Wear and Tear
When it comes to agricultural equipment, specifically tractors, many of them are used for decades upon decades due to durable, well-made engines and machinery that lasts. For this reason, agricultural equipment comes with a price tag – a big price tag. New tractors, ranging in size from compact to 4- and 6-cylinder engines, can cost
Just in Time – Addressing Timing Component Replacement and Upgrades
The timing components that drive a camshaft affect valve timing, ignition timing (if the engine has a cam-driven distributor), compression, engine performance and fuel economy. Because of this, the timing components must be in good condition with minimal wear and slop, and they must be durable enough to maintain accurate timing for the service life
Assembling the Pieces of Our 392 Magnum Project
Customer sales reps (CSR) who work for your local W.D., or any parts person for that matter, are expected to not only take orders, but are often times called upon to choose the parts a shop will use for a build or repairs. Reps may be asked to help diagnose a problem or failure without
Weighing in on Balancing Work
Whether you’re building a stock engine, a high-revving performance engine or a slow-turning diesel engine, you can’t overlook the importance of balance. Every time the pistons in a reciprocating internal combustion engine change direction, they generate a force. That force is created by the reciprocating and rotating mass of the piston and rod assembly. If
Pick-a-Part: Selecting Valvetrain Components for a Performance Build
Selecting the right components to make a race-worthy valvetrain is crucial to assembling an engine that will last – and win. The pushrods, rockers and valve springs must be able to handle all of the stresses of the camshaft rotating with high spring pressures and with huge lift. As we all know, weakness in any
Choosing the ‘Right’ Oil
Every engine builder knows the importance of using not only high-quality motor oil in an engine, but also an oil that has the right additive package and viscosity for the application. This is especially important in performance applications where extremes of heat and pressure can push many ordinary motor oils to the brink. Motor oil
World Products Gen VI Compatible Big Block
World Products is offering a new Gen VI Big Block compatible design. This block uses a one-piece rear seal, and has the Gen VI style oil pan rail and front cover bolt pattern. The block can utilize either the OE type roller lifters or +.300″ tall tie bar lifters. It also features a Mk IV
MAHLE Clevite Changes Its Name To MAHLE Aftermarket Inc.
MAHLE Clevite Inc. has announced the transition of its company name to MAHLE Aftermarket Inc. According to the company, the changeover to the new company name, effective Jan. 1, 2014, serves a dual purpose: to bring MAHLE in line with all of the MAHLE Global Aftermarket divisions, and to highlight the substantial diversification of the
Subaru Outback Head Gasket Repair
Head gasket failure has been something Subaru has struggled with to some extent since the 1980s. There are many thoughts as to why head gasket failure on Subaru has continued. As a shop owner who specializes in the repair of Japanese vehicles, I thought I’d share some tips on Subarus. Head gasket failure has been
Building on Cummins B-Series
Changes from the 5.9L to the 6.7L Engine When you think about a Dodge truck, what is the first thing that comes to mind? I will give you a hint: Cummins. Dodge introduced the B-series Cummins engine in the Dodge truck in 1989. It’s not like they had to convince consumers that the Cummins engine
Performance Rocker Arms
Pushrod engines new and old are still a hot topic. Overhead cams have been used in many European and Asian engines for years, so when Ford opted to go the overhead cam route with their 4.6L V8 engine, some predicted pushrod engines were on their way out. But, GM stuck with the pushrod design for
Diesel Cranks and Connecting Rods
The demand for mid-size diesel performance products continues to grow. There tends to be two sides of the mid-size diesel spectrum: on one side there is street performance and on the other there is all-out race. Street performance diesels deal mainly with engine parts that are primarily for bolt-on applications and can make great power
Executive Interview With Jon Douglas, General Manager, MAHLE Clevite
AftermarketNews recently sat down with Jon Douglas, general manager of MAHLE Clevite. A 20-year veteran of the MAHLE Group, Douglas was named GM of Mahle Clevite this past July and shares some of his short- and long-term goals for the business. aftermarketNews sat down with Jon Douglas, general manager of MAHLE Clevite. A 20-year veteran of
Racing Oils
The latest API-certified SN and ILSAC GF-5 motor oils are fine for everyday driving in late model vehicles, but most off-the-shelf motor oils (even many synthetics) come up short in the anti-wear department in a racing application – especially if the engine is running a flat-tappet cam or a radical roller cam with a lot
Built for Auction
The criteria for selecting Engine Builder magazine’s inaugural “Performance Engine Builder of the Year” included much more than the ability to put together race-winning engines. Things like community involvement and the support of training and education were part of the mix. To be sure, our 2012 award winner, Ed Pink Racing Engines of Van Nuys,
Oiling System Technology
Oil is the lifeblood of every engine. Any significant loss of oil pressure can destroy an engine in a split second so the oiling system must provide a constant supply of oil under all operating conditions. With performance engines, keeping the engine lubed with a steady supply of oil can be a challenge because
Sleeves & Liners
I often hear customers ask about the difference between a sleeve and a liner. It’s an understandable question. Automotive guys call them sleeves and diesel guys call them liners. And while they may be used for similar purposes, the perception of what they do may be very different among different groups. Many automotive enthusiasts understand
Racing Oils
Performance engines built for racing deserve the best possible lubrication. Ordinary street oils don’t cut it on a race track. By Larry Carley The latest API-certified SN and ILSAC GF-5 motor oils are fine for everyday driving in late model vehicles, but most off-the-shelf motor oils (even many synthetics) come up short in the anti-wear
Motor Oil Fact or Fiction
1. Synthetic motor oil is too slippery. It causes roller bearings to slide instead of roll, and that causes the bearings to fail. Fact or Fiction? – Fiction If you have ever flown on a jet airplane, you have enough experience to debunk this myth. All jet turbine engines utilize rolling-element bearings, and every jet
Learning From Broken Parts
In 1973, I was a sportsman drag racer. My car was the two-ton orange ’57 Mercury named, “The Big Animal.” The transplant engine was a pure stock Ford 427 FE 8V low riser I called “Old Reliable,” shifted by a top loader four-speed with a Hurst Competition Plus shifter. In August of that year, I