Oiling Systems For Grassroots Racing
One of the first things to look at when building an engine is the oiling system. Dry sump systems are very scalable and efficient but are not known to be inexpensive by any means. Wet sump systems, on the other hand, offer affordability and can handle some impressive performance applications, but using all stock components
Common Failure Modes
For years, B&G Machine had been a diesel machine shop serving Seattle and the upper Northwest part of the U.S. To address certain market conditions in the mid- to late-’90s, we began building diesel engines. In doing so, we tried to identify the engines that would best serve a captive market – markets that would
Understanding Spark Plug Heat Range
Depending on the engine modifications you’ve made, you’ll need to take a few extra factors into consideration before settling on the right spark plugs. These factors include spark plug seat design, thread length and diameter, and reach. One of the most important—and most misunderstood—factors in choosing aftermarket spark plugs is the heat range. What is
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: May 2011
Editor’s Note: In March we printed a Shop Solution titled, “Oil Pump and Engine Priming” supplied by Melling. Here is another opinion suggesting an alternative method of pre-oiling a newly rebuilt engine. Alternative Method to Pre-Oiling Tip I respectfully disagree with the published tip on how to properly prime a new engine’s oiling
PERA Announces Preliminary Annual Conference Schedule
The conference schedule includes a presentation on GM Duramax engines, tours of Melling, MAHLE Piston Rings, Roush, Dart Machinery, Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. The conference will be held at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest Resort. Tuesday, September 20 11:30 am – Golf outing (Tee Off 12:00 pm), lunch (Wine country
King Engine Bearings Introduces New Website
King Engine Bearings has introduced its newly redesigned website at www.kingbearings.com. King Engine Bearings produces high-performance engine bearings forcircle track, drag racing, monster trucks, tractor pulls, off-road andoff-shore racing applications, along with standard OE replacementbearings and bearings for the aviation market. The e-catalog allows users to search by model data, engine data or partnumber. The
PERA Announces
Gary Reed from Lock-N-Stitch kicked off the "What’s New and What It Means to You" series in April with a webinar about casting repairs. Other noted speakers are to include Bill McKnight from MAHLE, Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich from King Engine Bearings and Mark Ferner from Shell Oil. May 18 Understanding the Design and Function
SuperFlow Technologies To Merge With Dynamic Test Systems
“We are very excited to offer DTS dynamometers along with our existing SuperFlow dynos," said Scott Giles, CEO of SuperFlow. “We have always had a high level of respect for their designs and equipment and we’re expecting great things moving forward." Steve Matthiesen, vice president of sales and marketing explained the vision for the merger,
Media and Solutions For Cleaning Engine Parts
One essential aspect of engine building and rebuilding that cannot be avoided is the need for cleaning. Used engine parts have to be cleaned before they can be inspected. Parts that will be reused also have to be cleaned to remove dirt, grease, oil, carbon, rust, scale and other gunk that could contaminate a newly
Advances in Engine Component Surface Finishes
For their part, parts suppliers are often sympathetic to the concerns of engine builders. Alan Davis from Eagle Specialty explains: “There have been a lot of ‘snake oils’ and ‘voodoo’ in the past. Any results you can’t quantify by obvious results on the dyno or by other tests are risky at best.” Anyone who has
Honda J35 V6 Engine Knocks or Ticks at Idle
Symptom: The engine knocks or ticks at idle. The noise is usually more noticeable when the engine is warm. Probable Cause: The rocker shaft bridge has excessive clearance, which causes the rocker shaft to rotate and make noise. Parts Information: Flange Bolt (Use only if a bridge bolt fails): P/N 95801-08060-08 Intake Manifold Cover
Liberty Engine Parts Hosts AERA Tech & Skills Conference
"We hosted more than 120 customers and 25 vendors, which are both records for these conferences," said Liberty’s Tim Fisher. "Plus, we served 12 dozen fresh donuts and 12 dozen soft Philadelphia pretzels during the day in addition to authentic South Philly Italian food for lunch. So yes, you could say that we believe it
Variable Valve Timing Noise Complaints When Starting Mazda MZR Engine
Affected Models with MZR engine 2007 Mazdaspeed3 vehicles produced before April 1, 2007 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles produced before April 1, 2007 2007 Mazda CX-7 vehicles produced before April 1, 2007 Description When the engine is first started, some vehicles may exhibit a loud ticking noise from the variable valve timing (VVT). This is caused by
1999-2001 Frontier and Xterra Right-Hand Exhaust Manifolds Cracked in VGS33E Engines
If a cracked right-hand exhaust manifold on a 1999-2001 Nissan VGS33E engine is discovered when the exhaustheat shield is removed, installers must replace the exhaust manifold. If one of these symptoms should occur, use the following to diagnosethe condition, replacing the right-hand exhaust manifold and relatedparts as described. SERVICE PROCEDURE Diagnosis: 1. Installers should
Rebuilding the Chevy 3.4L/3.5L Engine
(Download the illustrated pdf here) We’re going to take a look at two of these engines, including both versions of the latest 3.4L that was used in the Chevy Equinox (and Pontiac Torrent) and the original 3.5L that was installed in several ’04-’07 Chevy cars and crossovers. And, we’ll give you an overview of what
Exhausting Emissions Questions
It’s kind of funny because 20 years ago, no one wanted a clacking bucket of bolts, let alone have to work on one of these diesel engines. That was simply how the diesel engine was viewed. Now, mid-size trucks offer reliable power, awesome torque, quiet engines and decent fuel economy from a vehicle that can
Federal-Mogul Launches New Electronic Catalog for Performance Applications
Federal-Mogul’s new eCatalog covers all of its brands and product lines, including Carter, Champion, Fel-Pro, Sealed Power and Speed-Pro. Users can look up and store multiple part numbers for the same job without re-entering search criteria. The catalog’s comprehensive interchange and numerical lookup tools help users identify the correct part even when they don’t have
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: March 2011
Inspection: Vacuum Check That Engine With the advent of foreign castings, some less than stellar, it is important to be more critical than before during inspection. I have a large vacuum pump that I use to vacuum check every engine’s water jacket before it leaves my shop. My pump pulls around 22 inches of vacuum.
Today’s Cylinder Block Choices Broader Than Ever
In this case, “best” power means that the engine does exactly what the driver – regardless of racing type – wants it to do, when he wants it to do it. It also helps the driver’s winning percentage if the engine makes it to the end of the race. Remember that old saying: “To finish
Evolving Crankshaft Designs and Applications
In the early days, a crank didn’t have to be very sophisticated or strong because most engines were an inline design, and the loads and speeds were relatively low. Fast forward to today. The evolution in engine technology, power and performance has led to a whole new generation of performance crankshafts that are a mechanical