Engine Cylinder Bore Surface Finishes
What’s the best type of cylinder bore finish for today’s engines? Most would say it’s a finish that allows the rings to seat quickly and completely so the engine doesn’t use oil. For many applications, that may mean a plateau finish. The surface finish must also meet the piston ring manufacturer’s specifications and have the
The ARC Is Making Headway Promoting The Benefits of Rebuilt Engines
Progress is being made by the Automotive Repower Council (ARC) in its effort to better educate consumers concerning the benefits of repowering, i.e, installing a rebuilt engine, or utilizing machine shop services, compared to purchasing a new or used vehicle or installing a used engine. ARC Chairman, Dave Deegan, recently made a presentation to the
The IC Engine Is Here For The Long Run
For 100 years, the internal combustion (IC) engine has dominated the automobile industry with its power and convenience. It has provided this country and the world a reliable and economical source for transportation and has given enjoyment to scores of hot rod, classic car and restoration enthusiasts, as well as endless excitement in amateur and
The Future Of OEMs In The Reman Aftermarket
Some original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the independent automotive remanufacturing industry have maintained a symbiotic relationship since the introduction of the first automobiles; other OEMs are still lagging behind when it comes to getting involved in reman automotive aftermarket sales. However, today the future of the relationship between the two is critical not only to
What’s Hot In Cold Crack Repairs!
It is one of the most common ailments of a modern engine, requiring attention whenever it is discovered. It has the potential to be a great profit center, but it can also cause no end of frustration. "It" is a crack, and whenever one is discovered in a cylinder head or engine block, it means
Rebuilding the GM / Chevy 2.2L Engine
Unfortunately, this four cylinder, pushrod motor didn’t have nearly enough horsepower, so Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac all opted for the 1.8L SOHC Opel engine from Brazil for most of their “J” cars, and Chevy promptly made its new engine into a 2.0L/121 cid that delivered more power in 1983. The 2.0L was upgraded in 1987
Engine Valve Designs
Due to the large graphic content of this editorial it must be viewed as a PDF. Click here to view
Toyota 3SGTE Engine
First of all, one needs to realize that Toyota, like GM, Ford, etc., has engine “families”. However, rather than calling them names such as “big block” or “small block,” Toyota assigns them a letter code. The engine family code is the first letter (not the first numeral). The codes are as follows: A-series: 1.5L, 1.6L
Rebuilding the New Chevy 262
This enabled GM to shorten the development process dramatically because it was able to adapt a proven design. But it also allowed it to share a lot of the existing tooling from the V8 production lines so the engines could be on the road sooner. The original 200 V6 that came out in 1978 was
Rebuilding the Chevrolet LT1 Engine
Compared to the 1991 Chevy 350 L98 with TPI, the LT1 made 20 percent more horsepower, got better fuel mileage, and had a much broader torque band with 90 percent of its peak torque available from just over 1,000 rpm all the way up to nearly 6,000 rpm. GM Powertrain accomplished all of this by
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
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
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
Testing Rebuilt Power Steering Components: The “Zero Defect” System
Defective returns. These two words have many undesirable connotations to the power steering rebuilder. Starting with a replacement part request, other claims could be forthcoming. These range from labor for removal and reinstallation, which can sometimes exceed three hours, to and including alignment, possible towing charges, rental car and even product liability expenses. These claims
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
Valve Alloys-What Makes Them So Special?
Those of us who have been in the valve business all of our career tend to forget that everybody else hasn
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
Machine Shop Market Profile
In Part I of our annual profile of the custom engine rebuilder/machine shop market (see June, 1999 issue, page 54) we provided details on the average number of engines, cylinder heads and crankshafts produced monthly by the typical machine shop during production year 1998. Also included in Part I