Sleeves & Liners
I often hear customers ask about the difference between a sleeve and a liner. It’s an understandable question. Automotive guys call them sleeves and diesel guys call them liners. And while they may be used for similar purposes, the perception of what they do may be very different among different groups. Many automotive enthusiasts understand
Knowing You, Knowing Me
For almost 30 years now, Engine Builder has been asking the professionals in this industry about business. We ask you for detailed information on how much you charge, how much you make, how much you spend and how much you have left over. We compile all of this information into several different reports each
Keeping Your Balance With 3.7L?Chryslers
Even though flywheel and clutch assemblies are balanced individually within allowable limits, the mating of each part with the crankshaft axis is essential so that they “run true.” Ideally, the balancing of both the crankshaft and flywheel assembly as one unit would be the way to go – since that’s not likely, holding the closest
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: June 2013
Removing Stubborn Dowel Pins Do you ever have solid dowel pins that are worn or tapered, and the slap hammer slips off no matter how tight you make it? Add a dab of valve lapping compound to the dowel pin. It works wonders. Most of the time the pin slaps right out. Jeffrey Myers MAR
2013 Machine Shop Market Profile Part 1
Since that time, a lot of things have changed at this magazine and in this industry. What hasn’t changed is the fact that we have consistently surveyed the same machine shop/custom engine rebuilder (CER) population to get a snapshot of this industry from the experts – you, the engine rebuilder. Numbers can give a cold,
Racing Oils
Performance engines built for racing deserve the best possible lubrication. Ordinary street oils don’t cut it on a race track. By Larry Carley The latest API-certified SN and ILSAC GF-5 motor oils are fine for everyday driving in late model vehicles, but most off-the-shelf motor oils (even many synthetics) come up short in the anti-wear
Longtime Goodson Tech Services Manager to Retire
Tapp, whose last day is June 28, 2013 has been with Goodson Tools & Supplies since April 1992. According to David Monyhan, Goodson Sales Manager, “Jim has been at the heart of many of our new products over the years. He has experience in running his own shop and teaching at a tech school, which
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
Don’t Overlook The Easy Dollars To Add To Your Bottom Line
As I began to review the profit and loss statements from last month, I was reminded of something I learned long ago. Financial data, although very useful, is just a snapshot of the past or history. I’ve seen so many shop owners over the years have the right tools for the job, and they attend
Destroking or Decompressing Pistons
The clearance inside the combustion chamber is reduced when the engine block surface or cylinder head surface has been resurfaced. The reduced combustion chamber clearance may allow the valves to come in contact with the head of the piston, resulting in an engine failure. The using of destroked pistons eliminates this possibility. Also in engines
Honeywell Turbochargers Help Chevy Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel
Honeywell turbochargers are a vital component of the soon-to-be-released 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel that will get an industry-best 46 mpg in highway driving, setting the bar higher for fuel efficiency and emissions control, according to the company. As revealed at the Chicago Auto Show, the Cruze Diesel will become the manufacturer’s first clean-diesel
BorgWarner Presents Trophy To Indianapolis 500 Winner Tony Kanaan
Following the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500, BorgWarnerPresident and CEO James Verrier presented Tony Kanaan with the Borg-Warner Trophy in Victory Lane. Tony Kanaan ‘s sterling silver imagewill be the 100th added to the prestigious and historic trophy, joiningevery winner of the "Greatest Race in History." "The Borg-Warner Trophy symbolizes a long tradition
Magnum by MSI adds Heavy-Duty Gaskets to Growing Product Line
MSI (Modern Silicone Technologies Inc.)has announced the addition of 99 new individually boxed heavy-duty gaskets andseals for popular Class 3 to Class 8 diesel truck engines. “MSI is one of the few companies in theworld with the huge molding presses and precision tooling required tosuccessfully mold the large format, complex gaskets found on today’s dieselengines,”
Honda, USAC Announce Major Partnership
Honda will become title sponsor for USAC’s National Midget, Ignite Midgets and .25 Midget racing series. A racing version of the Honda K24 engine, distributed by Honda Performance Development (HPD), will become the new spec engine for the Honda Ignite Midget Series. USAC National Midget Series events currently include cars utilizing Honda K- and F-series
Dart Billet Blocks and Heads
Get an inside look at the process behind the creation of Dart’s legendary billet aluminum engine blocks and cylinder heads. These ultra-strong, incredibly lightweight components are the power plants behind some truly eye popping racing engines. Company: Dart Machinery www.dartheads.com
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: May 2013
Using Multi-Layer Steel (MLS) Head Gaskets As the name implies, MLS gaskets are constructed from 2 to 5 layers (depending upon the application) of heat treated stainless steel. Each layer is separated by a thin layer of a nitrile rubber coating. They have also been embossed in key areas to aid the sealing process, and to
Labor Costing Study: Rebuilding The Chrysler Hemi 5.7L and 6.1L
Originally tagged the “Double Rocker Shaft V8,” it soon became “the Hemi.” It made a lot more power than the rest of the car engines that were available at that time, so some people say Chrysler started the “horsepower wars” with the Hemi. • With its good ports and bigger valves that opened away from
Do You Have What It Takes?
2013 Performance Engine Builder Contest Now Taking Applications When the gun fires, the Christmas Tree flashes down or the green flag flies, you don’t start the race hoping for mediocrity – you expect to win. As much as we try to remain humble, let’s admit that the real goal of our business is to be
Learning From Broken Parts
In 1973, I was a sportsman drag racer. My car was the two-ton orange ’57 Mercury named, “The Big Animal.” The transplant engine was a pure stock Ford 427 FE 8V low riser I called “Old Reliable,” shifted by a top loader four-speed with a Hurst Competition Plus shifter. In August of that year, I
What’s on the Dyno?
While automotive trends come and go, true collectors develop a personal taste that grows more interesting and eclectic as time passes. Sometimes it comes down to owning things truly unique and one-of-a-kind. This GMC inline-6 is all of that and more. The 302 cid inliner is one of the most sought after inline-6 engines, and