The Daily Grind – Grinding valve seats with different abrasives
Grinding valve seats with abrasive stones has been aound about as long as the internal combustion engine. In the early days of grinding seats, there were only two abrasive materials to choose from – General Purpose and Finishing – because seats were mostly made of a single material, cast iron. Today, seats are made of
New, Used or Rebuilt? – Where will you find the best next machine for your shop?
Most of you have only known me as the “Goodson Guy” for the last 21 years. But did you know I was also the Sales Manager for Winona Van Norman? Did you know I also worked the Southern California territory as an equipment rep for 5 years? During my time in the streets of Southern
The Daily Grind
Today, seats are made of a wide variety of materials, different combinations of various alloys, powdered metals and other super hard materials. This seat material is designed to prolong the ability of the valve seat to seal against the pounding of the valve head during engine operation. The variety of materials also means new and different abrasives are required for proper machining.
Must Have Shop Tools & Measuring Equipment
You can’t do quality work in an automotive machine shop if you don’t have the right tools and measuring equipment. “Must have” tools and equipment include those that are necessary for engine disassembly, for inspecting and measuring engine components, and for engine assembly.
Troubleshooting Common Crank Grinding Problems
Maintaining the crankshaft is one of the most important services that go into a complete engine rebuilding. But before mounting that grinding wheel on a crankshaft grinding machine, inspect it for cracks or damage. This can be done visually or by giving the wheel a “Ring Test.” A good vitrified wheel with no cracks will
Solutions to Common Cylinder Honing Problems
Cylinder bore quality plays a huge role in reducing friction and blowby for improved engine performance and durability. Better bore geometry also contributes to better sealing and more usable power. Below are some solutions to the most common honing problems. PROBLEM: Hone is not cutting • If stones are loading, you need to apply more
A New ‘Finish’ in Honing
For years, engine builders have been honing cylinders with a coarse stone followed by a finishing stone. Then ring materials changed, requiring an additional very fine finishing stone to follow. Now current technology demands an added step to create an even cleaner, burr-free finish. However, even with these conventional honing techniques, peaks of folded and
Engine Builder Magazine To Host Free
Engine Builder magazine will host a free seminar titled “Race Engine Roundtable: Real World Tips to Take the Checkered Flag” on Friday, December 7, 2012, during the International Motorsports Industry Show in Indianapolis. Scheduled to participate are champion engine builders including Tony Bischoff, BES Racing Engines; Matt Dickmeyer, Dickmeyer Automotive Engineering; Jim Feurer, Animal Jim
How to Properly Care for Your Carbide Cutting Tools
There are three things to remember when using carbide cutting tools: 1. Avoid making intermittent cuts 2. Do not turn tool in reverse of normal rotation 3. Avoid cutting out valve seats with counterbore seat cutters When in use, always keep carbide tools stored separately, cased in wood or plastic. If they happen to bump
Tips and Tricks For Quickly and Accurately Detecting Cracks
Dry Method Magnetic Particle Inspection When "Magnafluxing" a casting, never blast with media prior to testing.Blast media peens the surface and can move metal, possibly closing thevery cracks or flaws that you are trying to identify. When very coarsewire brushes are used roughly, they can also mask these areas. Usuallythe casting itself, without cleaning, is
Cylinder Head Resurfacing Tips: How To Produce An Ideal Surface Finish
Dress and true the wheel Always dress and true the resurfacer wheel face to keep it in propergrinding condition. Never dress or true a wheel above the wheel centerline. In addition, always dress or true the wheel as close as possibleto the point of actual grinding. Since the grinding wheel usually wearsmost often on the
Engine Building Measuring Tools
The French created a measurement system in 1790 called the metric system. While the U.S. has never managed to switch over to it completely, as we were supposed to in the latter half of the 20th century, most automotive techs are familiar with it today because of the fasteners and components on late model vehicles.
Giving Away Profits To Stay Busy Makes No Business Sense
Why am I writing about your wallet? To be perfectly honest, it’s because I want you to stay in business. If you’re not in business, Engine Builder magazine isn’t in business. If you’re not in business, Goodson Tools & Supplies isn’t in business. If you’re not in business, Dave Monyhan is not employed, and that
How to Properly Dress Crankshaft Grinding Wheels
The grinding wheel must be dressedeach time it is placed on the machine, even though it may not have beenremoved from the wheel center. Mountthe wheel dresser on the grinder table. Bring the rotating grindingwheel up close to the diamond and start the coolant flow. Never dresswithout coolant. Frictional heat buildup can cause the diamond
The Nitty Gritty of Abrasive Safety
Conventional abrasives have kind of taken a back seat to PCD and CBN cutters in the automotive world in the last few years. Since most engines being rebuilt these days are made from multi-alloy components they are more easily machined with PCD or CBN. But PCD and CBN can’t do everything, so abrasives are still
3-angle Seat Cutting Tips
Goodson Tools and Supplies for Engine Rebuilders suggests using Carbide Pilots for precise and high-quality valve seat and bowl work. 1. Carbide pilots offer the following advantages: Carbide Pilots help keep tooling cutting true. When cutting 3-angle seats, counterboring for seat rings or using Bowl Hogs to enlarge valve bowls, the resistance of the workpiece
PERA Webinar Series to Kick-off April 17 with Speaker Bill Wade
The PERA webinar series is presented to engine builders at no charge courtesy of Goodson Tool & Supply and Rottler Mfg. The webinar registation link is available from the PERA home page, the PERA facebook page and the PERA Linkedin page. Information on the 2012 Webinar Series, "What’s New and What it Means to
Be More Efficient And Profitable With Well Organized Shop
The best way to be ready to start your day is to get your shop together. This means that every day certain things must be shut down, cleaned, put away, wiped down and organized. Get yourself a pedometer, attach it to your belt and at the end of the day see how many miles you’ve walked around your
Importance of Manually Dressing Crankshaft Grinding Wheel
Mount the wheel dresser on the grinder table. Bring the rotating grinding wheel up close to the diamond and start the coolant flow. Never dress without coolant. Frictional heat buildup can cause the diamond to come loose or separate from its mount. Lack of lubricating properties, along with cooling, abrades the diamond needlessly. Best results
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: October 2011
GM LS Engine Building Tips The GM “LS” engine format (GEN III and IV) is a replacement for the Chevy small block. For performance purposes it is no problem to obtain 500+ horsepower from just about any version of this engine. The following are some tips and suggestions we have found to make working on