Front-Mounted Oil Pumps: Good or Troublesome?
On late model engines such as Chevy LS, Ford modular V8s and Chrysler 5.7/6.1/6.4L Hemis, engineers have moved the oil pump from its cozy location inside the oil pan to the front of the engine under the timing cover. Traditionally, most wet sump oil pumps have been mounted under the engine inside the oil pan
Replacing Crankshafts, Connecting Rods and Bearings
The crankshaft, connecting rods and bearings are extremely important in every engine build, whether mild or wild, because they convert the reciprocating motion of the pistons into rotational torque. The longer the stroke, the greater the leverage effect and the greater the torque output of the engine. There are three things that need to be
Step by Step: 6.4L Magnum Coming to Life
I recently had my forth call from a shop with interest in our 392 ci Chrysler build as a project they are hoping to tackle. The budget and power needs for his project were not to the scope of our project and he was discussing a less expensive cast steel crankshaft and the factory connecting
Tips to Keep the Shop Clean from Top to Bottom
To help engine and performance shops improve cleanliness and productivity, Cintas Corporation offers 10 tips for maintaining a clean shop environment. 1. Plan daily floor maintenance. Shop floor cleanliness is increasingly important as many technicians take customers into the service area to discuss their vehicle’s condition. To keep floors in the teardown/rebuilding area clean, develop
What’s Happening At ACL Bearings?
When ordering parts, engine builders at times may have some questions regarding a component. The following are common technical questions regarding ACL performance engine bearings. Frequently Asked Questions Q What is the maximum power rating of your Race Series bearings? A The power rating of the engine can be tweaked in many ways that have
King pMax Black™ Bearing Overlay is the Strongest in the Industry
King’s newly developed engine bearing measures 18.1 Vickers hardness compared to a 14 hardness or less found in competitors’ performance bearings. By Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich, R & D manager, King Engine Bearings The design of internal combustion engines has been continuously modified. Engine output and efficiency have dramatically increased due to the great efforts of
CRP Automotive 2014 Pentosin Technical Fluids Catalog
CRP Automotive has released its 2014 catalog of Pentosin Technical Fluids for automotive applications. The 218-page catalog features a variety of antifreezes, brake fluids, hydraulic fluids, motor oils and transmission fluids that are engineered to meet the demanding standards and specifications established by many of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers for service refill, including Acura,
Choosing the ‘Right’ Oil
Every engine builder knows the importance of using not only high-quality motor oil in an engine, but also an oil that has the right additive package and viscosity for the application. This is especially important in performance applications where extremes of heat and pressure can push many ordinary motor oils to the brink. Motor oil
Future Alternative Fuels Could be a Gas
Alternative fuels such as E85 and biodiesel that were once considered fringe fuels are now mainstream. You can burn any mixture of gasoline and E85 in any vehicle that is Flex Fuel capable. As for biodiesel, blends ranging from B05 (5% biodiesel) to B100 (100% biodiesel) are being used in all kinds of diesel applications.
IDUSA Launches New Premium Guard Extended Life Oil Filter
The new Premium Guard line is designed to deliver engine protection up to 10,000 miles when used with synthetic oil. International Distributors USA Inc. (IDUSA), a global supply network of automotive replacement parts, has announced its new line of Premium Guard Extended Life Oil Filters to meet the growing need for filters that are able
ExxonMobil And Toyota Racing Development U.S.A. Extend Lubricant Technology Partnership
Underscoring the performance benefits of high-quality motor oil technology, ExxonMobil has renewed its multi-year technological partnership with Toyota Racing Development U.S.A. (TRD). ExxonMobil will continue to provide its Mobil 1 racing oil technology to TRD-supported NASCAR teams. Since the 2010 season, TRD-supplied NASCAR engines have been filled with specifically customized synthetic motor oil based on
Fuel Feature: Eliminating Poor Throttle Response
Impact of Today’s Gasoline on Carbureted Engines The pump gasoline sold at gas stations around the country has changed quite a bit over the last several decades. The first major change was the removal of lead from the gasoline. The next major change was to reformulate the gasoline to reduce both the evaporative and exhaust
Champion Racing Oil Announces 2014 “ELITE RACER” Program
Offering one of the most comprehensive racing programs in the motorsports industry, Champion Racing Oil has announced the details for their 2014 “ELITE RACER” Program, providing support for participants in almost every recognized sanctioned racing event in North America and Canada. Karl Dedolph, Director of Racing & Performance Products for Champion Oil, ann ounced, “The
Some Motor Oil Gets Failing ‘Grade’
API purchased and tested more than 1,800 motor oils dispensed from bulk tanks over the last five years and nearly 20 percent of the bulk oil samples tested failed to meet API standards. The American Petroleum Institute (API) has evaluated results from its annual motor oil testing program and determined that almost 1 in 5 samples of
Will You Have a POP or a SODA?
Across the nation it seems we don’t always agree on what to call things. For example, when you order a soft drink to some it’s “pop.” To others it’s “soda.” I know what you’re thinking – where is this going, and why am I thirsty all of a sudden? We’re going back to the
Oiling System Technology
Oil is the lifeblood of every engine. Any significant loss of oil pressure can destroy an engine in a split second so the oiling system must provide a constant supply of oil under all operating conditions. With performance engines, keeping the engine lubed with a steady supply of oil can be a challenge because
Motor Oil Fact or Fiction
1. Synthetic motor oil is too slippery. It causes roller bearings to slide instead of roll, and that causes the bearings to fail. Fact or Fiction? – Fiction If you have ever flown on a jet airplane, you have enough experience to debunk this myth. All jet turbine engines utilize rolling-element bearings, and every jet
Valvetrain
Selecting the right components to make a rock-solid valvetrain is key to assembling an engine that will last – and win. The pushrods, rockers and valve springs must be able to handle all of the stresses of the camshaft rotating with high spring pressures and with huge lift. Weakness in any part of the system
Green Strategies: Cleaning Techniques & Equipment
It may seem that there’s nothing natural about cleaning an engine. Even after the couple of hours of cleaning time, the engine might be cleaner than the tech working on it – but the engine still needs cleaned (and so does the cleaning crew from time to time). We are long from the days of
Green Strategies: Handling Shop Waste
The amount of used oil and other hazardous solvents can pile up in a hurry when you’re hustling through the day’s engine work. Then you realize the space at the back of your shop is getting cluttered and your waste tank is filling up. It’s time to take care of the waste. From the early