Hastings Upgrades Its Racing Piston Ring Line
Hastings Manufacturing Company, LLC, a nearly 100-year-old maker of piston rings, has improved their Tough Guy Premium Ductile series to include Napier premium ductile iron 2nd rings. Hastings’ best selling Tough Guy Premium Ductile racing rings have been dramatically improved with a new offering. The 2nd-groove scraper rings are now made of premium ductile iron
Valves: When to Reclaim, When to Replace
Performance engine builders can’t afford to take chances with questionable valves because they have to withstand high rpms and temperatures. Likewise, rebuilders who overhaul high dollar heavy-duty diesel and industrial engines want to minimize their comeback risks by making sure the valves they use are either new or have been carefully inspected and reconditioned to
Looking for Business?Profit Tips? Diesels Get You Smoking At
Interest in diesel motorsports is growing at a fever pace, and “lighting up” may well refer to the actions of hundreds of diesel pickup owners at dragstrips all across the country. I had the opportunity to be a guest of the National Association of Diesel Motorsports at the NADM?Diesel East Coast Nationals at Numidia Dragway
MAHLE and BEHR Sign Share Agreement
The two large Stuttgart automotive suppliers MAHLE and BEHR have agreed that MAHLE will take over shares in BEHR in several stages. The two first stages of the participation will be covered by aunilateral capital increase by MAHLE. In the first stage (2010), MAHLEwill take on 19.9 percent of shares; in the second stage, at
SEMA Urges Senate to Pass Small Business Lending Bill
The House passed the bill in June. The legislation wouldcreate a $30 billion fund to provide banks with less than $10 billionin assets access to capital to lend to small businesses. “During the past two years, banking relationships have changed for manyof our SEMA member companies,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president andCEO. “Businesses that have enjoyed years of
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: July 2010
Use New Head Bolts In Your Rebuilt Engines How much pressure is exerted on a head bolt? In a typical V8 engine, peak combustion pressures could be around 1,100 psi, which means each cylinder exerts about 14,000 lbs. of pressure on the cylinder head at full throttle. In fact, each head bolt may have to
ACL Distribution Bought By Tim Vehlewald; To Be Independent Company
In a joint statement, Automotive Components Ltd, Tasmania, Australia, and ACL Distribution, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI, announced the purchase of ACL Distribution, Inc. by Tim Vehlewald. The agreement provides Vehlewald, who becomes president, CEO and chairman of the new company, with ownership of the company which includes its name, company assets and exclusive marketing and
Holley Performance Reorganizes and Emerges From Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
As a result of the reorganization, Holley reduced its debt by over $59 million and obtained new credit arrangements including a revolving credit facility that provides the company with substantial flexibility to pursue its growth initiatives. According to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Tom Tomlinson, “Holley has emerged with an extraordinarily strong balance sheet which
Detroit Diesel To Invest $194 Million in Engine Manufacturing Plant
Detroit Diesel Corp. (DDC) announced that it will invest approximately$194 million to expand existing operations at its manufacturingfacility in Redford Township, MI. The DDC facility employs 1,900 people and manufactures heavy-dutydiesel engines for the commercial truck market. Company officials alsoconfirmed its Redford Township investment will be supported by avariety of state and local incentives, including
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: June 2010
Cover the Deck When honing cylinders in an engine block use duct tape to cover the deck. Then take a sharp razor knife and carefully trim out the cylinder bores. Doing this as a pre-honing procedure helps keep honing oil out of the coolant passages and thread holes, which reduces loss of honing oil, and
Industrial Opportunity Partners Invests in the Edelbrock Corporation
"This new partnership comes at a time in the automotive industry that puts Edelbrock in a prime position to capitalize on the ever-strengthening economy", stated Edelbrock Chairman, Vic Edelbrock. "We’ve weathered the economic storm and constraints of the fragile banking system over the past eighteen months, never losing sight of our commitment to innovation and
Upper Timing Chain Noise on Volkswagen VR6 Engines
Tohelp silence the problem, try bleeding the tensioner. Start by removingthe tensioner from the engine. Next, submerge the tensioner in oil.(Make sure the oil feed hole is facing upwards.) Then, use a large pairof non-marring pliers to actuate the piston several times until no airis noticed escaping the bleed hole. Finally, install the tensionerimmediately by
OBITUARY: Frederick W. Thul, 88, of Thul Auto Parts
Frederick W. Thul, 88, alifelong resident of North Plainfield, N.J., died Saturday, May 1, atthe Hunterdon Care Center in Flemington, N.J. Thul was a graduate of North Plainfield High School, class of 1940,where he excelled in academics and athletics. He was undefeated in thehigh jump for three years and set new records for North Plainfield
Race vs. Street Oil and Lubricants: The Great Zinc Debate Continues
In racing applications, it’s not usually so serene. Engines live on the edge. Engine builders and racers are always fighting and scratching for more power, more torque, just that little something extra, even 100 rpm off the corner more than the next guy – but it comes with a price. About the only protection these
Bolt-on Horsepower: Choosing An Induction System
The induction system feeds the engine air and fuel. So to increase the torque and horsepower output of an engine, the induction system has to provide more air and fuel. That usually means adding an aftermarket performance intake manifold with taller, larger and/or longer runners to increase air flow into the cylinder head ports, bolting
APRA Announces Expanded Relationship with Owner Resource Group
The Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) is pleased to announce that they have expanded their relationship with Owner Resource Group (ORG), naming them “APRA’s authorized financial services provider.” Bill Gager, APRA President who spearheaded the effort to further the relationship, said, “We believe our members need reasonable access to companies that really understand the financial
Street Performance Valvetrains
Street performance requires everyday driveability and reliability. A good street performance engine should have a broad torque curve, plenty of low end power and a reasonable amount of intake vacuum at idle, especially if the engine is backed with an automatic transmission. A street engine also has to be capable of lasting tens of thousands
Understanding Port Swirl In Diesel Engines
What is port swirl? Actually this is a little contradictive. The port doesn’t actually swirl, it is the design of the port that causes air to swirl! Swirl is what is taking place when the intake charge exits the intake valve and enters the combustion chamber. As the air enters the combustion chamber and the
CNC?Head Porting & Machining Centers
The fact that CNC machines have come down in price over the years, coupled with less complicated interfacing systems means that today they can be used by nearly anyone. You don’t have to relearn everything. You don’t have to take endless courses on how to make a tool change. Today’s machines are sophisticated and savvy
Federal-Mogul Reports Strong Fourth Quarter 2009 Net Income and Record Cash Flow
Federal-MogulCorp. has reported strong fourth quarter 2009 profitability, withhigher gross margin, improved net income of $43 million, or 43 centsper diluted share, and $251 million record cash flow with increasedsales versus fourth quarter 2008. The company said it improvedfinancial performance in each consecutive quarter of 2009 asrestructuring and cost-reduction initiatives enhanced Federal-Mogul’soperating leverage. Stronger demand