Dyno Decisions Depend on Business Model
If you need a dyno only three or four times a year, you’re probably better off renting dyno time from another facility. If you build race engines for a living, an engine dyno is an essential part of how you do your job and ultimately the value you provide to your customer. So what are
The Business Case For Buying a CNC Machine
Like a good chef, a good machinist does a lot by feel and experience. These things can’t be learned in a few hours or even days – it takes years. When it comes to CNC machines, sometimes the sum equals more than its parts – but many times the parts generate more than its sum.
Balancing And The Bottom Line
Balancing, once considered to be important in this industry only to performance engine builders, has lately become a sought-after service in some segments you may never have considered. Yet good-old-fashioned engine balancing remains an important profit center in many machine shop operations. If the engine components (pistons, rods and crankshaft) aren’t in balance you’ll experience
Sprint Car Piston Design and Other Topics Discussed at the 21st AETC
People always ask what I get out of going to AETC? The simple 30 second elevator answer is you take the smartest people you know, or have ever met, and throw them all in a room together for three days and see what comes out of it. It usually doesn’t disappoint. As expected, a lot
Is Equipment Leasing Catching On In The Industry?
Manufacturers and distribution groups sell their wares to automotive shop owners who need to upgrade equipment or add services. The owner typically pays cash, goes to his bank for a loan or, in some cases, leases the equipment or software. Basically, the buyer is motivated to make a capital improvement because it will make him
Herman Trend Alert 2011 Workforce/Workplace Forecast
1. Recruitingwill intensify. We are already seeing the large companies looking forincreasing numbers of employees. Later in 2011, the small andmedium-size companies will join the scrimmage. More companies that hadeliminated their recruiting functions will hire inside people to offsetthe expenses of headhunter fees. 2. Unemployment will remain relatively high. We expectunemployment to remain over 8
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,
SuperFlow Moves Into New Building
The new building will allow SuperFlow to further develop their industry leading engine dynamometers, chassis dynamometers and flowbenches as well as offer a customer education program that is second to none. The building features two state of the art SuperFlow engine dynamometers and an SF-1020 SuperBench for product demonstrations and training. Located directly next to
Dynos and Test Stands: Profit Center or Business Black Hole?
Dynamometers allow an engine builder to test, tune and tweak his engines before giving customers the opportunity to do something foolish with them. In a recent poll on Engine Builder’s website, we asked our readers how important a dyno is to their business. According to our (admittedly unscientific) results, 44 percent of Engine Builder readers
SCT Performance Named 2010 NADM Endorsed Sponsor
SCT Performance, manufacturer of handheld automotive performance & fueleconomy programmers and custom tuning software for Ford, General Motorsand Dodge/Chrysler vehicles has signed with the National Association of Diesel Motorsports (NADM ) as the official Ford Tuner/Programmer sponsor for the 2010 season. “This endorsed product sponsorship is not awarded lightly since NADM asks its members to
Bolt-on Horsepower: Choosing An Induction System
The induction system feeds the engine air and fuel. So to increase the torque and horsepower output of an engine, the induction system has to provide more air and fuel. That usually means adding an aftermarket performance intake manifold with taller, larger and/or longer runners to increase air flow into the cylinder head ports, bolting
A Chip Off The Old Block: Aftermarket Blocks Are More Versatile Than Ever
It’s the same economic principle many body shops use on their rodding customers. You can expend good time, money and effort trying to resurrect an old hulk towards the customer’s ultimate goals or you can cut to the chase by starting with an accurate reproduction. In engine building, the same holds true but with a
CNC?Head Porting & Machining Centers
The fact that CNC machines have come down in price over the years, coupled with less complicated interfacing systems means that today they can be used by nearly anyone. You don’t have to relearn everything. You don’t have to take endless courses on how to make a tool change. Today’s machines are sophisticated and savvy
AERA to hold Don Gross Regional Conference
AERA is doing its part to make gaining knowledge and networking opportunities easier by holding a series of regional conferences instead of a larger, national one. Along with the outlined technical programs, AERA is inviting leading manufacturers of engine building/rebuilding tools, supplies, services, parts and machinery to attend this conference. These suppliers will have table-top
Performance Valve Springs and Retainers
Old school thinking on these matters has usually been to increase spring pressure as much as possible by using the stiffest dual or triple springs that can be installed in the engine. But that kind of thinking is changing, thanks to improvements in spring technology. Stiffer springs are obviously needed if you are building a
Balance of Power
Everyone is looking for balance in their lives – balance between work and family, between responsibility and recreation, between give and take. Too much of one at the expense of the other can lead to dire consequences. The same thing can be said about the engines you rebuild. Balance between the crankshaft and its related
American Families Save $26 Billion Annually at Independent Repair Shops, Data Shows
From aftermarketNews Proponents of the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act Web say that new data revealing the economic importance of the automotive aftermarket to consumers shows why Congress needs to pass legislation to ensure a competitive repair market. According to the new study conducted by John Dunham and Associates for the Automotive Aftermarket
SuperFlow Technologies Group Launches New Web site
SuperFlow.com provides detailed information on SF’s complete line of industry-leading automotive testing technology and equipment – including engine and chassis dynamometers, flowbenches, electronic accessories/software, as well as transmission testing and remanufacturing equipment. The site is also home for all transmission testing products marketed under the Zoom Technologies brand, which SuperFlow purchased Zoom earlier this year.
The Top 10 Common Pricing Mistakes Most Companies Make
Price strategy is emerging as the most important resource for companies to increase their competitive advantage. The vast majority of companies have spent years achieving gains through cost cutting, outsourcing, process re-engineering and the adoption of innovative technologies. However, the incremental benefits from these important activities are diminishing, and companies need to look at other
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