Oliver Racing Parts Kicks Off 30th Anniversary with Three Contests
Oliver Racing Parts, manufacturers of high-performance connecting rods for motorsports applications, is celebrating its 30th anniversary by launching three contests filled with prizes and merchandise between now and December 31, 2013. “Oliver Racing Parts has had a successful history – from setting land speed records at Bonneville to wins in NASCAR – so for Oliver’s
Common Causes of Water Pump Failure
1. Failure Symptom: Seal Leakage-Dirty System Evidence of seal leakage from weep hole (Figure 1) – This pump has been in service only a short time before rusty-looking coolant began to leak out of the weep hole, leaving behind large deposits of rust and calcium. Figure 1 shows a buildup of rust particles with a
IMSC Receives Legislative Approval of Motorsports Initiative
The Indiana General Assemblyhas approved a bill that will strengthen the state’s position as a global leader in the motorsports industry and create benefits for economic development in tourism, hospitality and motorsports, including upgrades and improvements at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. House Bill 1544 passed the House and Senate on April 26 and is
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: April 2013
Making Your Own Piston Ring Compressor Some customers have been asking me for piston ring compressors in sizes we do not carry. My suggestion to them is to do what I do. Look in a cylinder sleeve catalog and find one that is close to the ID of the job you’re working on. Place the
‘Heads Up’ On Today’s Cylinder Heads & Bolts
Some say the air cleaner of an engine is like the front door of a house. That is, it’s what you see first and foremost. And the home owner can use that door to make a statement about the house without anyone seeing what’s inside. Much like what an air cleaner says about an engine
Not Quite a Full Pull
In tractor pulling parlance, a “hook” is when you attempt a pull. A “full pull” is one in which you go the maximum distance of 300 feet. At Engine Builder, we’re mourning one of our own, who made the hook, but didn’t quite get the full pull. Jim Walbolt, who had been a contributor to
Why Do Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensors Fail?
Drivers often notice sluggish performance,rough idling, poor acceleration or even stalling. There may also be a morefrequent need to refuel. Contamination could even occur as early as at every18,000-25,000 miles, depending on the vehicle model. For example, with small orcompact cars, the MAF sensor can clog quicker, as it is placed in a smallerengine bay
Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Repeal Ethanol Mandate
Originally passed by Congress prior to the recession, the RFS requires gasoline sold in the U.S. to contain a minimum amount of renewable fuel, most of which happens to be the corn-based ethanol. However, given that an increasing amount of corn continues to be diverted to ethanol creation rather than toward other uses like livestock
Tom Marx to Present Buying/Selling a Small Business at Upcoming PERA Webinar
The one hour session is designed for small and midsized company owners, especially those who are thinking of selling and need information on the right way to prepare and follow through to successfully value their business. “Our research has found that 70 percent of all small and midsized businesses never sell after they are
Rebuilding Chrysler’s ‘Revived’ Engine Family
Casting numbers, VIN codes, components and processes to rebuild/remanufacture these engines are compiled for Chrysler’s newly revised engine family including 4 cylinders, V6s and V8s Chrysler made some major changes in their engine line-up starting in ’07. They replaced their four cylinder engines in everything but the PT Cruiser in ’07, updated the 4.7L V8
Protecting Your Business With The Right Insurance
Running a business is expensive and the capital that you’ve poured into your company can disappear in an instant if a major weather event damages your facility, or if someone in your shop gets injured while on the job. Having the right kind of insurance is critical to your business and multiple insurance policies should
The Importance of Compression Ratios and How To Measure Them
NHRA Top Fuel and Funny car teams replace them after every race pass and every second qualifying pass. Pro Stock teams replace them after every 40 passes approximately, and weekend warriors replace them every 12 to 18 months, sooner if their engines are nitrous-assisted. At piston replacement time questions of spec changes usually arise –
Matching Pistons And Rings
Whether you are rebuilding a high-mileage engine or building a fresh engine from scratch, matching the pistons and rings to each other and the application is essential for a successful outcome. Rings are a wear component that are usually replaced during a rebuild. The pistons may be reused if they are not damaged, cracked or
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.
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: February 2013
5 Tips For a Manual Milling Machine Editor’s Note: A manual milling machine is typically at the heart of every machine shop. In the following, Jim Kovach gives some useful tips on how to get the most from your mill. 1. Always use a high-quality machinist’s square on the mill. You will be surprised how
G-OIL named ‘Official Motor Oil’ of Daytona International Speedway and the Daytona 500
G-OIL made NASCAR history last year at Daytona International Speedway when the TriStar Motorsports Toyota Camry driven by Tayler Malsam finished sixth in the DRIVE4COPD 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series event. "There is no better way to communicate that G-OIL meets the rigors of competition than by becoming the Official Motor Oil of the famed Daytona
Heavy-Duty Coolant Options
While the fundamental duty of engine coolants has not changed – they must transfer excess heat and offer freeze and boiling protection, plus corrosion and liner protection – modern coolants must transfer more heat than in the past, largely due to new emissions systems. When considering the energy consumed to power a heavy-duty diesel
Livin
One of the only ways you can prove your worth as a race engine builder – besides on the racetrack, of course – is on a dynamometer. Being a shop without a dyno may be akin to running blindfolded: you can surely build a good engine, even a winning engine, but you probably won’t know
Crank It Up
Whether you think diesel crankshafts are the same as or different from their smaller gasoline counterparts, you’re right. Diesel crankshafts and rotating assemblies – like their cousins in the gas engine world – turn a linear motion from combustion into a rotating motion that can move a vehicle, supply power through a generator, pump oil
AAA Goes Public With Concerns About E15
From AAIA Capital Report The recent survey undertaken by AAA has pointed to the strong likelihood of consumer confusion, vehicle damage and voided warranties as a result of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of the E15 blend of ethanol. AAA further called on regulators and the industry to stop the sale of E15