Diesel Performance: Just Blowing Smoke or a Real Profit Opportunity?
Traditionally, diesel engines are known for their long life, fuel economy, and efficiency in getting large loads from place to place. Diesel engines equal gasoline engines in horsepower per cubic inch, they have double the torque of gasoline engines, and they can achieve up to 40 percent better fuel economy, making them ideal for use
Get Ready For The Perfect Storm
Prior to $5 per gallon gas many of us wouldn’t have given the sport compact market a second thought. After 13 years of meteoric growth, the high performance sport compact market stalled, nosed over, and settled into a holding pattern. The Fast & Furious crowd just lost interest. The huge sport compact enthusiast books suffered
Race Engine Pistons and Rings
Cubic inches is the name of the game today. The performance piston market is being driven by bigger bore blocks and stroker crankshafts. A few years ago, a 540 cubic inch motor was a monster motor. Nowadays, some professional drag racers are running engines as large as 850 cubic inches, and 600-plus cubic inch big
Diesel Pistons
The diesel engine market has been rapidly changing in recent years. Higher fuel prices and changes in emission regulations have brought about a whole new generation of clean diesel engines in both the light and heavy-duty truck markets. According to the Diesel Technology Forum (www.dieselforum.org), particulate emissions from new on-highway diesel engines have been reduced
Tech Solutions Guide
February 2008 Tech Solutions Guide Chrysler Ford Diesels GM Imports Sponsored By:
Tech Solutions Guide
February 2007 Tech Solutions Guide Index of Technical Bulletins Chrysler Ford Diesels GM Imports Sponsored By:
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
Shop Line
Q:I’ve noticed the main bearing bores on some Cat diesels seem to be bigger than others. Can they still be rebuilt? A:The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding a main bearing housing bore caution for 1997-2007 Caterpillar diesel engines. Oversize main bearing bores have been reported during engine rebuilding on the above engine.
Push Rods & Lifters
The pushrods and lifters work with the camshaft and rocker arms to open the engine’s valves. This basic setup has changed little since the earliest days of pushrod engines. The only major change in these components has been roller lifters replacing flat bottom lifters on late model engines. Even so, there’s still a market for
R & R Engine and Machine: The 2006 Machine Shop of the Year
Over the hill? Hardly. Celebrating 40 years in business, R&R Engine & Machine feels more relevant than ever. With a positive outlook and a refusal to stand still, the Akron, Ohio-based winner of the Engine Builder Machine Shop of the Year Award proves 40 isn’t the end of the good times – it’s the best
Coretalk: Key Industry Speakers Slated For PERA’s Chicago Convention
Yastrow and Som will discuss “Current Issues in Employment-Related U.S. Immigration Law: I-9 Compliance, Visa Updates.” In addition to addressing hot topics and compliance tips, they will provide answers to your specific questions.Bob McKenna, President/CEO of Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and Past President of NAPA, will be speaking on “Motor Vehicle Parts Suppliers
The 2006 Machine Shop of the Year
Turning 40 used to be a bad thing… On that tragic day, the black balloons, the wacky "Over The Hill" gag gifts and the general air of sympathy that your best years had all come and gone were about the only things you could hope for. That is, if you view 40 as old. But
Tech Notes
Engine Builders: It is generally known by automotive technicians that motor oil is a necessity; but how many of those techs know what it actually is? Differences in formulations, even within the same brand, can be as broad as the motor oil type, or as specific as the additive package used. In order to help
The Ups And Downs Of Valves
It’s always good to take a fresh look at some of the many engine components we work with. Rather than being lulled into complacency, the idea is to see what’s new, what trends are in play and to get a current reading from others on the inside. In other words, it’s good to keep it
Size Matters: Industrial Diesel Engine Builds
When it comes to the various rebuilding markets, almost nothing is as specialized as industrial diesel engines. While many experts say this market is growing at the moment, it can take a supersized commitment to compete in this niche segment because of remanufacturing competition from the OE manufacturers themselves. You’ll need to supersize your tooling
Engine Builders: Pistons and Rings – Hypereutectic, Valve, Installation
Though pistons can often be salvaged when remanufacturing an engine, sometimes they have to be replaced. The original pistons may have worn or damaged ring grooves, wrist pins or skirts, or they may have cracks. New pistons may also be necessary if the cylinders have too much taper wear and the block has to be
Diesel Drag Racing, Compression Ignition Engines Smoke The Strip
It is one of the purest forms of American motorsports. One guy pulls up next to another guy at the starting line and revs the engine. A simple glance over, a nod and a green light. In a fury of sound and smoke, the two racers take off down the straight stretch of pavement. If
Mid-Range Diesel & Gas Industrial Engines
Engine builders involved in the industrial market say parts generally don’t cross over even though they may resemble their automotive counterparts. And shops that specialize in this market typically don’t build automotive engines. But don’t discount the opportunities these engines present, even if you don’t consider yourself an industrial expert. The builds are about the
PERA President Mark Fellanto
On the surface, you might suppose that Mark Fellanto, incoming president of the Production Engine Remanufacturers Association (PERA) is a pretty simple fellow. You can set your watch by his daily routine. Even he admits that if someone was looking to do him in, he wouldn’t be hard to track down. Fellanto rarely veers from
Coretalk: Ultimate Golden Mechanic To Win $25,000, Year’s Worth Of Fuel From BP
BP is looking for an ideal candidate who has premium auto repair skills, a charismatic personality, is active in his or her community and is environmentally conscious. Independent auto technicians over the age of 21 are eligible to enter the contest. BP will select the three best mechanics who will receive an all-expenses paid three-day/two-night