The Lost Art and Business of Head Porting
If I had my current shop rate paid to me in a lump sum for every hour I spent porting and flowing heads and intakes in the ’70s and ’80s, I could build a new race car. In ’76 when I started running Pro Stock, my wife Linda got me a SuperFlow 110 for Christmas
History in the Printed Word and on the Shelves
As most of you are hopefully aware – and many of you may actually remember – the magazine you’re reading today began life 52 years ago this month as Automotive Rebuilder. Through the decades, we have tried to do things right – supporting the efforts and extoling the virtues of the independent rebuilder and remanufacturer.
The Buick V8 Chainsaw
Competition is almost a given anytime there is two people or businesses employed doing the same job. The banter begins about who can do their job better and faster. In Washington state the lumber trade was no different. On off days, contests were held between lumberjacks to determine who could fall a tree the fastest
A Tale of Two Markets – Dealing with the Times
A couple of months ago, I approached this industry’s parts sales problem through some statistics. Now I’d like to look at things from another angle, or maybe two. I don’t think there is one reader who would argue that engine parts sales today are much different than they were even 10 years ago. Though it doesn’t
Making New and Improved Vintage Motorcycle Engines
Bruce G. Argetsinger of Branford, CT, is a tool and die maker who found a niche manufacturing racing engine parts for vintage Harley and Indian motorcycles. His motivation for manufacturing such items grew out of his own motorcycle-racing career and explains the trade name that Bruce uses – EnfieldRacing.com. He operates Enfield as a division
50 Years Gone, 50 More To Come
The annual SEMA Show is often viewed as a celebration of excess held in the town where too much is never enough. This year’s gathering in Las Vegas was certainly no exception. Thousands of exhibitors (more than 2,400) catered to nearly 70,000 buyers, who trekked across nearly 3 million square feet of exhibit space, features
Understanding Diesel Diagnostic Trouble Code P0251
When working on Cummins engines that are Common-Rail injected (2003 MY and up), you may experience diagnostic trouble code P0251. The customer complaint is usually a loss of power when the truck is in a hard pull, especially when towing. I see this quite often at the shop. This code can be somewhat chronic if
Top Fuel Racing Engines – Containing the Explosions
It’s been over 60 years since Vic Edelbrock starting experimenting with nitromethane as a racing fuel in the early 1950s. In the 60 years of hands-on education since, along with the help of modern technology, there have been some amazing results. Earlier this year, I wrote a Memory Lane column titled “Going Faster in 1954”
RELATIONSHIPS – Saving them without a therapist
How’s your relationship? I hope things are good at home, but I was thinking about at the workplace. Merriam-Webster defines relationship as: “The way in which two or more people, groups, countries, etc., talk to, behave toward, and deal with each other.” Have you ever stopped to think about your relationships with your customers? How
Celebrating Champions Past, Present and Future
Everyone loves it when magazine writers dedicate their December columns to a recap of the year just past, right? Okay, maybe not. Sure, if it’s been a great year for your favorite sports team, it’s awesome to relive the good times (oops, sorry about that, Golden State Warriors fans), but it can sure stink if
Head Porting – Going with the Flow
Flow…that magical, mystical word that is seemingly carved in stone anytime the discussion topic turns to performance cylinder heads. Whether you are a seasoned veteran in the engine wars or finalizing the specs for your first ever build, it is virtually impossible to avoid it. The flip side of that coin always carries another word
Don’t Throw Those Old Mustang Parts Away
Don’t throw those old Mustang parts away. That’s what Bob Perkins of Perkins Restoration (www.perkinsrestoration.com) in Juneau, WI told many Ford dealers back in the 1970s. Perkins somehow came up with a list of every Ford dealer in the country and whenever he traveled around, he would visit them and try to buy up their