1994-2005 GM Northstar 4.6L Engine Head Bolt Thread Repairs
When disassembling the GM Northstar 4.6L engine, all head bolt threads should be thoroughly inspected as they are removed. If there is any section of the aluminum block thread left on the bolt, that bolt hole will need to be repaired using a Time Sert or equivalent repair procedure. Typically, not all the cylinder head
Balance of Power (and Profit)
One of the keys to a smooth running, long lasting engine is proper balance of the reciprocating and rotating parts. When a crankshaft is out of balance, the uneven distribution of weight can generate centripetal forces that shake the engine with increasing intensity as engine rpm goes up. Centripetal force (which many people mistakenly call
10 Ideas to Improve Employee Retention
In research we’ve conducted on this subject, wefound that roughly one-third of shop owners are looking to hire a“qualified” technician. Once you find that coveted technician, you wantto have the right features in your shop to make him or her say, “Yes, Iwant to come work for you.” Now the new hire is an employee,
For JGR’s engine builder, it’s been really early to rise
"This was the worst offseason I personally have had in a long time,"Cronquist admitted. "Just because it was trying to get the pieces andthe parts and where they go and what they are, and a part number to gowith them … just so I can give to my guys [the JGR engine assemblers]what I need
CSI: Engine Bearings: When Good Bearings Go Bad
Engine bearings have the dual function of reducing friction between a rotating part of the engine (the crankshaft) and the stationary part (the main caps and engine block) and supporting the crank. Because of the stresses caused by the explosions inside the internal combustion engine, the bearing material must be extremely strong, so a durable
A Total Eclipse Of The Son
Not all that long ago, an entire generation learned about high performance and hot rods from Jan & Dean and The Beach Boys. Their lyrics romanticized surfing, cars and the California lifestyle. I knew kids who quoted those lyrics as they described either the car they were driving, or the one they desperately wanted to
Remanufacturing Industry Association Strongly Supports Passage of ‘Right to Repair’ Legislation
The Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) has declared its support of the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) and strongly urges Congress to pass the legislation in order to ensure that car owners and their trusted repair shops have the same access to safety alerts and repair information as the franchised new
Shop Solutions: April 2008
Charging For Expert Advice Bench racers wasting your time? Our shop labor rate is $80 per hour. I sell my advice for 1/2 price! When a guy wants me to engineer a motor by selecting parts combinations and machining specs to achieve a specific level of performance, I charge him for my time. I explain
Machine Maintenance: Time For Spring Cleaning
Springtime is here at last. Birds are chirping, the snow is melting and the grass is finally starting to show. It’s time to hang up the snow shovels and get the lawnmower tuned up. And if you’re like me, you can hardly wait to get your summer toys out of storage and ready to roll.
Mid-Range Diesels: Going the Distance
While it may seem that we’re constantly asking you, the reader, to give us detailed information about your business, the truth is, details are what make this business interesting. In that respect, following the February issue of Engine Builder, a cross-section of readers were asked for their opinions on a number of topics, ranging from
From ATVs to Karting to Everything In Between
While small engines are in many types of equipment and toys, there isn’t anything small about their potential for engine builders to make a profit. From karts to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to motorcycles, for many engine builders looking to add profit margins to their business or to get into a specialized area of the industry,
Valve Seat & Guide Equipment Selection
Cylinder head work is one of the mainstays of any engine building operation, and these components often require valve guide and seat work to restore them for service or to improve performance. In order for a valve to seat correctly, for efficiency and power, engine builders must replace or bring back to spec all valve
CNC Machining: Making Dollars and Sense
"For the first time, we saw people who weren’t overwhelmed by the concept of CNC machines,” Matt Meyer said about the recent PRI trade show. “This was the first year that most people really seemed to know what they were looking at and understood that CNC machines are a viable part of the automotive machine
MaxiForce to Host AERA Tech & Skills Regional Conference
MaxiForce, a Miami-based provider of replacement diesel engine parts, will host the Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association (AERA) Tech & Skills Regional Conference at its Miami headquarters. The one-day conference will take place on Saturday, April 5. “This is an exciting announcement for us, in that we look forward to interacting with our valued partners, as
Vintage Vehicle Parts Show Largest Product Category Increase at
Of the 14 new product categories open to exhibitors at the 2007 SEMA Show, parts for vintage vehicles recorded the largest growth, increasing 17.6 percent from last year’s entries. “Vintage” loosely refers to vehicles 25 years old and older, and the bulk of parts entered into new-products judging were for mid-’50s to mid-’70s vehicles, according
Creating and Using Air Efficiently
In one of his famous science lectures, Dr. William H. Cosby asked the pertinent question: “Why is there air?” Being the astute man of knowledge he is, he answered his own question: “To blow up basketballs.” Of course, Bill Cosby’s rationale for why air exists Is different than any of Engine Builder’s readers. After all,
Internet Marketing Opportunities Exist – Are Engine Builders Online?
Twenty years ago, the idea of doing business through your computer wasunheard of. Sure shops HAD computers…and some of them even turned themon once in a while and used them for printing work orders or perhapseven a printed reminder card to a customer now and then.Ten years ago, the internet was booming. You could buy
The Tool Salesman Doesn
Our tool man, or perhaps I should say tool person, doesn’t stop at our shop any longer. First one week, then another went by without seeing the tool person pull in. I thought perhaps our tool person had gone on vacation without telling us, or even worse had gotten sick. After a few weeks, I
Hey, It
Wherever two or more shall gather… Somebody is bound to be too hot or too cold! It seems to be a fact of life, people can never agree about the temperature inside. This one says it’s too hot, while that one says it’s too cold. One thing we can all agree on is that we
Coretalk: PROFormance Acquires Automotive Remanufacturers de M
The acquired company was previously a business segment of Recon Automotive Remanufacturers and was part of a sale of Recon’s assets to PROFormance. The acquisition provides PROFormance expanded production capacity, a broadened product offering and entry into the Mexican and Central American markets for remanufactured automobile engines. “PROFormance continues to grow its remanufactured engine business.