Publisher, Engine Builder Magazine
Crack Detection and Correction

First off, let’s get one thing perfectly clear – there’s no such thing as “flawless.” Like those shocking tabloid photos of that Hollywood actress who gets blindsided beside a bistro, even the most conscientious engine builder sometimes has to deal with surprising surface imperfections. And just as she has paparazzi to expose the damage and

Butterfield, Bubba and Me

Okay, so saying?“I have to play golf when I’m at the PERA?Annual Convention” doesn’t sound like the toughest way to spend an afternoon. But when you’re A; not much of a golfer (me), B; teamed with some industry bigwigs (Peter Butterfield of LKQ, Ken Carter of MAHLE?Clevite and Robert?Yarbrough of Bishop International) and C; expected

Hail to the Chiefs

With all of the talk of special interests, pork barrel spending and polarization, the political landscape across America seems hopelessly mired in rhetoric. But while it may be politics as usual in Washington, DC, on the airwaves and at both of the major party conventions, constituents of the Production Engine Remanufacturers Association (PERA) will celebrate

Supplier Strategies for Web Success

“Virtual education” is one of the hottest trends out there in the educational community, thank to the ability to provide real-time communication between teachers and students. Many public schools allow students to bring smart phones, tablets and laptops to class to facilitate the transfer of information and enrich the learning experience. If you think about

Musings on Presents, Prizes and Presidents

Sometimes these tips are of a very technical nature. Sometimes…well, not so much. “My wife decided to help me out this winter by buying me a new jacket to wear during the cold weather. She purchased a new camouflaged-colored work jacket. The jacket is just fine, except when I take it off and lay it

2012 Machine Shop Market Profile – Part 1

Because of the years of continuous data we’ve collected, we believe the information in this study is the most reliable data available for tracking trends in the production of engines, cylinder heads and crankshafts, as well as specific business data. While it isn’t always a rosy one, the picture that develops from our survey gives

Labor Costing Study: Rebuilding the GM 3.4/3.5L Engine

But in many cases, “performance excellence” takes a back seat to “excellent performance,” and for millions of car, minivan and crossover vehicle owners, the development and growth of the 3.4L/3.5L platform of V6 engines has been just as important. Back in 1980, with the introduction of its new line of front wheel drive cars, GM

Engine Bearings and Crankshafts: Best Friends Forever (BFFs)

Bearings appear to be such simple engine components. On the surface, they’re just half-circles of metal whose only purpose is to reduce friction between and support moving parts. The engine bearing has to establish and maintain a film of oil between moving and stationary parts to prevent wear to expensive engine components. They look like

Cleaning Engine Parts: Can You? Should You?

Here’s the kicker – those shops who feel that proper cleaning is too difficult, too time consuming or too expensive are actually leaving money on table when it comes to their engine parts. “At one point in my career, cleaning seemed like it was really difficult,” says Dave Arce of Arce Enterprises, El Cajon, CA.

Building Ford Strokers Engines: Make Most of a Windsor Block

  Nijssen, the Apple Valley, CA-based engine builder, operates strokerengine.com and builds domestic V8 engines for the U.S. and international (primarily Australian) enthusiast markets. He says he doesn’t try to push his desire onto the customer. “I don’t sell you what I like, but rather you and I figure out what you really need for power

Crate Engine Opportunities

To many engine builders, saying the words “crate engine” can leave a bitter taste in the mouth. The perception is, thanks to the wide assortment of ready-to-run packaged engines available from the OEMs, custom engine builders have difficulty competing. In an attempt to reduce the high cost of racing, many sanctioning bodies and racetracks began

Making Dollars and Sense Cleaning Blocks, Heads

Unless you’re starting with all new parts, cleaning is as important to your engine build as disassembly, inspection, machining and reassembly. Without taking the cylinder heads and engine blocks down to bare metal, you can’t properly inspect the castings for cracks, wear and other defects. For something so important, proper cleaning technique is often misunderstood, overlooked