Valvetrains: Better Materials & Design
Pushrods would seem to be an endangered species these days, atleast as far as most new engine designs are concerned. The onlybrand new engines built in recent years with a pushrod valvetrainhave been Chrysler’s 8.0L V10 for the Viper and Dodge Ram, andGeneral Motors new "LS1" 5.7L small block V8. All therest have either been
Niche Market Opportunities
In today’s highly competitive market, it makes sense to constantlybe on the lookout for new opportunities. Information on the marketsdescribed in this article may provide some new business prospectsfor those shops not already involved with them. However, rebuildersshould constantly be prospecting for other niche markets for theirexisting products or services. There are potentially many products
Rebuilding The Chrysler Engine Family
Much of the information used to write thisarticle was provided by Bruce Chapman, president, and the employeesof Ontario Reman, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada. Ontario Reman isan authorized Chrysler engine rebuilder selling remanufacturedengines and small parts to Canadian Chrysler dealers. We thankthem! Chrysler introduced a whole new family of 60degree V6 engines beginning with the 3.3L OHV
Power Steering Pumps and Gearboxes
In today’s increasingly competitive marketplacethe quest for additional profits is of paramount importance notonly for continued growth and success, but for the survival ofthe company itself. This is particularly true for undercarriagespecialists such as CV axle and rack-and-pinion rebuilders. Niche market diversification can accomplisheconomic and strategic objectives that will not only improve the"profitable" cash flow
Power Investments, Inc.: Building An Empire In The Rebuilding Industry
Mike Jarvis, 53, president of Power Investments,Inc., is quietly building an empire in the rebuilding industry.If you want proof, just take a look at his frequent flyer miles(he’s averaged about 2,500 business miles per week over the pastfour years), and the fact that company growth has averaged between12-18% per year, mostly through acquisitions, since 1983.
Engines Market: Total Engine Production Generated By Manufacturers In The U.S. And Canada Increased in 1996
Annual production of remanufactured enginesclimbed from 1.32 million in 1995 to 1.57 million during 1996– an increase of about 19.4%. Engine production figures are based on a universe of 120 U.S.and Canadian rebuilders that rebuilt an average of 13,113 short,long and complete engines each last year. Survey results werecompiled from a detailed questionnaire mailed to
The Core Market Right Now Is Very Soft
Core suppliers throughout the industry aretrying to interpret the reasons for a slower market this year."The core market right now is very soft", says Bob Grady,president of Rebuilders Automotive Supply (RAS) in Cranston, RI."Unit sales are about the same, but prices and margins aredown and terms are longer, so profits are down too." It’s human
Machine Shop Market Profile Part II
Based on information provided in part one ofour annual Machine Shop Market Profile which appeared in lastmonthís issue, the machine shop market produced between1.31 million and 1.7 million rebuilt engines in 1996. These figuresrepresent a decline of about 7% from the previous production year. Part one of our annual Machine Shop Market Review featured detailson
Ensuring Bearing Life: Crankshaft Bearings Are Always Replaced When Rebuilding An Engine
Crankshaft bearings are always replaced when rebuilding an engine because they’re a wear component. Heat, pressure, chemical attack, abrasion and loss of lubrication can all contribute to deterioration of the bearings. Consequently, when an engine is rebuilt new bearings are always installed. “Reading” the old bearings can reveal a great deal about conditions that may
Piston Rings and Surface Finish
Horsepower is always paramount in the minds of customers who salivatelike a Pavlovian dog when the terms "high performance"and "engine" are used in the same sentence. Unquestionably,horsepower is heady stuff, capable of not only moving a vehicleto obscene speeds, but also of propelling its owner to a positionof prominence in the eyes of performance enthusiasts
Machine Shop Market Profile
As is generally already known, the machineshop/custom engine rebuilder market struggled in 1996 to keeppace with production numbers generated in 1995. Many shop ownerstold us that demand was flat for machine shop services and/orrebuilt engines during 1996. Verification of these shop owners’ commentswas generated in our annual survey of the membership of the AutomotiveEngine Rebuilders
Making A Big Splash In The Marine Market
The average individual that would have owned a performance car in the 1960s, and the baby boomers that did, in many cases no longer have a modern affordable toy they can tweak to their own satisfaction. Serious performance today is often available to only a few with large checking accounts or extra good credit, and
Tackling High Performance Work
Obviously, there are many questions to be answered before a shop enters or expands its activities into the high performance arena. There are moderately successful performance-oriented machine shops scattered from one end of the nation to the other. There are also a significantly smaller number of VERY successful shops. Typically, the difference between the former
Getting A “Good Seat” : The Growth In The Valve Seat Insert Market
The growth in the valve seat insert market can be traced back to the early 1970s when the switch to unleaded fuel took place. Most of the engines in use or that were in core or inventory storage had to have replacement seats inserted in the exhaust side to prevent valve seat recession that occurred when the engines were run
Forklifts
Engine rebuilders often classify themselves as an automotive (car and light truck), and/or medium duty/heavy-duty diesel or industrial rebuilder, and usually primarily stay in one market or the other. Some cross the line and do business in both markets, but most tend to stay in familiar territory where they’re comfortable. Yet rebuilding forklift engines is
Performance Small Block: Chevy Engines
Small block Chevy engines long ago became mainstays in both thetraditional and high performance marketplace. So many of themhave been rebuilt over the years, and so much has been writtenabout the rebuilding process, it would appear that nothing moreneed be said. But the small block engine has changed over the years and so haveconsumer preferences
Rebuilt Market Reviews – Engines Market
Total engines remanufactured by all production engine remanufacturers (PERs) in 1995 increased a modest 3.5%, growing to 1.318 million units last year compared to 1.273 million units produced in 1994. Production totals are based on a U.S. and Canadian universe of 120 PERs that produced an average of 10,609 remanufactured engines annually in 1995. Survey
Rebuilt Market Reviews – Cores Market: The Perfect Example Of Supply And Demand
In some businesses, the classic law of supply and demand is hard to identify. But that’s not the case in the core business. “The core market is the perfect example of supply and demand,” comments John Lathan, plant engineer at The Hastings Co., a rebuilder in King, NC. “When one company is looking for a
Perspective On Using CBN Versus Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD) Cutters
In your June Shop Line you offered Jerry Lawson’s of DCM Tech, Inc., perspective on using CBN versus poly crystalline diamond (PCD) cutters. Have any other manufacturers voiced their opinions? In PERA’s May 1996 Current Concerns publication, Andy Rottler of Rottler Manufacturing made the following observations on CBN versus PCD cutters:Rottler says that due to
Letters: Test Data For Failing Rectifiers Requested
The article by Donald Yuhas, “Dissecting CS-130 Diode Failure,” in the May, 1996 issue of Automotive Rebuilder gave electrical rebuilders insights into the ways that diodes can fail. The author concluded that high “current pulse” technology is needed for successful screening-out of diodes that will likely fail in the vehicle.While I share that conclusion, the