Bedplates Have Presence In Today
One of the technologies that has been implemented for many of theengines today is the configuration of the block. Many of today’sengines are using “bedplates” (see Figure 1).The block is split at the main bearings or the crankshaft centerline sothere are two distinct pieces to the block; an upper part that housesthe cylinders and the
OHC Cylinder Head Rebuilding and Equipment
Originally featured mainly in European racing machinery from Fiat, Peugeot and Alfa Romeo in the early part of last century, by the 1960s companies like Fiat and Jaguar had introduced OHC production engines. It was advanced technology for the time, but today OHC is the norm for even the least expensive production engine. OHC cylinder
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: August 2010
Head and Block Surface Prep Most cast iron V8 heads and/or blocks usually don’t require anything more than a good cleaning. They are not as likely to warp as straight-six or aluminum heads or blocks. But it is unusual to have all the old gasket material wash away in your hot tank. Minimal surface prep
Uncovering the Causes of Burned or Scuffed Pistons
Question: My engine burned a piston. What does that mean and why did it happen? Answer:It means the piston failed due to excessive heat in the combustionchamber. A burned piston will typically have a melted appearance, or ahole burned completely through the top of the piston. Aluminum can onlywithstand so much heat, and when it
BIG R Show Features Workshops from RIT
Diesel and gas engine and small parts remanufacturing is becoming more competitive every year. Progressive remanufacturers are always looking for new ways to save money through process improvements. Surface cleaning is a remanufacturing process where companies can typically find improvement opportunities due to the ever increasing number of new chemistries and technologies available. Once indentified,
The Lifter/Cam Relationship
They are lifters, and they are critical to proper engine operation. “On the outside they look the same, but the inside is where the big difference is,” says Scott Reynolds of Scorpion Performance. “The mechanical or solid lifter is just what it sounds like: solid with no internal movement. These lifters are designed to be
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: June 2010
Cover the Deck When honing cylinders in an engine block use duct tape to cover the deck. Then take a sharp razor knife and carefully trim out the cylinder bores. Doing this as a pre-honing procedure helps keep honing oil out of the coolant passages and thread holes, which reduces loss of honing oil, and
GM Northstar 4.6L V8 Engine
Initially rated at 295 horsepower, the Northstar V8 has grown over the years to an incredible 469 hp at 6,400 rpm (STS-V Supercharged Northstar engine). In 1995, the engine was ranked as one of the “10 Best Engines in North America” by Ward’s Auto World. It repeated the honor in 1996 and 1997, but it
Are You Ready for More Business?
There are a lot of positive economic signs that consumers are becomingmore comfortable with their financial situation and are beginning toopen their wallets. A recent report states that department stores, grocery chains and eventoy stores are seeing consumers move toward higher-priced andhigher-quality items. As an example, cashmere is gaining in popularityand a New York coffee
Jumping on the Green Bandwagon
Let’s face it, we operate in a dirty environment. But, that doesn’tmean it can’t be cleaned up a bit to make automotive shops part of thegreen revolution taking place across the country. The trend toward green initiatives is growing on the nationallevel, especially through clean-energy technology programs and morehybrid-electric and electric vehicles from the OEs.
APRA to Host MEGA Clinic
The Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) will be bringing four divisions together during the upcoming “MEGA Clinic” on June 3-5, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel in Springfield, MS. The program will contain seminars for remanufacturers and suppliers involved in HD Transmissions, Volume Transmissions, HD Brakes and Electrical. Along with cutting edge seminars, the group will
Ford Modular Engine Toast of 20th AETC
Because many engine builders have scratched their heads trying to figure out how to build powerful AND durable Modular engines, Ford fans were waiting in anticipation like kids in a candy store for the 20th annual Conference, ever since the topic was announced at last year’s AETC. AETC prides itself on its access to speakers
Pollution: Does it have to be a dirty word?
Is your business exposed to pollution liability risks? Are you covered? Can you sleep comfortably at night knowing you have taken all the necessary steps to control this exposure? If you know the meaning of “Environmental Due Diligence,” you probably can. First let’s look at three fact-based scenarios related to pollution liability that have actually
Multi-Layer Steel (MLS) Head Gasket Installation Procedures for Chrysler 2.0L and 2.4L Engines
Note: This information applies to models with a 2.0L SOHC/DOHC (naturally aspirated) or 2.4L engine. Multi-Layer Steel (MLS) head gaskets have been developed and released for use on the above models. The MLS gasket was released for production, as a running change, in the 1999 model year for all models except FJ. This new gasket
Sludgy Saab May Rattle Your Chain
By Tom Purser, ALLDATA editor and Jeff Webster, ALLDATA technical writer If a Saab vehicle owner/engine installer complains about a rattling timing chain, oil sludgeor any of the other conditions described in this Tech Tip, follow therecommended procedures. Various conditions can cause the formation ofoil sludge in the engine or a rattling noise from the
Gaskets, Seals, Sealants and Fasteners
The factors that typically cause a gasket to fail include age, heat, thermal expansion, abrasion, pressure, vibration, corrosion, material breakdown or poor design. Some gaskets go the distance and others do not. With head gaskets, problems like detonation and engine overheating can damage the gasket very quickly, causing an otherwise good gasket to crack or
A Winning Pair
The Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association (APRA) and the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association (ATRA) will both be holding their annual expositions at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas prior to the AAPEX and SEMA Shows. Combining the two shows – APRA’s The BIG R Show and ATRA’s Powertrain Expo – into one all-encompassing exhibit
Big R Show Features Training Workshops from RIT
TheRochester Institute of Technology’s (RIT) National Center forRemanufacturing, Resource Recovery will be presenting four trainingworkshops during the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association’s(APRA) International Big R Show, which takes place Oct. 31 – Nov. 2 inLas Vegas. Automotive parts remanufacturing is becoming more competitive everyyear. Progressive remanufacturers are always looking for new ways tosave money through process
Chevy LT1 Engine and Reverse-Flow Technology
The Chevrolet LT1 5.7L V8 engine that was produced from 1992 to 1997 has some significant differences compared to the previous small block Chevy it replaced, and the third generation LS1 small block that later replaced it. The most obvious difference that distinguishes the LT1 from these other engines is the front-mounted Opti-Spark ignition system.
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: August 2009
Gasket Surface Cleaning Caution Cleaning gasket surfaces can be a terrible thing to do! Many of today’s cylinder heads, and various parts are made of aluminum. The use of cleaning discs can damage the surface being cleaned by actually removing some of the surface being cleaned. There are also dangers of getting fibers from the