Ford 4.6/5.4L 3V Start-Up Noise
Some Ford vehicles equipped with a 4.6L 3-valve or 5.4L 3-valve engine may exhibit a ticking and/or knocking noise after reaching normal operating temperature, or a rattle upon starting. The noise may be described as ticks, taps, knocks, or thumps. In some cases the noise may be a normal characteristic of these engines. In other cases the noise may require further investigation.
Roush Yates Performance Products Enters Exclusive Agreement with FLUIDYNE High Performance
Roush Yates Performance Products and FLUIDYNE High Performance have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement leading into the 2015 race season. This exclusive relationship has been established to focus on the new “Spec Radiator” designed with NASCAR, and selected for the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series.
Choosing the Right Camshaft for a Performance Engine
A camshaft is nothing more than a cast iron or steel shaft with a series of lobes strategically placed along its length. Each lobe opens and closes a valve by moving a lifter, pushrod and rocker arm, or in the case of an overhead cam engine by moving a cam follower or direct valve action. However, choosing the right camshaft is not only the cornerstone of building a performance engine, but also its centerpiece.
Direct Injection Engines and Carbon Deposits
When the early direct-injection engines hit the three-year or 30,000-mile mark, some developed driveablity problems due to carbon buildup on the necks of the intake valves. In the late ‘90s and early 2000s, TSBs related to carbon deposits on the valves were few and far between. There are three reasons why direct-injection engines are more prone to carbon deposits. Read on to find out.
Damien Was All Wrong
From 1987 to 1990, Animal Jim’s 666-inch A/R Ford Hemi Boss that was called Damien, was all wrong for Jim’s purpose, which was running with a nitrous NOS Fogger power adder. In ‘90 and ‘91 Pro Modified, Damien was one of three engines that powered his Rick Jones Pro Mod Probe. Find out how Animal Jim made Damien work.
JE Pistons Expands SRP and SRP Professional Product Line
SRP Pistons has expanded both its SRP and SRP Professional product offering, adding over 260 part numbers to the collective 2015 lineup. The product extension encapsulates the Small Block Chevrolet and Small Block Ford for the traditional SRP line and GM LS Series, Small Block Chevy, Small Block Ford and Ford Modular engines for the SRP Professional Piston product line.
JE Pistons Expands Ford Modular Product Offerings
JE Pistons, a leader in high-performance forged and billet racing pistons, has redesigned and expanded its product offering for the Ford Modular 4.6L and 5.4L engines along with releasing new part numbers for the Ford Modular Coyote 5.0L. These new JE Pistons utilize a dedicated 2618 alloy Forged Side Relief (FSR) forging that was specifically designed for high horsepower modular engines.
Shop Solutions January 2015
When working with a ball-and-cup type pushrod from an application like a Ford or Chrysler product with adjustable shaft rockers, it is important to know the “effective” length when ordering custom length pushrods. In this case, the effective length is the length from the tip of the ball end to the bottom of the seat cup.
Could Our Cars Get Two Stroke Diesels?
The diesel engine, once only a bastion of trucks and European passenger cars, is becoming more and more popular every year, even here in the United States. Conversely, one technology that isn’t so popular is the two-stroke. After having a solid run in several cars throughout the decades, the two-stroke engine now seems mostly consigned
Selecting Pushrods, Rockers and Springs for Your Build
Everybody knows you need the right combination of valvetrain components to maximize an engine’s power potential. The trick is figuring out which components are the “right” ones for a given application. A high revving engine with an aggressive cam needs lightweight rocker arms and stiffer valve springs to keep up with the cam.
Shop Solutions – December 2014
In our shop, we don’t have a dyno or engine test stand. We work on a variety of engines from Chevys to Internationals to Continentals, so no engine start stand would suit everything we do. In an effort to find oil leaks, we have started to “smoke” our engines.
Elgin Announces New Pro-Stock Performance Catalog
A comprehensive new catalog featuring the dramatically expanded Elgin Pro-Stock line of performance components for street, racing, marine and other applications will be available at next week’s Performance Racing Industry trade show in Indianapolis. The catalog will be distributed at the Elgin Industries booth (No. 5032) in conjunction with the company’s 95th Anniversary celebration.
Choosing the Correct Camshaft for the Build
Choosing a particular type of camshaft for an engine build is an important decision that has to be made before any other parts are ordered or machined. Choosing a cam requires answering some basic questions, the most important of which is the engine application itself.
Upgrading Valve and Seat Equipment
If high quality head work is a cornerstone of your business, you should review your current situation to see if an equipment upgrade could improve not only the quality but also the quantity of your work.
Modified Ford Model Bs
It was known as the Model B engine and was produced for only four years beginning in 1932. Sporting only four cylinders, it was basically an upgrade of the earlier Model A powerplant. The “B” engine sported an impressive 200 cubic inches of displacement. Its compression ratio was a super-low 4.9-1. The paltry 50 horses it produced came at about 2,200 RPMs. The engine certainly didn’t appear likely to be a candidate for upgrading, but that wouldn’t be the case.
Internal Affairs – Diesel Crankshafts and Rods
Despite having similar appearances, a diesel crankshaft has some primary differences from its gasoline counterparts. A gasoline engine uses a spark to ignite the fuel. A diesel engine, operating at a much higher compression ratio, uses the heat produced by compression to ignite the fuel. Diesel engines typically have a longer stroke than the bore diameter, so to handle this load, diesel crankshafts are much larger physically.
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.
The Origin of ‘Coal Rolling’ and the Story of Diesel’s Evolution
The diesel engine replaced steam engines that were being used in locomotives and ships. The diesel engine also became widely known for its use in submarines, stationary power plants and trucks. In the last 100 years, the diesel engine is credited as the modern day workhorse, as there is an abundance of high torque at low RPM.
September 2014 Shop Solutions
One of the most important factors in engine bearing design is a proper fit between the bearing and housing. Except for thrust washers, nearly all bearings are an interference fit. This means the bearing is slightly larger than the hole it fits into. In bushings, we refer to this as “Press Fit.”
Fel-Pro Head Gasket Sets for Subaru Engines
Federal-Mogul Motorparts’ Fel-Pro Gaskets brand has introduced three first-to-market PermaTorque MLS multi-layer-steel head gasket sets for a variety of popular 2.5L engines used in late-model Subaru passenger vehicles.
