Post-War Engines: The Greatest Generation?
“The popularity of the post-war engines being rebuilt is not much different than the pre-war models,” says Packard Industries’ Bob Rovegno. “GM rules the roost, with Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Buick leading the way, and surprisingly, Lincoln-based 383s, 410s, 430s, 462s are next and the old Mopar or Ford flathead V8s are up there in the top
Parts Sales and Profits: First Admit There
Yes, believe it or not, I am attempting to show a parallel between the famous Twelve-Step programs – plans designed to help one admit the size and scope of addictive or dysfunctional problems and reinforce the need to ask for help for success – and a plan we can create to resurrect parts sales and
Sizing Up The Valve Guide
Worn guides will draw oil down the valve stem and will coat or coke on the port side of the valve. This will hinder air flow and cause engine performance to be compromised. Too much oil getting down that valve stem and may cause mechanical failure due to the increased possibility of pre-ignition. Worn valve
2010 Stroker Engine Guide: Building a Late Model Hemi Stroker
What is the purpose of stroking a motor? The answer is simple: toobtain more cubic inches. And in today’s economic times, it’s alwaysbest to achieve “more” with less – as in less money. The key word tomany stroker enthusiasts today is “budget”. However, the word “budget” has a way of being interpreteddifferently by different people.
2010 Machine Shop Market Profile Part 1
Of course, Hollywood is always making predictions about the future thatdon’t come true. Where are the colonies on the Moon??Cures for allmajor diseases? And what about those flying cars we’ve been promised? This being real life, bold predictions can be fun to anticipate, butit’s the little changes that often have the biggest impact on our
A View From The Summit
Though they have no moving parts, weigh virtually nothingand rarely, if ever, are seen by the motoring public, the enginebearing may be one of the most important yet least understood partsunder the hood. Inthis spirit, we invited participants from the leading bearingmanufacturers to participate in a roundtable discussion onpre-determined topics. To answer questions and allow
Timing Chains, Sprockets and Gears
Look back at the events in your life an examine how timing has played a part in the outcome. When you showed up at party and met the girl who would eventually become your wife? When you stayed late at work and missed the 18-car pile up on the interstate? Even without realizing it, your
Selecting Valve Seats for Gas and Diesel Engines
Hard working diesel engines, performance engines, and engines that run on dry fuels such as propane or natural gas produce a lot of heat in the combustion chamber and often require valve seats that are harder and more heat-resistant. Stellite, chromium, cobalt, tungsten and nickel alloy valve seats are commonly used for such high heat
OHC Cylinder Head Rebuilding and Equipment
Originally featured mainly in European racing machinery from Fiat, Peugeot and Alfa Romeo in the early part of last century, by the 1960s companies like Fiat and Jaguar had introduced OHC production engines. It was advanced technology for the time, but today OHC is the norm for even the least expensive production engine. OHC cylinder
Rebuilding The 6.6L Duramax Diesel
It was really no surprise, since GM had single-handedly alienated the American buying public against the diesel engine beginning back in the late ’70s and early ’80s with the 5.7L V8 and 4.3L V6 diesel engines that were, let’s just say, “less than stellar.” While there’s no point now in rehashing mistakes of the past,
Diesel Turbocharging 101
The turbo was used on road tractors for years but I guess it was never really appreciated until it was introduced on mid-size trucks in the late ’80s. Up until that point, most of us knew only diesel engines without the use of a turbo. I recall the diesel engines used in small cars and
Valves: When to Reclaim, When to Replace
Performance engine builders can’t afford to take chances with questionable valves because they have to withstand high rpms and temperatures. Likewise, rebuilders who overhaul high dollar heavy-duty diesel and industrial engines want to minimize their comeback risks by making sure the valves they use are either new or have been carefully inspected and reconditioned to