Rebuilding the CAT 3208 Diesel
Since information from Caterpillar is always held very tight within the family it was very hard to get an accurate history of how the relationship all came about, so if I’m a bit off in my timeline, forgive me. I assure you, it won’t affect the content of this article. The bottom line is, Ford
Take The War Out Of Warranty Claims
While it may have been an uncomfortable topic for some, I feel I succeeded with the previous column. Of course there are always those who dispute the need for personal responsibility. Since we live in a world full of handouts and government programs, why be responsible for yourself? I have a good friend who describes
Where Will Your Next Generation Of Customers Be Coming From?
In the tough economy we are facing today, many of us are concerned with generating sufficient business to keep the doors open, often at the expense of anything else. Are you so busy worrying about today that you’re not thinking about the future? Let me try to give you an idea about having the best
SSSSSnake Bit!
In 1974, America watched 93 cars get destroyed in a 34-minute car chase. “Gone In 60 Seconds,” an independent film written, produced and directed by and starring Toby Halicki was an otherwise forgettable ’70s movie. The plot revolved around Mandrian Pace (Halicki) and his car thief cronies and 48 cars that they needed to steal
Performance Carburetors
Carburetors persist because they are relatively simple and inexpensive compared to electronic fuel injection (EFI). Most racers and hot rodders are familiar with carburetors and know something about how to install, tune and adjust a carburetor. They may not always do it right, but all they usually need is a screwdriver and a wrench. They
TIG Welding Aluminum Heads
To survive in the current economic climate, you must look for opportunities to become more profitable and still maintain control of your profits. You must always look for ways to keep more of what you do “in-house” and keep as much of the revenue you generate in the business. Whenever you can control what goes
2009 Machine Shop Market Profile – Part Two
Our story so far: • GM declares bankruptcy. • Chrysler emerges FROM bankruptcy. • Congress passes the Consumer Assist & Save Act of 2009 (Also known as H.R. 2346. Also known as “Cash for Clunkers”). • GM emerges from bankruptcy. • Ford pledges millions to help auto parts supplier Visteon emerge from ITS bankruptcy. Just
EFI Introduction 101
EFI has become the tool that has unlocked the next level of engine performance. Nowhere is it more evident than in drag racing, where EFI has taken over where the rules permit. Take Joe Dunn’s Pat Musi-powered ’68 Camaro that just rocked the competition with a 6.38 @ 218 mph pass. Its 755 cid big-block
Why Buying That New Machine Is The Right Thing To Do Right Now
Why am I saying to upgrade and buy now? Well, I’ll tell you why: because if your equipment is behind the times it can’t create the tolerances that today’s engines require. So why now? After all, the market is in decline, business is off, times are really tough, right? Blah, blah, blah! Yes, the market
Engine Part Coatings: Is Beauty Only Skin Deep?
Outside of the engine building community, people think of coatings and think of something dipped in chocolate and rolled in candy. For us it’s a little different, especially with engine coatings – even though it may be candy to your engine parts business. So let’s just clear this up right now: there is no caramel,
Understanding Dyno Numbers’ Place in Your Business
It is very difficult to cover all of what you need to know about dyno testing in an article of this length, but perhaps I can take a swing at nailing some of the critical information down. Dyno testing is an important part of engine development programs and can provide an improvement in quality control
Engine Blocks & Cylinder Sleeves
In our February 2009 issue, Technical Editor Larry Carley provided a comprehensive overview of the changes in engine blocks over the years. Thanks in part to natural attrition (after all, many of the most popular engines were actually designed and built more than 50 years ago) and the high price for scrap metal in the