Rebuilding Saturn Engines
In Jan. 7, 1985, Saturn was born when Roger Smith, the President of General Motors, announced the decision to create a whole new car company from the ground up. There were 99 people chosen to create a vision of what GM needed to do in order to prosper in the small car business into the
Core Cleaning: A Closer Look at the Issues and Regulations That Are Driving Today’s Market
On the list of hot button issues in the engine rebuilding business, the disposal of waste usually takes a backseat to supplier consolidations, market share position, profitability and other topics. On the other hand, the amount of time, effort and money that rebuilders spend, all of it non-productive, in meeting regulatory requirements can be significant.
Playing Hardball With Software: What Every Rebuilder Should Know About Shop Management Software
Even the most resistant rebuilder will find computers and shop management software hard to avoid. Gone are the days of the leather-bound ledger and stray notebook pages. If shop owners want to increase efficiency, maintain a well-organized business and stay competitive, they
Some Like It Hot: What Shop Supply Businesses Are Selling In the New Millennium
Like the rest of the automotive aftermarket, the shop supply business has seen many changes in recent years and expects to see many more in the future. The shop supply business has become more competitive, and, like many businesses associated with the automotive aftermarket, the term "flattened" keeps coming up. Could the new millennium breathe
Understanding Today’s Machine Coolants
Many types of grinding and honing operations require the use of a "process fluid" for cooling and lubrication. Remanufacturing procedures such as crankshaft grinding and surface grinding generate a tremendous amount of heat and require a fluid primarily for cooling. Heat control is absolutely essential for a good finish and accurate tolerances. Use of a
Cleaning Aluminum
"Ten years ago, when there wasn’t that much aluminum, people were scared," said Mike Wigert, sales manager of spraywasher manufacturer LS Industries. "They didn’t know how to regulate their ovens, they didn’t know which chemicals to use, and they were tarnishing their aluminum parts, and probably ended up hand cleaning a lot of them," he
Inside Nitrous Oxide Engines
The recreational use of nitrous oxide as a horsepower-enhancing compound first came into prominence in the 1960s. But its first application to internal combustion engines was for far more deadly purposes. During World War II, the Germans reportedly were the first to install nitrous oxide systems on their fighter planes. The Allies soon followed and
Heads Up: Rebuilding Aluminum Cylinder Heads
In our last article (Automotive Rebuilder, July, 1999 issue page 54) we discussed how to check valve stem to guide clearances and the methods used to replace valve guides and seats. Camshaft clearances and techniques used to bring clearances to within specification were also covered. In this article we will cover the final assembly of
Valve, Guide and Seat Repair Options
Valve, guide and seat repairs are the cornerstones of rebuilding cylinder heads. It makes no difference if the head is a 350 Chevy or one with dual overhead cams and four-valves-per-cylinder. The basics of refinishing the valves, guides and seats are essentially the same. The newer high tech heads will usually have smaller parts, the
Rebuilding the Chevrolet LT1 Engine
Although it shared many common dimensions, looked much the same and even had a few common parts, it was totally redesigned to provide more power with lower emissions and better fuel economy. Compared to the 1991 Chevy 350 L98 with TPI, the LT1 made 20% more horsepower, got better fuel mileage, and had a
The Aqueous Alternative: Cleaning Is The Cornerstone Of Every Rebuilding Operation
Cleaning is the cornerstone of every rebuilding operation, be it a small one or two man shop or a large scale production facility. Dirt, oil, grease, carbon and other contaminants must all be removed from components that are being processed so they can be inspected, machined and restored to like-new condition. Additional cleaning may also
Message From Incoming PERA President Jim Ormsby
Sometimes we need to exceed even our own expectations. That’s the message from Jim Ormsby, incoming Production Engine Remanufacturers Assoc-iation (PERA) president and current general manager of Franklin Power Products, a production engine remanufacturer (PER) located in Franklin, IN. They’re words that all PERA members should take to heart if they wish to re-energize shrinking
Cv Shaft & Rack Review 1999: The Numbers Speak For Themselves
The numbers speak for themselves. The annual replacement market for front-wheel drive axle shafts, all-wheel drive axle shafts and four-wheel drive shafts is estimated to be around 12 million units a year and growing with total sales in excess of $450 million. Within five years, the number of shafts being replaced is predicted to grow
Core Review 199: Talk Continues To Revolve Around Supply And Demand
The usual core supplier issues are all alive and well, and the talk among those in the core business continues to revolve around supply and demand, domestic and import cores, parts proliferation and the like. But this year there is a new concern, that being the involvement of Ford Motor Company and other large players
1999 Machine Shop Of The Year Award Winner: Metric Automotive Engineering Ltd
Each year, the staff at Automotive Rebuilder magazine recognizes one machine shop that displays business practices that go above and beyond the norm. This year, along with input from the Engine Rebuilders Association (AERA), we have selected Metric Automotive Engineering (Pty) Ltd., from Germiston South, Republic of South Africa. Metric was chosen from numerous entries
Rebuilding Toyota 3.0L V6 Engine
In 1988 Toyota introduced its first V6. Most of the information that follows applies to the 3.0L version used in Toyota’s truck applications. The 3.4L is still fairly new to the aftermarket at this point. 3VZ-E – 3.0L SOHC V6 – ’88-’95 The 3VZ-E was also introduced for the 1988 model year on Toyota 4×4
Rebuilding The GM Quad 4
The Quad 4 had four valves per cylinder, tuned intake and exhaust manifolds, no distributor, no plug wires, lightweight rods and pistons to reduce shaking forces, and a crank with eight counterweights that was designed to reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and bearing wear. It didn’t have an A.I.R. pump or an EGR system,
Obd II Shop : The Sensitivity Of Obd-IISystems Will Present Significant Change For Shops
For nearly 30 years, engine rebuilders were sheltered from the dramatic changes sweeping through the automotive industry. While other shop owners and technicians scrambled to relearn almost everything they knew because of computers, engine rebuilding remained essentially the same. Now, machine shops, custom and production engine rebuilders are faced with relearning virtually everything they know.
Rebuilding Hot Rod Honda Engines
Traditionally, hot rodding has been as American as apple pie, baseball, hot dogs and Chevrolet. Certainly, imported vehicles have been "hopped up," but serious hot rodding has always been dominated by enthusiasts who believe that engines have eight cylinders, pushrods and 16 valves. For the past 40 years, machine shops catering to devotees of high