Engine Sealing Technology
Since the days of sealing engines with asbestos, cork, rope and paper are, for the most part, ancient history, new-age materials and designs have elevated the critical role gaskets and seals play in the longevity of an engine. Finding the optimum sealing material and design remain a challenge many gasket manufacturers face as engines are
CSI: Engine Bearings: When Good Bearings Go Bad
Engine bearings have the dual function of reducing friction between a rotating part of the engine (the crankshaft) and the stationary part (the main caps and engine block) and supporting the crank. Because of the stresses caused by the explosions inside the internal combustion engine, the bearing material must be extremely strong, so a durable
2007 MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown to Air Twice in December
Ann Arbor, MI, – Horsepower TV, a leading automotive television series, is devoting a full 30-minute episode on the 2007 MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown. Horsepower TV airs on Spike TV, a leading cable television network popular with automotive and sporting enthusiasts. The Showdown, which was held at the NASCAR® Technical Institute in Mooresville, NC, resulted
Hey, It
Wherever two or more shall gather… Somebody is bound to be too hot or too cold! It seems to be a fact of life, people can never agree about the temperature inside. This one says it’s too hot, while that one says it’s too cold. One thing we can all agree on is that we
New Metals-New Challenges
Cast iron is like an old familiar friend to most of our readers because it’s been around forever. Vehicle manufacturers like cast iron because it’s cheap compared to most other metals, it is strong and durable, and it can be easily cast and machined to make engine blocks, cylinder heads, crankshafts, connecting rods and other
Back to Basics: Reconditioning Connecting Rods
When you’re looking at connecting rods and considering returning them to service, there are many things you must consider. They are one of the most critical pieces of the engine puzzle and under great strain when in operation, so you must pay attention to the details during the rebuilding process. There are many times when
The Shermanator 347: A 530HP Gas Stroker You Can Build
A while ago Engine Builder ran a story on the popularity and basic dos and don’ts of stroker engines ( March 2007 Engine Builder). It received such great response that we are following up with a “real world” stroker engine buildup. In this case, it is an engine combination that is so popular that it
Tech Notes
Engine Builders: Maintaining oil drain intervals to those established by OEMs is always recommended because they know how each of their vehicles’ engines performs in the field. Always consult the owner’s manual for oil specification and drain interval. Premium quality motor oil will maintain its effectiveness over the life of the drain without a significant
Heat Treating Processes
Heat-treating is defined as the controlled heating and cooling of a metal in order to change its physical and mechanical properties without changing its shape. A material often hardens or changes characteristics as a result of some sort of process that has been performed, such as machining or welding and is therefore an unintended consequence
Engine Sealing: High Performance Head Gaskets
One thing no engine builder wants to worry about is a head gasket failure, whether it is a NASCAR cup engine, a Pro Stock drag racing engine, a dirt track engine, a hot street engine or even a stock engine. Stock head gaskets hold up well enough under normal loads. But as compression ratios and
Tech Notes
Engine Builders: After 75,000 miles, your customers’ engines can begin to show their age. They may consume a bit more oil or oil could leak past intake valve stem seals. Higher Mileage specialty motor oils typically contain additives that condition the rubber seals to help reduce oil consumption. They can also have high quality base
Head Gaskets – Sealing the Engine
Sealing an internal combustion engine has never been easy. In the last 100 years gasket manufacturers have tried many things, including paper, leather and even beef tallow, to try and seal the joint between the head and block. Today, engine leaks are not what they used to be but can still be quite a headache
Perfect Engine Sealing Starts With Proper Head Bolt Use
How important are the various fasteners in an engine? Consider this: the head bolts have to withstand tremendous loads to keep the cylinder head sealed tightly against the head gasket and block. In an engine with four inch cylinder bores and peak combustion pressures of around 1,100 pounds per square inch, each cylinder exerts about
Connecting Rod Reconditioning: More to it than you might think
The connecting rod plays a vital role in the engine. But a connecting rod is under tremendous stress, with the weight of the piston sitting on top, changing direction thousands of times per minute. This continuous stopping and changing of direction combined with the weight of the piston and speed of the engine hammer on
Information regarding the oil pressure regulator valve on 1984-’96 Nissan 300ZX 3.0L non-turbo engines
Engine Builders: The following information regarding the oil pressure regulator valve on 1984-’96 Nissan 300ZX 3.0L non-turbo engines may be helpful for your installer customers. When installing a new replacement cylinder block/engine in a 300 ZX non-turbo car you’ll notice the new block/engine assembly comes with two blind plugs installed in the oil filter bracket
Revised oil pan gasket and installation kit for 1986-2001 Ford 3.0L VIN U engines
Engine Builders: The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding a revised oil pan gasket and installation kit for 1986-2001 Ford 3.0L VIN U engines. The issue of continued oil pan leakage has prompted this new installation kit. A service oil pan gasket and a new service oil pan gasket kit has been released
Engine Balancing
In the dark ages of the automotive industry, engine balancing was considered an art practiced exclusively by performance engine builders. Only those wizards of speed (it was widely believed) could understand the forces that caused drivetrain vibration – and more importantly, those that stopped it. Those few who could balance an engine were looked upon
Bedplate torque sequence for a Chrysler 4.7L
What is the bedplate torque sequence for a Chrysler 4.7L? My manual doesn’t seem to list all the fasteners. The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding the main bearing cap/bedplate bolt torque and sequence for 1999-2004 Chrysler 4.7L VIN N engines. This engine uses multiple fasteners at many different locations to secure the
Showdown Pits Engine Builders Against Themselves
For the 1,500 members of the cheering crowd, the battle was between two teams of professional engine builders, both of which have enjoyed great success building engines for some of NASCAR’s most popular – and successful – drivers. For Lanny Barnes and Mike Maiwald, though, the real challenge wasn’t to beat the other, but NOT