Shop Solutions: June 2008
How To Handle Engine Diagnostic Nightmares Automotive machine shops are being asked more than ever to help diagnose engine related problems by a variety of customers. Repair shops, car dealers, parts suppliers and DIY’s are all in need of input from machine shop personnel. Two problem areas we see today frequently involve auto manufacturers designs
Shop Solutions: May 2008
Installing Cam Bearings In Vintage Engines I have found that building vintage engines can be fun and also challenging, especially the very early engines where assembly information was somewhat limited. Here is a suggestion that may be helpful when installing cam bearings in vintage engines: Save the old cam bearings, especially if the engine will
Shop Solutions: April 2008
Charging For Expert Advice Bench racers wasting your time? Our shop labor rate is $80 per hour. I sell my advice for 1/2 price! When a guy wants me to engineer a motor by selecting parts combinations and machining specs to achieve a specific level of performance, I charge him for my time. I explain
Diagnosing Idle Surges on Subaru Legacy Models
By Eric Seifert ALLDATA Automotive Technical Editor Steve enjoys mountain biking, and his 2001 Subaru Legacy has no problem getting him to the mountains and back. Yet it doesn’t like to commute. Steve called me after work one day to inquire about a surging problem the Legacy has had for a while. He said that
Today’s Oil Not the Same
A recent camshaft company Technical Bulletin said it best: “Today’s engine oil is just not the same as it used to be, thanks to the ever tightening environmental regulations.” The EPA, car manufacturers, and the American Petroleum Institute (API) have done a great job reducing emissions and extending the life of emissions control equipment. However,
Shop Solutions: March 2008
Debunking the 10 x 10 Crankshaft Myth for Customers We’ve heard a lot of customers say they need a .010? x .010? undersize grind crank because “the vehicle will be towing a lot of weight” or “this guy drives his car/truck real hard” or “this boat runs at high rpms and I don’t want to
Shop Solutions: November 2007
Solution for Pre-mature Camshaft Failure on Big Block Chevy Engines ≈Big Block Chevrolet engines are well known for being subject to premature camshaft lobe wear and failure. Here are ways to help relieve this problem. When replacing a hydraulic camshaft, instead of using the OE type of lifter (p/n 817 or VL37) use p/n 2095
Engine Builder Shop Solutions, October 2007
Intake Manifold Cleaning Caution – Ford 4.6L VIN ‘W’ Engines (1991-’98) If piston failure occurs in this engine, it is possible for broken pieces of piston to end up in the intake plenum. This is due to the design of the engine, which has tuned runners with the plenum located below the runners. The piston
Ford 302/351 W Roller Cam
In 1994, Ford started using a roller cam in the 351W. It
General Motors / Chevy 191/3.1L
When this engine was used in the plastic mini-vans, it came with cast iron heads and the old, original, carbureted, non-H.O. cam. This cam was used because the reduced lift and overlap gave it a smoother idle. It
Software Solutions For The Shop: Job Tracking Programs and More
Although computers began to make their way into the automotive aftermarket in the early to mid-1970s, only recently are rebuilders beginning to realize the benefits of shop management software for their businesses. One example of how shop software improves shop productivity can be found with job tracking programs. Job tracking allows managers to see the