Alabama FSAE Crimson Racing Excels with U.S. Chrome - U.S. Chrome NiCom Cylinder Plating

Alabama FSAE Crimson Racing Excels with Cylinder Plating from U.S. Chrome

U.S. Chrome are pleased to count the University of Alabama’s Formula SAE Crimson Racing team as one our cylinder bore plating success stories. Crimson Racing has entered Michigan’s FSAE competition for the past three years, achieving its highest ever placement at 17th place in the 2017 competition. Thanks to great engineering, dedication of team members, and quality engine plating, Crimson Racing set a university record in the process.

US Chrome Cylinder Plating Produces More Power

The Crimson Racing team reused an engine from their 2015 entry, which was fitted with a Yamaha R6 super bike engine from the mid-2000s. After installing high compression 13.5:1 pistons and a thinner head gasket, they were able to improve compression to 170 psi. After cylinder replating from U.S. Chrome, and switching back to the stock pistons, they increased compression pressure to 240 psi. These adjustments yielded a 20% power increase across the 6,000 – 10,000 RPM range.

About the Formula SAE Program

Organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Formula SAE program centers around student design of an open cockpit Formula-style race car, culminating in final competition where 120 collegiate entries are judged on the basis of performance, overall cost, and ease of maintenance. The goal is to design a racer for production by a fictional manufacturing company marketing to an amateur weekend autocross racer.

The FSAE competition started in 1980 at the University of Texas (Austin) as a way to have engineering students apply classroom lessons and techniques to real-world applications. The competition allows teams to use any engine they want as long as it’s a 4-stroke with a sub 710cc displacement.