Camshaft Class is Back in Session
A theory prevails in which a cam lobe that opens to maximum lift and closes instantaneously is quintessential for maximum power and torque operation. Two problems exist with this premise. First, it’s highly impractical due to current technology. Second, this theory discounts a fundamental dilemma that air has momentum, and this must be utilized to achieve
Customer Appreciation
In the March issue of Engine Builder, I shared some stories about crazy customer experiences from sprint car engine builder Steven Hogue. We all had a good laugh recalling the birdseed, the shop rag ingestion and sealing an engine a bit too well with duct tape. Then, unsure of whether you would be interested in
Racing Spark Plugs
Choosing a set of racing spark plugs for a particular application is not as easy as it sounds because the plugs have to be closely matched to the application. Stock plugs are fine for stock applications and ordinary driving conditions. But when an engine is modified to make more power and is run under racing
Assembly Lubes & Break – In Oils
Perhaps the most important property of lube oil is its ability to remove heat from a surface where two or more metals are sliding across each other. In much the same way as air flows around cylinder head fins to remove heat, oil flows through a bearing and removes the heat caused by friction. I
Crank Grinding – The Myth of the .010”/.010” Crankshaft
Regrinding the crankshaft is an important part of the engine rebuilding process. It was almost an art in the ‘40s, but it’s pretty routine now. However, there are still plenty of myths and misunderstandings that are left over from the past that we still have to deal with today. One of the most common myths
REBUILDING THE 5.7L HEMI
Back in the early ’90s, when Chrysler realized that it would need a new truck motor to replace its 318/360 Magnum engines to meet the coming emissions standards, the company considered two pushrod engines along with one SOHC design and concluded that a pushrod motor with a pair of Hemi heads that really breathed would
GM DURAMAX V8 Diesel – The Next Small Block Chevy for the Diesel Hot Rodder?
If you look back into automotive history, hot rodding and performance upgrades for power are rooted in such V8 classics as the flathead Ford and small block Chevy. But when you look on the diesel side of history, most big torque power plants utilized the inline 6-cylinder configuration since near-perfect piston to rod angles create
Waupaca’s “Time Machine” Machine Shop
The readers of Engine Builder include thousands of skilled machinists who are also car enthusiasts. Over the years, there have been countless stories printed in this magazine about vintage cars. Rarely, if ever, do you read a story like this one about a vintage machine shop that’s been miraculously preserved by just a handful of
Numbers Don’t Tell The Whole Story
We ask a lot of questions. Yes, I can admit it – we’re a nosy bunch here at Engine Builder. Sometimes, our requests may come across as discourteous, intrusive or even downright rude. Because sometimes we ask hard questions, things that even I would probably hesitate to answer. Let me first say this: I apologize
I Object! – Be Sure Your Sources Are Reliable
Like Perry Mason, I don’t trust hearsay information. When I am not sure of something, I consult a book, website or ask someone who is an expert about the information I seek. Having been in an automotive and racing career for 50 years, I have a huge collection of Chilton and Motor Manuals, from 1935
Reusing, Reclaiming, Remanufacturing – Whatever you call it, it’s how the industry recycles parts and components
No matter what kind of engine builder or remanufacturer you may be or what applications you build for, at some point in time you’re going to run into a situation where a used engine part or component will come in handy. You’ll reuse, reclaim or remanufacture it for your specific job. Whatever the reason may
A Job Well Done
If Timm Jurincie stopped accepting engine work today at his Avondale, AZ shop, Tuf-Enuf Auto & Marine Performance, he would still have enough work to last until September. Tuf-Enuf, which focuses on performance marine engines and street strip motors, is a sought-after engine shop in the Avondale and Phoenix area despite not advertising. “We don’t
Wet & Dry Sump Oiling Systems – Choosing the Right System for the Right Job
If you are building a customer’s “dream engine” what type of oiling system should you use? The answer to that question will depend on the application (street, drag, circle track, road race, off-road or marine), engine RPM and how much your customer is willing to invest in a lubrication system. Your choices may also be
Learning Curve – Understanding the Evolution of Cylinder Head Seat and Guide Machines
Like many of you, I’ve been watching the transition in head machines for the engine machinist industry with great interest. And you and I both are looking at how changes in equipment will impact your business. You see, I teach in an engine machinist program and when I took over the program in 1993 our
From a Dump Truck Dynasty Came a Speedboat King
Garfield Wood never intended to go into the boat building business. His goal in life was to personally set every speed record on water and be recognized as the world’s speedboat king. However, a need for speed on the water came about at an early age working with his father. Garfield Arthur Wood was born
Help this Industry – and Help Yourself, Too
As you have heard from this bully pulpit many times over the past 15 or so years, I want you to let us know how we’re doing. Engine Builder exists so our readers (engine builders, remanufacturers and machine shops) and advertisers have a business tool that promotes the success of both. Communication is both simpler
AFTERMARKET DIESEL INNOVATIONS – Evolutionary, Revolutionary or Illegal?
Diesel technology has come a long way, evolving from smelly, dirty, slow, workhorse engines to clean-burning, high-torque, high-horsepower engines that can give many gasoline engines a run for the money on a drag strip or race track. Diesels aren’t just for towing or pulling anymore, they’re finding a niche in all kinds of performance applications
At the Top of the RPM Range
Craig Haslem first got into the engine building industry while working at a NAPA store in Berea, OH. He worked as a counterman in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s until he was asked to work in the machine shop at the location. After just a week, the guy who brought him into the machine
Building A Ford 460 Stroker
Any automotive enthusiast would agree that the quest for more power is the true addiction. From simple bolt-ons to hardcore internals such as different bore and stroke combinations tend to fuel our burning desire. Every enthusiast seems to have a passion for a particular brand of manufacturer. Take for instance the Flathead Ford V8 engine.
UNDERSTANDING ROD RATIOS
Performance engine builders are always looking at changes they can make that will give their engine an edge over the competition. Rod ratio is one of those factors that may make a difference. Changing the length of the rods with respect to the stroke of the crankshaft offers some advantages in certain situations, and may