Industry Events
April 18-27: New York Auto Show, New York, NY; 800-282-3336 or www.autoshowny.com. April 23-25: PERA Spring Marketing/Technical Seminars, Las Vegas, NV; 847-439-0491 or www.pera.org. April 24-26: AERA International Rebuilders Expo 2003, Las Vegas, NV; 847-541-6550 or www.aera.org. April 25-27: 2003 SEMA International Auto Salon, Los Angeles, CA; 909-396-0289 or www.sema.org. May 2-4: Carlisle Custom Compact
Valve Seat Installation Procedures
If a valve seat is damaged, cracked, loose, receded or too badly worn to be recut or reground, it can cause a variety of problems: loss of compression, valve burning, valve failure, valvetrain wear and breakage, even head and valve damage if the seat comes loose. For that reason, replacing valve seats is often necessary
Mclaren Heads
McLaren, like Cosworth and Ferrari, is a name that for both pro engine builders and race enthusiasts alike is synonymous with high tech performance. Although long a separate entity of McLaren International, one of the most successful teams in the history of Formula One, McLaren Performance Technologies was originally the engine development division of Bruce
Gaerte Engines
In the world of sprint cars and midget racing, the name "Gaerte" is recognized as one of the innovators. With a history of building winning motors for such names as Jeff Gordon, Ken Schrader, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell, it
The Future Of Boring Is Exciting
Boring out cylinders to accept oversized pistons or sleeves has long been a common practice in the engine rebuilding business. Boring allows worn blocks to be salvaged, and stock cylinder bores to be enlarged for more displacement. More recently, boring is also being used to install special cylinder liners with hard surface treatments in high
Seizing an Opportunity – Ed Davis, Waterhouse Motors
Ed Davis’ first love was motorcycles. Beginning with motocross and taking up cross country racing later on, the Tacoma, WA, native found he had a natural ability and excelled at the two-wheeled sport. During high school and vocational industrial machinist training, Davis hoped to try the professional circuit before age got ahead of him. But,
Engine Crack Detection Technology
It doesn’t matter if you’re rebuilding a high mileage engine and reusing salvaged components or using brand new parts right out of the box – any highly stressed component or casting that has to withstand high loads, temperatures and/or pressures should always be inspected to make sure it is free from cracks or other defects
Back to Basics: Preventing Piston Problems
Burned pistons. Scuffed pistons. Cracked pistons. These are problems no customer wants to experience in an engine you’ve built. Warranty claims can kill your business, so here are some tips on how to prevent these and other common piston problems. First and foremost, if you’re custom building an engine that has already suffered some kind
From Tame OE Block To High Performance Monster
The race engine is only as good as its weakest part. There are many ways to build a great high performance engine, but one key is essential: each and every part of that engine must work together to build the "best" power. In this case, "best" power means that the engine does exactly what the
Little Engines, Big Money
For the rebuilding facility familiar with typical automotive or heavy-duty engines, the small displacement, four-cycle, air-cooled engine may seem insignificant. After all, these one-cylinder motors, which may produce just 5 hp, are found in lawn mowers, rototillers and kiddy go karts, for cryin’ out loud! Although the small four-cycle engines from Briggs & Stratton, Tecumseh,
When it comes to selling performance, nothing succeeds like success
Dick Fox, owner and president of Champion Racing Engines in McCordsville, IN, understands that, while customers may be impressed by his speed-shop showroom and his long time commitment to excellence, it
High Performance May Be Your Shop
As an automotive machine shop owner, you’re reading Automotive Rebuilder magazine because you want to stay abreast of all the happenings in your industry. Along with that, you’re also searching for ways to improve your bottom line by adding additional products or services to your operation. High performance machining could be the ticket. The explosive
Automotive Rebuilder Interview with Brad Hartmann, Hartmann Bros., Inc.
Brad Hartmann is president of Hartmann Bros. Inc., a heavy duty rebuilding operation located in Abilene, TX. He is the incoming chairman of AERA’s Vanguard committee, the group providing leadership opportunities to AERA members under the age of 40. Hartmann, 31, has been with the company since high school in the 1980s, beginning full-time employment
The IC Engine Is Here For The Long Run
For 100 years, the internal combustion (IC) engine has dominated the automobile industry with its power and convenience. It has provided this country and the world a reliable and economical source for transportation and has given enjoyment to scores of hot rod, classic car and restoration enthusiasts, as well as endless excitement in amateur and
Performance Market Niche Specialists: There Has Been A Rebirth In Street Performance
The performance market is hot these days. No doubt about it. Motorsports is the number one spectator sport in America. Millions of people not only attend professional auto racing events all around the country, but are avid viewers of racing on cable and broadcast television. What
Machine Shop Market Profile
Interviews conducted with parts and equipmentsuppliers, as well as machine shop owners and custom engine rebuilders,generally point to market demand which has remained flat whenengine production numbers are compared to year earlier figures.Recent survey results of machine shops concerning production year1997 confirm these assumptions. Automotive Rebuilder magazine conducted a surveyof the machine shop membership of
Small Engine Performance
Most businesses have the same problems and each must look for ways to remain competitive by reducing costs and exploring new markets for existing products or services. And so it is in engine building. There is always someone that is able to provide more features per dollar than you (or at least make someone believe
Mopar Engine Platforms – 318, 360
Chrysler Corp. hasn’t built a rear wheel drive, V8-powered car (with the exception of the Viper) since the turn of the decade. And the cars that harbored V8s beneath their hoods during the late 1980s were about as appealing to performance enthusiasts as the front-wheel driven vehicles that replaced them. In spite of that fact,
Performance Marine Engines – Meeting Customer Expectations
Life is a series of compromises. Human relations almost alwaysinvolves compromises of some sort. You want Chinese for dinner,she wants Italian; something has to give. Even if you go yourseparate ways, it’s a compromise and a decision to not dine together. Believe it or not, it’s the same with machinery. Any exercisein design is a
Building Horsepower Through Dyno Testing
Pick up a copy of any racing-oriented automotive publication andas you thumb through its pages you’ll notice a smorgasbord ofads from engine builders. Most of them will have an assortmentof horsepower figures large enough to rival the national debt. Of course, all the numbers are suspect because, in most cases,they were obtained on the advertisers’