Coretalk: September 2001
Ford Plans to Revamp Parts Distribution Network Ford Motor Co. is working to restructure and expand its United States parts distribution network to deliver service and repair parts to its dealers faster and more efficiently. Over the next three years, Ford plans to increase the number of parts distribution centers from 10 to 21, creating
Improved Productivity and Profit Are ‘Musts’
Do you set daily, weekly or monthly sales goals for your shop? Do you set profit targets so you
Know The Gray Areas, Or End Up In The Red
In past "Shop Financials" columns, I have talked about several things companies can do to automate their businesses that will improve their profitability. I have talked about ideas that, if incorporated into a business, will give crucial information for the decision-making process on financial issues. I mentioned statements like, "If you cannot measure it, you
U.S. Auto Industry Is Microcosm Of A Global Economy
In my last column (see December 2000 Automotive Rebuilder, Just Imports, page 32) we discussed General Motors
GM 302: Our High Output OBD II Compliant Engine
In my last column (Automotive Rebuilder, May 2001, page 24), I described an OBD II emissions-compliant 302 we built for a Chevrolet project car. This engine, running at 6700 rpm, developed 370 horsepower at the rear wheels through exhaust without converters. This thoroughbred not only shared the same displacements as its predecessor, it also had
It’s A Tough Market
Is this a tough market to do business in? You bet it is. Will business ever be what it once was when small block Chevy engines fit into almost every GM car, and machine shops had an abundance of both work and customers? Not likely. Will the quality of engines continue to improve, lengthening the
Valve Failure clues: Read ‘Em and Weep
> Valve failures come in all sizes, shapes and types. If you just look at them then sit back and do nothing
Making A Good Profit Margin In The Engine Building Business
As results from our recent Machine Shop Market Profile show (see page 21), making a good profit margin in the engine building business demands that you not only have your parts and labor pricing in order, but also your operating expenses fully under control. However, there are also several proposed bills working their way through
Media Frenzy — How Shot Blasting Gets Done
Opinions on which type of blast medium works best for cleaning automotive parts vary among engine builders about as much as the types of media themselves. One rebuilder may say he never uses a particular type of media to blast clean his parts, while another swears by it. Expand that out to the entire rebuilding
Rebuilding the Toyota 3.0L V6 SOHC Head
The Toyota 3.0L V6 was introduced in Toyota trucks in 1988 with single overhead cam heads. This engine was designated as the 3VZ-E and was available for the truck line until 1995. This eight-year run means there are literally tens of thousands of these engines and heads out there for remanufacture. According to
Learning Curve
As I travel around the country visiting with machine shops, I notice missed opportunities. One that is particularly noticeable is in the area of casting repair. I
Salvage Yards: From Junkyard Dog to High Tech Heavyweight
Salvage yard. When most people hear those words, they automatically think "junk yard" and may conjure images of the 1970s television show "Sanford and Son." That may have been true of salvage operations in the past, and those junk yards are still around, but today