Tom Pritt Performance

04/08/2026

04/08/2026

Just a video to show the magneto that was off less than 20 hours ago for a so called bad capacitor, now we have a points issue, found during annual inspection

04/08/2026

More fun and games. The right magneto was taken apart at a local shop due to what the A&P said was a bad Capacitor, well 20 hours later while checking timing I could not get a good light on the buzz box. ( usually indicates a capacitor or points bridging over) my guess is the A&P that replaced the bad capacitor the 1st time failed to see the damage to the points it caused and just threw in a capacitor and thought it was good. Yea 20 hours and the same mag is bad. Not to mention they left the timing plug out of the mag so all the water and dirt could get inside and destroy the plastic gear.
Great job to my local ( 11) nm distance from me shop.
I’ve added a video for anyone to see that you cannot make this stuff up
Chose your shops wisely

04/05/2026

Another laugh, and to show how these know- it- all shops and A&P’s do business. I was doing an oil change and compression check on Debbie’s Aztec yesterday. When I was removing the old Air Filters this is the Date I found on the filter, so 22 years worth of annual inspections and in this time frame no air filter replace ?? Again purchased in NC, at a shop last year, along with a pre purchase inspection. then taken to a nearby shop in Fl. Later due to things i saw and didnt like, ( 11) nm from me. Just as an example, how often does the average person check , replace his or hers air filters, even in an automobile ?? I doubt every 22 years. Fly safe.

03/19/2026

30' Maxon Cat for sale.
Originally rigged by Errol Lanier 1993
I've owned this boat since 1993 and it's been garage kept and maintained my me since 1993
Lingenfelter 540 SC Lee Intercoolers, 1150
cm Doninators on 8-71 Littlefield
Blower 12 psi boost 1000+ hp
6 psi boost 750 hp.
Stellings Headers.
At 6 psi boat will run 125+ smooth water
#5 SSM V Drives 1:18 gear ratio 31 P lab finished 3 blade props
Stellings Extension Boxes
Mayfair Steering with x bar Huber 1200
Transmissions
All new trim pumps and gauges 1994
One engine rebuilt by me 2020 due to Intercooler leak. Dynoed and run 15 min on Lake June Fl.
43 total hours since ownership 1993 at Grand Central Marine in Vienna Wv.
MYCO Trailer dual axle
$55.000.00

12/24/2025

2025 was a rough year to say the least. Having a ladder collapse while i was at 20+’ falling to concrete and breaking almost every bone where I hit didn’t help things. 1st Reason I was on my ladder was to replace security cameras that were hit by lightning that hit our home, not to mention the damage it did to the electronics on my Dyno.
All in all 2025 wasn’t really that bad as
I did heal better than expected.
My hopes are simple, I just want to get the Dyno back up and operating so I can offer an  independent service on tuning any type of Engines that could be brought to me.
I will also offer a 1 on 1 building service for anyone needing an engine built, whether it be for competition, street, marine, or aircraft. I offer over 50 years building experience and tuning for anyone looking for more power and reliability.
Some pics from days gone by at different levels of racing, from motocross to Flying, I’ve got you covered.
May everyone have a great Christmas and a happy and safe New Years for 2026.

12/23/2025

Coming up on 2026 and no dice on the Dyno. The 2 switches / potentiometers need changed, then another test 

11/04/2025

Engine building, Engine run in and Dyno testing to begin 2026.
Location to be disclosed pending.
My resume
Built 2 cycle Engines for Moto cross, Performance Quads, Snowmobile, Watercraft. ( Piston port, Reed valve, Rotary valve.
Performance Boat Marina owner operator / Engine builder since 1987
Vienna Wv.
Built Engines for Dirt Late model
All 13,15,18,23 degree and SB2.2. SB Chevrolet. and BB Chevrolet from 396 through 705
Cid.
Worked under John Lingenfelter, Sonny Leonard, Bill Hendren, Curtis Hershey.
My Engines have won many races, watercraft, boat, dirt late model, motocross and snowmobile.
None and I repeat none of my Engines have failed in competition and or in the Marine environment.
Reason for this post.
Sometime 2026 I will be building and Dynoing various Lycoming Aircraft Engines on a one on one basis for customers who are tired of having issues that continue to be ongoing. Examples 1 magneto issues, internal timing problems due to improper timing of points to rotor, and Magneto rotor phasing, I’ve seen many with improper rotor phasing from distributor rotor to terminal block, this problem usually only shows up at altitude or at high power settings, can also lead to crossfiring at terminal block leading to piston and cylinder destruction due to detonation. 2 fuel flow issues. Any engine regardless of its rated power needs fuel, on the average of .05 /.06 pounds of fuel per hp per hr. Turbocharged engines are critical to having proper fuel flow at altitude and high power settings. On the Dyno I can verify that fuel flows are correct for rated HP.
3 break in and HP and Torque verification. On the Dyno I can run the engine in under a controlled setting. RPM for cam lobe / Lifter run in, then at operating temps I will begin cycling the load and RPM to seat the piston rings, proper cooling is insured due to a 20,000 cfm overhead fan to insure cooling at the cylinder heads and cylinders.
Running an engine with a ( club prop as many engine builders do)
Cannot give precise HP and TQ numbers at RPM’s at 100 rpm settings, along with fuel flows at said RPM’s. only the Dyno with its load cell is capable of accurate measurements for this. Note* many Lycomings have cam lifter/ lobe issues that can only be addressed by proper technique to check and insure the lift and duration are at factory specs.
I will also advise on proper engine maintenance and operation to prevent damage as an Aircraft owner operator.
My own experience with my personal Lycomings are 18 years owning maintaining a Turbo Aztec
16 years of owning maintaining a 700 Aerostar, not to mention several other owners in the field. To this date I have not had any issues with cylinders and or camshafts with these Lycomings. This post is to let those who care and are tired of issues with their engines know that I’m here to help, I will also put my reputation as an Engine Builder and Tuner with over 55 years of Engine Building against anyone. Thanks for reading. Thomas Pritt

10/25/2025

Just some pics of some issues I’ve had and some that could be a fire hazard in the making. The intake leaks caused by over tightening the clamps causing the tubes from the sump going to the intake tubes which attach to each individual cylinder. 5 out of the 6 tubes were bent and air leaks noted.
2nd. Fire hazard issue. Turbo waste gate oil drain line hose laying against turbos on each engine. Note the one line is burnt in half and the other is starting to burn. If the waste gate actuator seal fails, the engine oil will go through this line that’s burnt. The turbo operates between 1500 and 1650 Fahrenheit in cruise flight. I’m sure most know engine oil flash point is much lower, about 440/460 F. So if the oil would pass through this hose due to a bad waste gate seal, the oil would ignite and begin burning in the lower engine cowling. Not a good idea. I won’t say what shop / shops saw this and elected to ignore what I would call a serious safety of flight issue.

10/23/2025

Engine building, Engine run in and Dyno testing to begin 2026.
Location to be disclosed pending.
My resume
Built 2 cycle Engines for Moto cross, Performance Quads, Snowmobile, Watercraft. ( Piston port, Reed valve, Rotary valve.
Performance Boat Marina owner operator / Engine builder since 1987
Vienna Wv.
Built Engines for Dirt Late model
All 13,15,18,23 degree and SB2.2. SB Chevrolet. and BB Chevrolet from 396 through 705
Cid.
Worked under John Lingenfelter, Sonny Leonard, Bill Hendren, Curtis Hershey.
My Engines have won many races, watercraft, boat, dirt late model, motocross and snowmobile.
None and I repeat none of my Engines have failed in competition and or in the Marine environment.
Reason for this post.
Sometime 2026 I will be building and Dynoing various Lycoming Aircraft Engines on a one on one basis for customers who are tired of having issues that continue to be ongoing.
I will also advise on proper engine maintenance and operation to prevent damage as an Aircraft owner operator.
My own experience with my personal Lycomings are 18 years owning maintaining a Turbo Aztec
16 years of owning maintaining a 700 Aerostar, not to mention several other owners in the field. To this date I have not had any issues with cylinders and or camshafts with these Lycomings. This post is to let those who care and are tired of issues with their engines know that I’m here to help. Thanks for reading. Thomas Pritt

10/13/2025

Was ready to start Dennis Dobkins 362 cid 13 degree headed SB Chevy that had machine work 2 years ago. Today as I was prepping the engine for the build I noticed a deal breaker. It had 50 MM roller cam bearings machined into the tunnel, anyone want to guess what mistake they made

Times up. The company who no longer does blocks, but now is a major supplier of cams ???? Said it was an over site that they forgot to cut the groove around the cam tunnel to allow oil that comes in from the top oil gallery to flow to the main oil hole on the bottom of the cam tunnel to the main bearings on a small block Chevy that does (not) have priority oiling like the dart blocks made today do have. If I would not have caught this as soon as the engine was started the main and rod bearings would have seized due to no oil flow. Yes if someone was watching the lifters the oil would have flowed there giving a novice engine builder a false sense of security that oil was going to the mains, which it never would have reached.