Fuel Injector Selection & Service
These days just about everything is computer controlled, and we mean EVERYTHING. But the only kind of electronics we’re interested in for this article is one of the oldest computer-controlled engine parts around – the humble fuel injector.
Big Block Chevy Nitrous Engine
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, TRE Racing Engines survived a shop fire three years ago, and is now back to building top-notch drag racing engines like this big block Chevy nitrous engine for X275 drag radial racing. Click to find out what the shop went through to survive disaster, and how this engine came together.
Professional Secrets to Selecting Valve Springs
Valve springs play an essential role in controlling the breathing in internal combustion engines. The valves are mechanically opened by a camshaft, with the help of the valve lifters or tappets, and closed by the valve springs. But valve springs perform one of the most the critical functions: lifting the weight of the valve. Valve
When to Upgrade Wrist Pins
It has been said that the piston and connecting rod are the most tortured parts in a performance engine. Few engine builders dispute that notion, but what about the less glamorous piece of steel that mates them together through thick and thin? In a sense, the wrist pin is like the unsung soldier who throws
Analyzing Fatigue and Distress
Engine bearing inspection is a great way to get a visual indication of what is going on inside the engine under operating conditions. Upon teardown, the bearings will often have “tell-tale” signs of problems that have occurred and need to be addressed. However, the distress noticed in the bearing is often misunderstood and referred to
Engine Pro Shop Solutions – October 2018
PAPER CLAMP PIN CLIP Some piston pin clips can be a bear to install. If not supported right, the first one will push in too far or can be hard to seat. My solution uses office supplies to solve a shop problem. I lube and install the piston pin and then use the arm or
Engine Pro Shop Solutions – May 2018
PISTON CLAMP Eliminating the movement of parts when installing or removing Spirolox-type retaining rings in piston and rod assemblies will make the job easier and save time and cursing. Instead of clamping a connecting rod in a vise and then trying to steady the piston, we make a simple device to stabilize the entire piston
959 Big Buck Engine
It was about three years ago that Charlie Buck Jr. almost walked away from engine building. In 2015, Buck Racing Engines was broken into and nearly $500,000 worth of engines were stolen. The shop has since recovered, and things are back to normal, which means building engines like this 959 Big Buck nitrous engine. Don’t miss out on the details of this motor!
You Didn’t Need a V8
What to Know When Rebuilding Ford’s Powerful 3.5L Six-Cylinder Engine Platform Originally named TwinForce, Ford had a simple and specific directive with the development of its new engine family: “Build a low-emissions vehicle, with good fuel economy, that performs so well that the driver forgets they are driving a low-emissions vehicle with good fuel economy.”
Should I Reuse My Pistons or Order New Ones? How To Tell If Pistons Are Still Good
Freshening an engine has always been a game of careful disassembly and evaluating the components for wear followed by a series of judgment calls that balance the cost of new parts against further pushing the veterans. Evaluating pistons takes a practiced eye, but there are several checking points that any engine builder can use to
Dedication or Design – 12-Bolt GM is Still a Popular Differential
What is the goal for performance when it comes to the automobile? The object is to take all of the components of the automobile and improve upon them for power and durability. Most of the time this pertains to the engine, transmission and rear differential. However, the rear differential is the most frequently overlooked component
Oil Pumps – Pump Up The Volume to keep Engine in Tune
The Right Oil Pumps and Systems Keep Your Engines In Harmony This month we’re going to take a look at the component that can be considered the heart of your engine, the oil pump. Whether it’s a wet sump, dry sump, crank-driven, shaft-driven, etc. it is responsible for supplying the required oil that no engine
Building Winning Engines for Street Outlaw Racers
Graham Jones Has FastTimes Motorworks in the Street Outlaws Spotlight It’s not often that engine builders get to shine in the spotlight of national or worldwide fame. That honor is typically (and maybe rightfully) bestowed upon the racecar drivers, as they are the ones who do what it takes out on the track to get
Engine Parts: Lifters, Pushrods and Valve Springs
The valvetrain is one of the most critical components in any engine build, be it stock or performance. The lifters, pushrods, rockers and springs must all be strong and stiff enough to handle the loads and RPMs the engine will encounter, and they have to be durable enough to go the distance.
Taking Over the World of Engine Building
What you should know if your business is going international Not many businesses are satisfied with simply maintaining a local clientele. Just as customers typically want bigger and bigger engines, engine shops are looking to grow their business reach outside their town, city or state. In some cases, engine shops reach an international clientele, making
Ford FE Stroker Build
Guardian of the Galaxie How Ford’s FE Engine Rose from the Ashes of Disaster to Become a Versatile Veteran Ford’s FE engine has had a rich history that, today, is often overlooked or at least misunderstood. Many of us who have been around awhile have heard the term FE, but not a lot of people of today’s
Taking Over the World of Engine Building
Not many businesses are satisfied with simply maintaining a local clientele. Just as customers typically want bigger and bigger engines, engine shops are looking to grow their business reach outside their town, city or state. In some cases, engine shops reach an international clientele, making their engines and services available to the world. While there’s
Elite Motorsports and Erica Enders Capture First 2018 Victory
Two Time Pro Stock World Champion, Erica Enders was the last (wo)man standing at the end of the NGK Spark Plug Four-Wide Nationals in Concord, NC this weekend. Her last visit to the Winner’s Circle came in Epping, NH in June 2017 after a dry spell of over one year without a victory.
Safe Cleaning – Are the Concepts Compatible?
The subject of cleaning is never far from the mind of the modern engine builder or machine shop supervisor. Obviously, parts must be as clean as possible so they can be inspected, repaired if possible and reassembled. The subject of SAFE cleaning is a little less definitive, however.
Jobs of the Week – April 16-20
It’s tough to find good help sometimes, especially when it comes to technical jobs like those in the engine building industry. We want to help you find those qualified, skilled employees that will better your business. Here are the available jobs this week.
