Blasting Equipment & Media
In today’s society, finding “the next big thing” seems to be all the rage. We no longer want to do things the same way and seem to keep asking “what’s the latest and greatest?” High technology and computerization have made many tedious everyday tasks a breeze, from communication to entertaining to operating your business. But
Balancing Equipment: Weighing the Options
Engine balancing is an important part of the process of building a performance engine today. In order to achieve the maximum performance and long component life, all rotating and reciprocal parts of an engine must be precision balanced. To properly balance an engine requires specialized equipment to measure the amount of unbalance and to locate
Machine Maintenance: The Flywheel Grinder – Getting To Know Your Shop Profit Pal
[email protected] In the last edition of “Machine Maintenance” I challenged you to tell me who introduced the first portable boring bar to the automotive aftermarket. I must admit that I was impressed by the number of responses I received. Here’s the answer: Rottler Manufacturing from Kent, WA.It seems that the founding father of Rottler was
AETC Review
The 17th Annual Advanced Engine Technology Conference (AETC) was held for the second year in a row at the Orlando Convention Center, Dec. 11-13, just days before the opening of PRI. While the weather wasn’t frightful, there wasn’t quite as much Florida sunshine as the previous year either, but the talk around each morning’s breakfast
Core Corner, What’s Your Isuzu IQ?
[email protected] Here we are starting the new year with an optimism that hasn’t been seen for probably the last five years. From all indications, 2007 appears to be the first year in a long time that will be better and show growth for the engine reman/ builder industry. The decline of the market seems to
Understanding High Performance Valvetrain Technology
Parts are getting lighter, stronger and capable of producing more horsepower than ever before. One of the driving forces behind these advances has been the proliferation of aftermarket cylinder heads that require unique valvetrain components. In addition, new computer-aided design, modeling and manufacturing techniques are making it easier and faster for valvetrain component suppliers to
Over the Peaks and Into the Valleys – Hones, Diamonds and Bores
“Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find the recipe for perfect bores…your instructions are to produce bores that are perfectly straight and round. This message will self-destruct after five minutes. Good luck.” Although it’s not “Mission: Impossible,” good bore geometry is critical in order to achieve proper ring sealing. Bore distortion
Final Wrap: A New Year And Some Brand Spankin’ New Technology
Happy New Year! As you undoubtedly realize, this is the time of year when magazine editors typically write their columns on one of three subjects: How bad the last year was and assurances that THIS year will be better. How great last year was but expressing concern that the bottom will drop out soon. Or,
Fast Talk: Ward’s Announces ‘Top 10 Best Engines’
The winners of “Ward’s Auto 10 Best Engines” each reflect a changing environment within the automotive industry, according to the publication. Where past lists have been dominated by large-displacement engines, half of this year’s list is made up of 3.0L or smaller displacement engines. Only two of the winners are larger than 3.5L, and four
Performance Notes: EFI Now ‘Doable’ For Every Hot Rodder And Engine Builder
[email protected] It is rare that a new product comes along that redefines a category and a market. Take Apple’s iPod for example. Digital downloading and music file sharing was becoming popular, but a portable device to take your downloaded music with you was needed. Apple’s iPod did just that. Now it’s nearly impossible to go
Old Iron, To Satisfy Vintage Engine Buyers, Go The Extra Mile
Here’s the scene: You’ve just completed the machine work and assembly of a fine vintage engine. It may be for a restoration or a hot rod or a custom. You may have rattle-canned the block and heads and maybe wrapped it up in a baggie. To you, knowing that function is primary, the job is
PERA’S Core Corner: Ford 4.6L Front Cover Inquiries Top Year-End Wish List
Well, here it is the end of the year and, as I write this, the Midwest has just experienced its first major snowfall. Many of us are still digging out, with dire consequences for some, and school closings for thousands of children who are jumping up and down with joy. Remember when things were that