Shop Solutions July 2016
Sometimes machine shops are called on to solve more than engine issues. Toyota rear axles are difficult to disassemble and usually require replacing the reluctor gear when replacing the bearings. I made a jig to drive the axle out of the housing using my press.
Shop Solutions June 2016
We live in a time where aluminum blocks with cast-in sleeves are common and we still need to remember to account for how different metals behave. We build several dozen Gen III and Gen IV GM LS type motors per year. We finish our cylinders .001” tighter on the aluminum block engines to compensate for the additional growth when the block gets up to operating temperature.
King Bearings 2016-2017 Race Application Guide
King Engine Bearings has announced its new and updated race bearing application guide. It offers expanded coverage for many new vehicles, and explains all of King’s most advanced bearing technologies and designs.
At the Top of the RPM Range
RPM Engine and Machine is off to a quick start
Understanding the Evolution of Cylinder Head Seat and Guide Machines
Do you remember the many generations of three-angle seat cutters and what we used to get by with? Grinding seats is still needed, but just 10 years ago we were grinding 80 percent of the seats. Though we still grind when necessary, today we cut 90 percent of the seats in the heads.
GM Duramax V8 Diesel
When GM introduced its first V8-based diesel power plant in the ’80s, the results were less than stellar since they essentially took an existing small-block gasoline design and modified it to run on diesel. It wasn’t until the early ’90s when GM bought into Japanese commercial vehicle giant Isuzu, that they got the technology to develop a truly modern V8 diesel.
Royal Purple Selects Winner of the Royal Purple Indy 500 Sweepstakes
Royal Purple has announced Kentucky native, Aaron Lewis, as the grand prize winner of the Royal Purple Indy 500 Sweepstakes. Between May 5 – June 1, more than 2,100 fans entered the sweepstakes for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind Royal Purple racing helmet signed by famed IndyCar driver, Ed Carpenter.
SEMA Announces Board Election Results
Results of the 2016 SEMA Board of Directors election are in, with Chris Douglas from COMP Performance Group, Kyle Fickler of Aeromotive Inc. and Les Rudd from Bob Cook Sales elected to serve on the board.
King Bearings Receives Jasper Overall Quality Award
King Engine Bearings has received its fourth consecutive Supplier Quality award from Jasper Engines and Transmissions. In 2012 King received Jasper’s Outstanding Service award. Now, for the third consecutive year, King has earned Jasper’s Overall Quality award.
Cylinder Head Design, Selection for Engine Builds
Choosing the “right” cylinder heads for an engine build can make all the difference in an engine that delivers and one that falls short of its potential. Horsepower, torque and throttle response all depend on how well the cylinder heads, camshaft and induction system work together. Choose the right combination and you’ll build a winner.
Hypertech Founder and President Mark Heffington Has Passed Away
Mark Heffington, founder and president of Hypertech Inc., passed away April 23. He was 74. Heffington pioneered automotive aftermarket tuning with the invention of the “Power Chip,” which was used to recalibrate early automotive computers.
Honing Aluminum Blocks
Manufacturers who produce “linerless” hypereutectic aluminum blocks today include Audi, BMW, Honda, Mercedes, Porsche, Volkswagen, Volvo, and Yamaha. Most late-model engines have aluminum blocks to save weight, including most of the familiar domestic V8s such as Chevy LS, Ford 4.6L modular and 5.0L Coyote, and Chrysler 5.7L and 6.1L Hemi. Yet these have iron sleeves.
Valve Timing Events and the Order of Importance
If you’ll recall, in the January issue, we got into the nitty gritty details of what makes a camshaft the “right” camshaft. In this issue, we’ll continue the education. Cam class is back in session!
Taylor Dynamometer Launches its New Hydraulic Test Center
After three years in the making, Taylor Dynamometer has announced the launch of its new, state-of-the-art, Hydraulic Test Center (HTC). For powertrain testing, it’s about fast and exceptional results in the safest manner possible.
Valves and Seats
The valves and seats in an internal combustion engine play a central role in engine breathing, compression, performance and longevity. It doesn’t matter if an engine has two, three, four or even five valves per cylinder or if the engine is gas or diesel because the valves all do the same thing: they open and close to allow air into the cylinders and exhaust to exit the cylinders.
World Products Motown Pro Light-Weight SBC Block
World Products has introduced a new light-weight cast iron small block for racing and performance applications. Weighing in at a nominal 178 lbs, the Motown Pro Light-Weight is cast from a special 40,000 psi iron alloy for increased strength while weighing significantly less than typical aftermarket blocks.
Pistons and Rings – The Technical Price for Horsepower
One of the most overlooked components of the internal combustion engine is the piston ring. It is, by scale, one of the hardest working components in the engine. And when you are building an engine, before choosing your piston rings you have to determine your application.
The Daily Grind
Today, seats are made of a wide variety of materials, different combinations of various alloys, powdered metals and other super hard materials. This seat material is designed to prolong the ability of the valve seat to seal against the pounding of the valve head during engine operation. The variety of materials also means new and different abrasives are required for proper machining.
DEI Low Profile Heat Screen with Adhesive Backing
DEI’s new Heat Screen is made of Mylar laminated to a glass fiber matting backed with an aggressive pressure sensitive adhesive for easy peel and stick application with high cohesion strength.
Racing Rod Options
Choosing a set of connecting rods is one of the critical steps in a performance engine build. The rods have to be strong enough to handle the anticipated speeds and loads, but also affordable for customers who have a limited budget.
