ZDDP: When, Where, What, Why, How?
Government regulations and demands for lower emissions levels become more important than power and performance. Proven components are no longer acceptable and the inevitable changes occur – not always for the best. Things seemed to be much simpler in the 1930s. Engine bearings were made from a soft tin/copper/antimony alloy, commonly referred to as babbit.
Be More Efficient And Profitable With Well Organized Shop
The best way to be ready to start your day is to get your shop together. This means that every day certain things must be shut down, cleaned, put away, wiped down and organized. Get yourself a pedometer, attach it to your belt and at the end of the day see how many miles you’ve walked around your
A Million Here, A Million There
First, Fisher’s a former winning sprint car driver running with the top-gun World of Outlaws and All-Star groups. Then, there’s the fact that he’s got the mind of a skilled surgeon when he probes the innards of his engines looking for more performance. The guy is a graduate engineer (Ohio State – 1975), but his
Cold Weather Caution: Crank No Start, Rough Idle or Misfire due to Compression Loss
Models affected: 2000-2009 All GM Passenger Cars with Gasoline Engines 2000-2009 All GM Light Duty Trucks with Gasoline Engines Condition/Concern: Crank no start when cold. The engine may crank over very fast, as if there is low/no compression. It may also run rough for up to 5 minutes after starting the engine and may exhibit
Gasket Surface Machining is Critical to Cylinder Head Repair
According to this representative, the relatively short production life of modern engines also shortens the time that an aftermarket gasket company needs to remedy application-specific cylinder head sealing problems. Another issue is that, if the company develops a superior gasket sealing design for specific applications, the engine might disappear from the market before the company’s
Competing for Diesel Dollars with OEM?Dealers
About 13 years ago we – like many members of this industry – our business was struggling because our focus was only on machine work – our sales basically imploded and we needed to change. In our internal discussions, we put this dramatic change to two things: First, efficient engine design (including things like electronic
CNH Opens Reman Distribution Center in Springfield, MO
The distribution center will support Case IH, Case Construction Equipment, New Holland Agriculture, New Holland Construction, Kobelco and Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT) dealerships in North America, by shipping high-priority remanufactured products directly from the Springfield plant to dealers. Since the 2009 launch of CNH Reman, a joint venture between CNH and Springfield Remanufacturing Corp. (SRC),
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
Understanding Today
Metallurgy is one of the oldest sciences in the world – it’s a history that can be traced back to the beginnings of civilization. It’s hard to believe that in the thousands of years since the discovery of gold and silver there have only been 84 new metals discovered. In fact, when the automobile was
Cultivating Diesel Success Using Unconventional Approaches
While most of Osborne’s customers never even come through the Liverpool, NY shop’s door, their continued patronage has pushed Syracuse Crank to record sales figures over the past few years, he says. “We were at 31 percent growth last year over the year before, and the year before last we were 26 percent higher. Our
Nailing Down The Buick Nailhead
Likethe Small Block Chevy, the Rocket 88 Olds, the Ford Flathead and the ChryslerHemi, the Buick Nailhead engine is one of those that has the immortal smell ofhistory all over it. Yet,unlike its more familiar brothers, cousins and even competitors, the Nailheadhas an aura of mystery about it as well. TheNailhead had a
Remanufacturing Is ‘Not Melting the Icebergs,’ Says Expert
According to Dr. Rolf Steinhilper of Bayreuth University, "The good news is thatremanufacturing is not melting the icebergs. In fact, remanufacturingavoids between 38 percent and 53 percent of the CO2 that is generatedfrom new production. This is an astounding revelation."APRA President Bill Gager, who has known Dr. Steinhilper since 1978,stated, “People familiar with our industry
BIG R Show Features Workshops from RIT
Diesel and gas engine and small parts remanufacturing is becoming more competitive every year. Progressive remanufacturers are always looking for new ways to save money through process improvements. Surface cleaning is a remanufacturing process where companies can typically find improvement opportunities due to the ever increasing number of new chemistries and technologies available. Once indentified,
The Lifter/Cam Relationship
They are lifters, and they are critical to proper engine operation. “On the outside they look the same, but the inside is where the big difference is,” says Scott Reynolds of Scorpion Performance. “The mechanical or solid lifter is just what it sounds like: solid with no internal movement. These lifters are designed to be
Are You Ready for More Business?
There are a lot of positive economic signs that consumers are becomingmore comfortable with their financial situation and are beginning toopen their wallets. A recent report states that department stores, grocery chains and eventoy stores are seeing consumers move toward higher-priced andhigher-quality items. As an example, cashmere is gaining in popularityand a New York coffee
APRA to Host MEGA Clinic
The Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) will be bringing four divisions together during the upcoming “MEGA Clinic” on June 3-5, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel in Springfield, MS. The program will contain seminars for remanufacturers and suppliers involved in HD Transmissions, Volume Transmissions, HD Brakes and Electrical. Along with cutting edge seminars, the group will
Pollution: Does it have to be a dirty word?
Is your business exposed to pollution liability risks? Are you covered? Can you sleep comfortably at night knowing you have taken all the necessary steps to control this exposure? If you know the meaning of “Environmental Due Diligence,” you probably can. First let’s look at three fact-based scenarios related to pollution liability that have actually
Gaskets, Seals, Sealants and Fasteners
The factors that typically cause a gasket to fail include age, heat, thermal expansion, abrasion, pressure, vibration, corrosion, material breakdown or poor design. Some gaskets go the distance and others do not. With head gaskets, problems like detonation and engine overheating can damage the gasket very quickly, causing an otherwise good gasket to crack or
A Winning Pair
The Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association (APRA) and the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association (ATRA) will both be holding their annual expositions at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas prior to the AAPEX and SEMA Shows. Combining the two shows – APRA’s The BIG R Show and ATRA’s Powertrain Expo – into one all-encompassing exhibit
Big R Show Features Training Workshops from RIT
TheRochester Institute of Technology’s (RIT) National Center forRemanufacturing, Resource Recovery will be presenting four trainingworkshops during the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association’s(APRA) International Big R Show, which takes place Oct. 31 – Nov. 2 inLas Vegas. Automotive parts remanufacturing is becoming more competitive everyyear. Progressive remanufacturers are always looking for new ways tosave money through process