For almost 30 years now, Engine Builder has been asking the professionals in this industry about business. We ask you for detailed information on how much you charge, how much you make, how much you spend and how much you have left over. We compile all of this information...
In 1973, I was a sportsman drag racer. My car was the two-ton orange ’57 Mercury named, “The Big Animal.” The transplant engine was a pure stock Ford 427 FE 8V low riser I called “Old Reliable,” shifted by a top loader four-speed with a Hurst Competition Plus shifter. In...
While automotive trends come and go, true collectors develop a personal taste that grows more interesting and eclectic as time passes. Sometimes it comes down to owning things truly unique and one-of-a-kind. This GMC inline-6 is all of that and more. The 302 cid inliner is one of the most...
Last March, when Ed “Isky” Iskenderian picked up the Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Hot Rod & Restoration Show in Indianapolis, he talked about the automobile engine business in the early years. The Iskenderians were Armenians who fled Turkey and came to America around 1910, settling...
When the gun fires, the Christmas Tree flashes down or the green flag flies, you don’t start the race hoping for mediocrity – you expect to win. As much as we try to remain humble, let’s admit that the real goal of our business is to be more successful...
Did you know that as engine builders, we were green long before green became the IN thing? We were green even before Kermit said it wasn’t easy. How are we green, you ask? We are green because we rebuild, which means we recycle. Green is defined as: • Relating...
Well, maybe not yet. But can you think of anything more boring than the same old 350 Chevy motor in every hot rod at the burger joint on a Friday night? I mean really? I was in a shop recently and commented about the Chrysler Hemi heads on the bench....
It’s a late-August Sunday in 1988 and I am staging up my Outlaw Pro Stocker for the final at the World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova, IL. I am driving my legendary ’79 Mercury Zephyr (Zeke) powered by the NOS assisted 1,600 hp “Monolith,” a 672-inch Kaase Boss Hemi...
Q:I’ve noticed the main bearing bores on some Cat diesels seem to be bigger than others. Can they still be rebuilt? A:The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding a main bearing housing bore caution for 1997-2007 Caterpillar diesel engines. Oversize main bearing bores have been reported during engine...
Q: We’ve had complaints of recurring oil leaks around the cylinder head on some Cummins diesel engines. Any suggestions? A: The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding revised studded cylinder head bolts for Cummins 10.0L and 11.0L, L10 and M11 diesel engines. This information should be used any...
Approximately how much can you grind off a crankshaft on a DDC diesel engine? The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding crankshaft remanufacturing specifications for 1986-2007 DDC 11.1, 12.7 and 14.0L diesel engines.The crankshaft for the above mentioned 60 Series engines can be remanufactured during the engine building...
Is it okay to reuse connecting rod bolts on some late model GM engines? The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding revised connecting rod bolt torque for 1997-2007 GM 4.8, 5.3, 5.7 and 6.0L engines. This information applies to all current GEN III and IV design small block...
Q: We’ve had complaints of oil leaking from the rear cover area on some late model GM engines. Any ideas? A: The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding a rear engine oil leak on 2003-’06 GM 4.8, 5.3, 5.7, 6.0 and 7.0L engines. Upon initial inspection, this...
The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding a cylinder head bolt caution and installation for 2001-2002 Kia 1.5L DOHC engines. Information published in the 2001 and 2002 service manuals for this engine is inaccurate. The 2001 Rio service manual incorrectly specifies the cylinder head bolt torque values as...
Can you tell me if there is an updated exhaust manifold torque specification for GEN III engines? The AERA Technical Com-mittee offers the following information regarding exhaust manifold bolt and torque update on 1998-2003 GEN III 4.8L, 5.3L, 5.7L and 6.0L engines. A new exhaust manifold bolt and torque specification...
What is the proper main bearing installation procedure for Chrysler Hemi engines? The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding crankshaft main bearing installation procedures for 2003-’06 DaimlerChrysler 5.7L and 6.1L Hemi engines. This procedure is for crankshafts previously removed from the cylinder block. It is important to first...
Q. While working on a 2004 Mitsubishi 2.4L G69M engine, I got confused about the correct valve lash specs. Can you explain? A. The AERA Technical Committee says Mitsubishi’s published information seems to have listed incomplete specifications as two different camshaft profiles were use. The following information regarding the correct...
The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding a cylinder boring caution for 1999-2006 GM 6.0L VIN U engines. These engines are the newest version of the small block series and have been commonly called Gen III engines. It has been reported that cylinder bore distortion is prevalent in...
We’ve had customer complaints about recurring MILs (malfunctioning indicator light) on some Chrysler 3.2 and 3.5L engines. Any idea what’s going on? The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding a revised valve spring for 1998-2004 Chrysler 3.2 and 3.5L VIN J, G, K, M & V engines. This...
Q: Are the cracked exhaust seats in the Cummins 5.9L diesel engine found in the Ram pickup a cause for concern? A: The AERA Technical Committee says cracked exhaust seats on 1998-2006 Cummins/Chrysler 5.9L diesel engines have been reported by other AERA members as well. The 24 valve engines with...
