Building Blocks: The Foundation of Any Engine Build
Every engine project starts with the block because the block is the foundation for everything else that follows. The block determines bore and stroke, camshaft and lifter location, oil pump location and oil galley configuration, what kind of main bearing caps can be used to support the crankshaft, and what kind of cylinder heads, oil
Cleaning Engine Blocks & Engine Cylinder Heads
Cleaning engine blocks and cylinder heads is just as important as the machining operations you will perform on the castings. You can’t do a thorough job of inspecting these parts if they are dirty, greasy or covered with paint or corrosion. Checking for cracks in cast iron heads and blocks requires a clean surface for
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
PERA to Host ‘Engine Blocks’ Webinar November 14
Reed has been in the casting repair business for 40 years. His experience began as a lead welder fusion welding diesel cylinder heads with Northwest Motor Welding. In 1973 started his first company where he began developing new metal stitching technologies and welding methods to expand upon his prior cast iron welding experience. Reed currently
Identifying Ford Duratec 3.0L Cylinder Blocks
The Duratec 30 is an aluminum blockwith cast iron liners, aluminum DOHC cylinder head with four valves percylinder, fracture-split (cracked) forged powder metal connecting rods,and a forged steel crankshaft. There are two versions of the Duratec 30: DAMB – Lincoln LS, Jaguar, Mazda 6 and MPV, which use direct-actingmechanical bucket (DAMB) tappets. Here the camshaft
‘Focus’ On Correct Blocks For Ford 2.0L Build Success
In fact, the block choices per application remind me of the "Mounds" and "Almond Joy" candy bars: sometimes you feel like a nut sometimes you don’t; only in this case sometimes you have crankcase ventilation open and sometimes you don’t. So let’s take a look at what we have found to this point and see
Making Dollars and Sense Cleaning Blocks, Heads
Unless you’re starting with all new parts, cleaning is as important to your engine build as disassembly, inspection, machining and reassembly. Without taking the cylinder heads and engine blocks down to bare metal, you can’t properly inspect the castings for cracks, wear and other defects. For something so important, proper cleaning technique is often misunderstood, overlooked
Cleaning Cylinder Heads and Blocks
The cleaning process should remove all of the dirt, grease, oil, rust, scale and carbon deposits that have accumulated over the years. With painted castings, the old paint also has to be stripped away so the surface can be repainted. Even if you’re working with brand new castings, a final cleaning is still necessary after
House Blocks Sale of E15
The amendment to H.R. 1, the Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 201, was introduced by Oklahoma first district Congressman John Sullivan and was passed by a House vote of 286 to 135. Sullivan said the amendment prevents consumer confusion at the pump and protects the engines of vehicles and outdoor power equipment. “My amendment ensures
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
Engine Blocks & Cylinder Sleeves
In our February 2009 issue, Technical Editor Larry Carley provided a comprehensive overview of the changes in engine blocks over the years. Thanks in part to natural attrition (after all, many of the most popular engines were actually designed and built more than 50 years ago) and the high price for scrap metal in the
Manufacturer Tech Tip: Installing Wire O-Rings in Cylinder Blocks
SCE Gaskets offers the following information about installing wire O-rings in the cylinder block. When installing O-rings there are two main considerations for placement: The O-ring must be clear of the sealant beads on the head gasket where applicable. This will determine the maximum outer diameter of the O-ring. The O-ring diameter and location must
Chrysler 318/360 Blocks Cracked Around The Head Bolt Holes
Some thread repairs don’t work because they can’t take the torque required for a head bolt, and others leak coolant through the insert itself if you do try to use them. Some engine builders “vee” out the cracks, weld them up, and deck the block, but that’s a time-consuming process that doesn’t always work out
Resurfacing Cylinder Heads & Blocks? Mistakes to Avoid
Cylinder heads and blocks may need to be resurfaced to restore flatness or to improve the surface finish, or milled to change the deck height for a variety of reasons. The deck surface on the head or block may need to be resurfaced if the surface isn’t smooth or flat. A head may need to
Mis-Aligned Blocks Can Lead To Warranty Blindsiding
This month in Core Corner we will provide you with information that should help you avoid either an improper identification or a potential warranty that could easily blindside you. Kind of a good news/bad news scenario. Let
Newer OBD-II Blocks Require Much More Attention To Proper Honing Procedures
Smoother finishes, tighter tolerances mean stricter standards and processes Want to guarantee a comeback? When you are honing the cylinders on a late model engine, use the hardest cutting stones you have. Run the hone as fast as you can so you finish the job quickly. Working hard and fast generates a lot of heat
Holley’s Latest LS Engine Giveaway
Holley has partnered with high-performance engine builder Prestige Motorsports for its latest giveaway LS engine.
Shop Solutions April 2024
Shop Solutions provide machine shop owners and engine technicians the opportunity to share their knowledge to benefit the entire industry and their own shops.
Shop Solutions March 2024
I always keep a pair of needle nose pliers and a small, straight screwdriver in my blast cabinet to hold small parts when blasting.
Supercharged 588 cid Hemi Engine
Ken Lazzeri, head engine builder for Indy Cylinder Head, has helped build over 5,000 Hemi engines during the life of the Mopar component manufacturer’s business. We were pumped to get time with him to discuss the details of this 588 cid supercharged Hemi engine for bracket racing. Check it out!
