Lingenfelter Performance Package Series for 2014 Corvette Stingray
Lingenfelter Performance Engineering (LPE) has released its expertly tuned performance package series for the new, 2014 Corvette Stingray, with power starting at 550 horsepower and reaching as high as 750 horsepower with forced induction. The seventh-generation Corvette’s new 6.2-liter “LT1” engine features technologies that include direct injection, variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation. With calibration
July Shop Solutions
Organize and Save Organizing your parts inventory in your shop, building or warehouse is difficult whether it’s a few pieces or a few thousand parts. Start by thinking about what it’s going to take to find that part later on. Have an area set aside for just parts, arrange it in categories and decide if
Blake’s Remanufacturing’s 40-Year History and Future
In today’s volatile business environment, many companies don’t last long enough to see many milestone anniversaries, let alone make it long enough to see the third generation of leadership. However, despite the odds of the business world being against them, Blake’s Remanufacturing in Denver reached its 40th anniversary milestone in 2013. The company remanufactures crankshafts,
DRC Race Products Valve Spring Removal Tool
It is unrealistic to assume race engines will operate reliably without regular inspections. In fact high-powered, high-revving drag racing engines require valve spring pressure checks after each run. At the other end of the spectrum mild-powered race engines often tolerate at least one season of racing and sometimes two or three before a rebuild is
Jasper’s Remanufactured Toyota 3MZ-FE 3.3L Engine
Jasper Engines & Transmissions, a leader in remanufactured products, has announced the availability of its remanufactured Toyota 3MZ-FE 3.3L engine. This DOHC V6 engine is available on exchange for the following 2004-2010 vehicles: · Toyota Camry, Avalon, Solara, Sienna, Highlander · Lexus ES330, RX330 This remanufactured JASPER engine offers several advantages: JASPER-designed pistons are engineered
The Latest Improvements on Performance Cylinder Heads
Heads are a product line that warrant almost constant research. Both the OEMs and aftermarket are creating new applications that solve problems, save time or money and just generally make life easier for engine builders. But, these improvements are only beneficial if those builders know what is out there waiting to help them. So, we
Step by Step: 6.4L Magnum Coming to Life
I recently had my forth call from a shop with interest in our 392 ci Chrysler build as a project they are hoping to tackle. The budget and power needs for his project were not to the scope of our project and he was discussing a less expensive cast steel crankshaft and the factory connecting
Building Performance Cummins Engines
The clouds of black smoke along with the whistling of the turbo bring out a new wave of spectators. It’s all about the rumble and feel from the massive foot pounds of torque, not the horsepower. Who would have ever thought that a diesel engine would gain respect in the world of performance? Now, it’s
Engine Builder Shop Solutions May 2014
Plastic Fantastic For many years, bolt boots have been the primary way to protect the crankshaft journal from damage during piston installation. Some shop supply companies sell long steel tubes that serve as guides to help align the rod to the journal. These help align the rod, but can also damage the journal surface. For
Engine Tuning Tips for EFI
In today’s high tech world of computerized everything, it can be a challenge for even some seasoned engine builders and tuners to get the hang of punching buttons on a keyboard in exchange for twisting a screwdriver. While nothing about actually tuning the engines has changed much in the past 100 years or so, our
Don’t Gamble When Choosing Cylinder Heads
A cylinder head is much more than a casting that tops off the block, holds the valves and forms the combustion chambers. The head works in combination with the camshaft, induction and exhaust systems to determine how the engine breathes, the engine’s power curve and personality. The “right” cylinder head on an engine will deliver
April Engine Builder Shop Solutions
Combustion Chamber Molds When making chamber molds for a variety of purposes, including holding up the valves on the assembly bench, (as opposed to a beanbag or shop rag) common auto body filler (Bondo) works very well. It’s fast and very inexpensive. Just mix the body filler and fill chambers of an assembled head. The
Ford’s Mustang Celebrates 50-Year Milestone
We live in some pretty exciting times for performance automobiles, especially muscle cars. Corvettes are taking on the super cars and knocking on the 200 mph door. The Camaro and the Challenger are back and Ford Motor Company is set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their very popular Mustang. Besides the Corvette, I can’t
Engine Reboot: Chevrolet’s LT1
For the past several years, word on the street was that GM would be bringing back the highly recognized RPO code LT1 for 2014. The reason for the comeback was due to more power and efficiency with fewer emissions. At the time of hearing the rumor, thoughts of the 1992 through 1996 ill-fated “Optispark” seemed
3M Cubitron II Vitrified Wheels
With the new addition of 3M Cubitron II Vitrified Wheels, 3M Abrasive Systems can give engine manufacturers up to three times the wheel life of other conventional wheels for applications including gear grinding, camshaft and crankshaft grinding, cylindrical grinding and centerless grinding. The key to the strength and performance of Cubitron II products is in 3M’s patented
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
Vintage V8s: Exploring 100 Years of Cadillac Engines
For more than a century, the name Cadillac has been synonymous with performance, style and passion. And in those early years of the Cadillac Automobile Company, it was a former loom mechanic – Henry Martyn Leland – who was credited with forging the technologies that separated Cadillac from the other automobile businesses that were springing
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
Rebuilding Liberty: Engine Notes on Jeep’s 2.4L I4 Engine
In 2002, the Jeep Liberty was the first Jeep to use the two new Chrysler-developed Power-Tech engines – the 2.4L straight-4, (which was eliminated in 2006), and the 210 hp 3.7L V6. The 2.4L I4 PowerTech is a Neon engine variant based on the Chrysler engine that was designed originally for the Dodge and Plymouth
