Sticker Shock – The 392 Magnum Gets Ready for Auction
As you can see in the pictures, we’ve reached a point where we can say the engine is built and ready to install. Or in this case ready to dyno and auction off. We certainly would not have been able to produce such a cool piece without the help of our contributors and Grawmondbecks Competition Engines. The 392 V8 Magnum engine is currently being auctioned off on eBay Motors. The auction ends Dec. 21.
Web Tools: Improving Business Through the Internet and Social Media
For years, engine shops have used the Internet to try and increase business. But too often, a shop’s website wasn’t being used to it’s full potential. Today, engine professionals are using their website as a tool to increase profits by selling reman/rebuilt components from their shop online.
Failure Happens
In our industry and business, one thing that has not changed is the inconvenience and total disruption to progress and profits brought along by a comeback. Unfortunately, “Failure Happens.” This might just be the next must-have bumper sticker. It could address our teenagers, our government and the occasional warranty. I won’t address my teenagers and
What Is Your Roadmap To Profitability?
Your roadmap begins with collecting all the labor dollars for your technicians’ time. Through measuring and managing, you can determine whether or not you are collecting all the labor dollars that are available to you, or if you are leaving money on the table. Once you start measuring a few important metrics, especially effective labor
Top 5 Reasons Business Deals Fall Apart, And How To Prevent It
A business sale requires the full attention and cooperation of the seller. Take your vacation before putting the business on the market. Then be prepared to dig in, be available and be actively involved in the stages of the selling process. Once it’s sold, then it’s time for that trip of a lifetime. Your engine
Are You Penny-Pinching Yourself Out of Business?
Five Expenses You Should Never, Ever Skimp On If you’re a small business owner, it’s probably a vast understatement to say that you don’t have money to burn. But according to Sean C. Castrina, there are some areas in which it doesn’t pay to cut costs. Here, he outlines five areas in which you should never be
Will You Have a POP or a SODA?
Across the nation it seems we don’t always agree on what to call things. For example, when you order a soft drink to some it’s “pop.” To others it’s “soda.” I know what you’re thinking – where is this going, and why am I thirsty all of a sudden? We’re going back to the
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: June 2013
Removing Stubborn Dowel Pins Do you ever have solid dowel pins that are worn or tapered, and the slap hammer slips off no matter how tight you make it? Add a dab of valve lapping compound to the dowel pin. It works wonders. Most of the time the pin slaps right out. Jeffrey Myers MAR
Ready for a Diesel Resurgence?
Diesel engine building will soon see an increase in numbers – very soon! Why do I say that? In an effort to eliminate smoking engines and reduce emissions, the EPA came down hard on tuner manufacturers just a few months ago, issuing warning/cease notices on diesel particulate filters (DPF) and EGR delete tunes/kits.
10 Mistakes To Avoid When Selling Your Business: An Insider’s Guide
There comes a time for every business when ownership changes, whether through a transition to the next generation or an outright sale to a first time or an experienced buyer. The majority of challenges and frustrations experienced by sellers can be avoided with solid information about the pitfalls of selling a business in today’s market.
Variable Valve Timing Systems
By the early 1990s, almost all import automotive manufacturers had a successful variable valve timing (VVT) system in production. These systems offered higher performance from smaller displacement engines at higher rpm. As these vehicles exceeded their new car warranties, technicians learned the ins and outs of these systems and how regular oil changes could increase
The Buck Stops Here
When companies don’t get the bottom-line results they want, it’s usually not their competition, the economy, or their people. Its’ usually the leader who has gotten stuck in their old ways of doing business and not willing to try new ideas or change. Start At The Top Company owners are 100% responsible for everything in
It’s All About The Choices
When I had difficulty coming up with ideas worthy of the space between the covers of this magazine it took only a couple of phone calls from customers before the light bulb came on: I realized I needed to examine the past to address the present. After two or three calls from customers relating their
Getting Employees To Adopt The Right Culture
How many times during the day does a customer stop by or call, and ask toonly speak with you, the shop owner? Do you know why? It’s because in general,the experience the customer has when dealing with the owner of a business ismuch different than when dealing with an employee. The owner goes out of
2012 Machine Shop Market Profile – Part 1
Because of the years of continuous data we’ve collected, we believe the information in this study is the most reliable data available for tracking trends in the production of engines, cylinder heads and crankshafts, as well as specific business data. While it isn’t always a rosy one, the picture that develops from our survey gives
How to Obtain Customer Testimonials
Even though we now live in a digital world, customer testimonials still play an important role in the decision process for consumers. In fact, due to the amount of research potential customers conduct online before visiting your automotive shop or store, it could be argued that customer testimonials are more important than ever. A company
Be More Efficient And Profitable With Well Organized Shop
The best way to be ready to start your day is to get your shop together. This means that every day certain things must be shut down, cleaned, put away, wiped down and organized. Get yourself a pedometer, attach it to your belt and at the end of the day see how many miles you’ve walked around your
HPBG: Don
In that discussion we hashed over the disparity in coefficients of expansion between cast iron and aluminum (that caused a revolution in head gaskets around the time of the Cadillac 4.1L). We discussed surface conditions and how that affects gaskets and scrub. We discussed gasket coatings and how they remain plastic while not scrubbing and
Shop Success: Good Planning Is More Fruitful Than
It’s a fair question, but it misses the point. Focusing on one secret ingredient instead of the entire recipe won’t lead to success. If I baked a cake and you asked me what was in it and the only thing I told you was sugar, you couldn’t replicate the cake. Yet, that’s the approach many
2011 Machine Shop Market Profile – Part 1
For what seems like an eternity, it has almost become commonplace to wait for the eye roll, the shake of the head and the hangdog expression before hearing the familiar refrain, “Oh, man, let me tell you…” In the engine building business, of course, the standard response industry-wide has, for many years, been simple:?Lousy. Numbers