joined the ranks of National DRAGSTER’s back-page columnists.

My sense of humor is no match for Bob Frey’s, and I can’t offer any insights into the human condition like Rev. Owen and Dr. Torstveit. I do know a little about building engines, however, and that is going to be my subject. I promise that I won’t deluge you with theory and analysis; my intention is to offer practical advice and real-world recommendations based on my own experience.

I don’t make any claim that my word is gospel – I’ll leave that to the good reverend. Other engine builders may not agree with my opinions about particular parts and procedures, but I know what works for us at Reher-Morrison Racing Engines.

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By David Reher, Reher-Morrison Racing Engines

“Dead valvesprings, like dead canaries, are a sure sign of trouble ahead.”

This is the time of the year when a racer’s thoughts turn to next year. The brief break between seasons provides a welcome opportunity to spend some time thinking rather than wrenching. In that spirit, I’d like to suggest that the decisions you make in December will have an enormous impact on your chances of winning races next summer.

The most important thing a racer can do right now is to develop a plan. Without question, the most common mistake in racing is to buy parts impulsively without having a clear vision of where you want to end up. The result is often a pile of mismatched pieces that will never work together properly.

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By David Reher, Reher-Morrison Racing Engines

When I was a math major studying at the University of Texas, my career plan never included writing a monthly column for the back of National DRAGSTER. I also recall that it didn’t say anything about becoming a professional engine builder. I’m sure that my parents thought that my fascination with drag racing was just a passing phase, and that I would get a “real” job someday. That was almost 30 years ago, and my interest in engines and racing is stronger than ever.

Although I’m more accustomed to working with a torque wrench than a word processor, I am looking forward to this new assignment. Warren Johnson is a tough act to follow, both on the race track and on the pages of this newspaper. Just as W.J. and I have different approaches to racing, we have different approaches to writing, too. Don’t expect to read any theoretical dissertations on induction system harmonics or advanced valvetrain dynamics here. I intend this page to be a place where bracket racers and weekend warriors can get practical, hands-on advice about engines.

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