Engine Builder Tech Center
Lake Headers

Have you heard the one about the hot rodder who walks into the engine shop and asks for exhaust headers for a 1928 Hudson he wants to race on the dry lakes? Matt Legare of Gear Drive in Minneapolis, will tell you, “no joke!” He actually built a set of Lake headers for an 87-year-old Hudson that was powered by a Ford 351 Windsor V8.

Understanding the Mack MP8

The Mack MP8 13-liter engine at first glance seems to be very similar to any other modern day diesel power plant. It uses the standard emissions devices including the EGR system, DOC (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst), DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter), electronic injection and VGT (Variable Geometric Turbo). But, behind the scenes are some interesting details that make the engine unique.

Stroker Mania

Years ago, it was a big hassle and expense to stroke an engine. But one reason stroking is so popular today, is the convenient availability of the parts – usually sold in kit form to acquire those extra cubes. Many different strokes are offered from many different suppliers.

Diesel Performance Head Gaskets

The stock head gaskets that are used in most light truck diesel engines are robust enough to handle peak combustion pressures in the 1800 to 2200 PSI range, but may not do so well at higher pressures if the engine has been tweaked to produce more power.

Cam Bearing Selection and Installation

Replacing camshaft bearings during an engine rebuild is a no-brainer, but don’t take the process lightly. Simply knocking out the old bearings and installing fresh ones with little regard to bearing selection, sizing or alignment is a big mistake.

Camshaft Selection and Design

Choosing the right cam from all of the possibilities that are out there can make a significant difference in how well an engine performs. It’s all about balance and correctly matching the cam with the cylinder heads, compression ratio, intake and exhaust systems, and RPM range where you want the engine to produce the most torque and horsepower.

Shop Solutions July 2015

I made a quick and accurate piston ring aligner for checking end gaps out of a .030 over, 454 Chevy flat top piston. Just chuck the piston in a lathe and turn the ring lands down to a little under 4.000˝. The bottom of the oil ring land is about .950˝ from the top of the piston, and will align the ring in the block.

Southern Illinois Students Compete in COMP Cams Engine Builder Duels

Some of the nation’s best engine builders participate in the popular COMP Cams Engine Builder Duel. During the Du Quoin Street Machine Nationals, some future performance leaders proved that they are already very good at their craft.

Measuring Micrometers

Speaking from personal experience, after 37 years of measuring, engine dyno measuring, chassis dyno measuring and flow bench measuring are all fine and well as we use them as measuring tools. But what I think of as the big darn deal in measuring is cylinder finish.

Machine Shop Market Profile

As we move through our 51st year of covering this industry, the staff of Engine Builder recognizes that old adage – the more things change, the more they stay the same. What’s changed about this industry is, well, pretty much everything. What’s stayed the same is the dedication and hardwork of the professionals who keep engines running and customers happy.

Dynamo Dynamometers

Not every engine shop has one, but every engine shop could benefit from installing one. Sure, it can be expensive, it is loud, but engine shops with these in-house offer an extra source of income and the ability to test engines and parts. I’m talking about a dynamometer.

When Oil and Water Mix – The Marine Engine Market

For those unfamiliar with marine engines, there is a common misconception that these are highly unique devices. This simply isn’t the case. If you can rebuild an automobile engine, you can rebuild a marine engine. If you can build a solid, reliable drag or circle track engine, you can build, or rebuild, a marine performance engine. The key to success is understanding the subtle differences and being able to recognize the pitfalls.