Valve Lifter Basics and Beyond
Valve lifters play a key role in the valvetrain of pushrod engines. They go all the way back to the earliest days of the internal combustion engine. The earliest engines did not have pushrods or rocker arms. They were a “flathead” design with the valves in the block. The lifters (also called “tappets” because of the clattering noise they produced) rode on the cam lobes in the block and actuated the valves directly.
August 2017 Shop Solutions
At times I have had a main journal that just honed faster than the rest. Here’s my solution – maybe it will work for you as well. I cut some .001˝ shim stock and place it between the stone and journal and give it a few short strokes. The shim stock will stop the honing of that one journal and let the rest catch up.
Why Building a Working Website Will Make Your Business Work Better
It’s no secret that many of you thrive in business due to excellent, word-of-mouth referrals. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s one of the best ways to build trust and a pool of steady customers. However, if you aren’t seeing people come through your door via word of mouth, or you want to increase business outside those repeat customers, a working website might be exactly what you need.
Dayton, OH is a Hot Bed of Hot Shot Engine Builders
What do you almost immediately think of when the town of Dayton, OH is mentioned? Hey, that’s easy! It would have to be aviation and the home of the Wright Brothers Lifting that spindly flying machine into the air WAS certainly an accomplishment of huge proportions.
Trying to Find the Future in My Crystal Ball-Micrometer
The Machine Shop Market Profile in the June issue of Engine Builder was a bit of an eye opener for me. I was not surprised by the fact that the biggest problem we have as an industry is finding good help in the form of qualified employees.
The Lost Art of Knurling Pistons Takes Skill – And Guts
Thanks to my late friend Pete Baldoni, a former NAPA store owner many years ago, I am the proud owner of a genuine Perfect Circle Piston Nurlizing Machine (Note: Perfect Circle spelled knurl with an N). Pete gave me that PC machine years ago, after closing the machine shop part of his NAPA store.
Pontiac Museum Curates Pontiac Excitement
Pontiac Excitement! used to be a company slogan and Pontiac engines caused a lot of the hubbub. The first Pontiac in 1926 was called the Chief of the Sixes. It had a split-head six that was advertised as costing only pennies less a day than a four.
Engine Builder Shop Solutions – July 2017
Anyone with a Sunnen diamond hone head can gain more clearance on the bottom of the cylinder to main web area by taking off the factory spring setup and replacing it with the spring from a small block Chevy front cover seal.
ELC or XLC: What Type of Coolant is Right for Your Application?
Which antifreeze should you use in your diesel engine? It seems just when you think that things are starting to settle down, something else changes.
Under Pressure: The Importance of Getting the Right Amount of Spring Pressure
If we were to sum up the role that the valve spring plays in regard to its function as part of the overall valve train with one word, that word would be control. Considering that it is the predominant part responsible for keeping all of the valve train components in constant contact with the camshaft lobe, it’s easy to see how important getting the correct amount of spring pressure can be.
Machining Aluminum Engine Blocks
Aluminum engine blocks have been around for many years for both stock and performance applications. Aluminum has a number of advantages over cast iron, the most obvious one being weight.
Full Pull – Haisley Machine Builds Quality Diesels
When Van and Patty Haisley started their diesel engine and machine shop in 1985, diesel engine work wasn’t quite like it is today. Haisley Machine was founded in Fairmount, IN at a time when diesel engines used to only be mechanical. Today, of course, diesel engines have added plug and play electronic devices for more power.
