The Leader in Diesel Performance
Want to conquer mountains with massive power? Banks Power’s Super-Turbo System turns everyday engines into powerhouses! This system combines supercharging and turbocharging for incredible throttle response and horsepower. Learn more about how Banks helped Mike Ryan’s Freightliner dominate Pikes Peak!
Banks Power Unveils Supercharged Twin-Turbo Monster Truck Engine
High-performance engine builder Banks Power is back with a monstrous creation: a supercharged twin-turbo monster truck engine! This isn’t their first rodeo with forced induction either. Banks has a long history of using superchargers, turbochargers, and even a combination of both (known as twincharging) to develop incredible power for unique applications. Learn more about Banks’ forced-induction expertise and the exciting new monster truck engine project!
Did you know Buick almost abandoned V8s entirely in the early 80s? Instead, they offered a lackluster 3.8L V6. Enter performance legend Gale Banks. Remembering his success with Buick’s 1976 Indy Pace Car’s V6, Banks applied his twin-turbo magic to create a monster 439 horsepower engine! While the production models saw one turbo removed, these Buicks became icons of 80s muscle. Still searching for a powerful, head-turning classic? Look no further than the Buick Regal and Grand National!
Lee Sklar’s 1923 T-bucket roadster pickup is a force to be reckoned with. This street rod is not your typical hot rod; it’s a powerhouse on wheels. Boasting a twin-turbocharged 350 small block engine that delivers a staggering 900 horsepower to a mere 1,700-pound vehicle, this T-bucket is more engine than car. With a mind-blowing compression ratio and the ability to be bottle-fed with nitrous oxide, this street rod is a true beast.
Classic Corvette Blasts to World Record Speed at Bonneville Salt Flats
Car enthusiasts, rejoice! Buckle up for a story of American muscle reaching legendary speeds. In 1981, a specially modified Corvette nicknamed the “Sundowner” claimed the title of “World’s Fastest Passenger Car” at the Bonneville Salt Flats. This feat of engineering was powered by a monstrous Banks 430 cubic inch twin-turbo engine, achieving an earth-shattering 240 mph. Even by today’s standards, the Sundowner’s power is a marvel, generating well over 1,000 horsepower on pump gas!
In 1981, “How to Build and Tune Cars for Performance with Economy” was published, featuring Gale Banks’ twin-turbocharged engine on the cover. The book challenged the traditional notion that performance and fuel economy were mutually exclusive. Banks’ innovative approach to turbocharging and engine tuning helped shape the future of automotive technology, leading to more powerful and fuel-efficient vehicles.
Unleash the Beast: Banks and the Birth of the Turbo Tuner
Car enthusiasts rejoice! Buckle up and crank it to eleven as we revisit the iconic Banks Power and their American Turbocar Corporation. These visionaries weren’t just building cars, they were igniting a revolution – the turbo tuner craze.
Imagine street-legal Camaros and Firebirds transformed into fire-breathing beasts. Banks offered a range of power upgrades, culminating in the legendary 700-horsepower monster featured in Car and Driver’s 1984 issue. This wasn’t just about brute force; precision handling kept it glued to the track, pulling a staggering 1G lateral force and leaving the 200 mph barrier in the dust…all with the A/C on! Stay tuned for the full story and how you might even land your own piece of automotive history.
Banks Power: From Big Block Dreams to Unexpected Speed Records
Gearheads, listen up! Buckle up for a story of innovation and hot rodding ingenuity. Banks Power aimed to build a monster of a land-speed record truck: a twin-turbocharged, all-wheel drive Sierra with a massive 502 cubic inch engine. But fate (and GM) had other plans.
Enter the underdog: a humble S-15 mini-truck. Using clever engineering, Banks “supercharged” the engine naturally, cramming cold air through a custom intake to squeeze out more power. The result? The Syclone smashed five speed records, including a whopping 204 mph two-way average! This underdog story proves sometimes the most unexpected rides become legends.
Gale Banks’ journey to racing success began in a humble Lynnwood, California garage. C.P.’s Auto and Marine, his first venture, faced financial struggles, but Gale’s innovative spirit thrived. Here, he pioneered the first inboard torsion bar setups for fuel altereds, a testament to his early ingenuity that would propel him towards industry leadership.
Gale Banks’ passion for engineering began at a young age. As a teenager, he built a remote-controlled tricycle, demonstrating his early interest in robotics and automation. This experience, combined with his love for hot rodding, laid the foundation for his future career in automotive performance and innovation.