Rebuilding The 6.6L Duramax Diesel
It was really no surprise, since GM had single-handedly alienated the American buying public against the diesel engine beginning back in the late ’70s and early ’80s with the 5.7L V8 and 4.3L V6 diesel engines that were, let’s just say, “less than stellar.” While there’s no point now in rehashing mistakes of the past,
OHC Cylinder Head Rebuilding and Equipment
Originally featured mainly in European racing machinery from Fiat, Peugeot and Alfa Romeo in the early part of last century, by the 1960s companies like Fiat and Jaguar had introduced OHC production engines. It was advanced technology for the time, but today OHC is the norm for even the least expensive production engine. OHC cylinder
Diesel Turbocharging 101
The turbo was used on road tractors for years but I guess it was never really appreciated until it was introduced on mid-size trucks in the late ’80s. Up until that point, most of us knew only diesel engines without the use of a turbo. I recall the diesel engines used in small cars and
Saying Goodbye to Jeep TJ: Cylinder Block Casting Information
I have a La-Z-Boy recliner that I probably should have retired ten years ago. Yet even today, it’s one of the most comfortable chairs that I have ever sat in. Because I hate the thought of giving it up, my next move will be to put it in the garage, where I always have TV,
Valves: When to Reclaim, When to Replace
Performance engine builders can’t afford to take chances with questionable valves because they have to withstand high rpms and temperatures. Likewise, rebuilders who overhaul high dollar heavy-duty diesel and industrial engines want to minimize their comeback risks by making sure the valves they use are either new or have been carefully inspected and reconditioned to
New Markets Can Ensure Survival For Your Shop
Although some automotive machine shop owners believe that – with enginelife measured in six figures – the good days are over, the shops thatcontinuously seek out new markets that parallel their talents andabilities will continue to survive. Those shops willing to invest thetime and effort to find those markets will find that the opportunitiestoday are
Clearing The Confusion Concerning GM Gen III Crankshafts
Both Doug Anderson and I have written a number of articles and columns about these engines, but for some reason I continue to hear about the difficulties. So it’s time to go back to the basics, start from the beginning and review the old and add some new things that have come along. The first
2010 Machine Shop Market Profile Part 1
Of course, Hollywood is always making predictions about the future that don’t come true. Where are the colonies on the Moon??Cures for all major diseases? And what about those flying cars we’ve been promised? This being real life, bold predictions can be fun to anticipate, but it’s the little changes that often have the biggest
A Closer Look at BBC Bracket Racing Cylinder Heads
However, it proved to be just the opposite – sportsman racers loved it and it allowed local drag racing to thrive and grow. Back in its infancy, I covered weekly bracket racing in Southern California at the now defunct Irwindale and Orange County International Raceways. The action was hot and heavy with full fields of
APRA to Host MEGA Clinic
The Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) will be bringing four divisions together during the upcoming “MEGA Clinic” on June 3-5, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel in Springfield, MS. The program will contain seminars for remanufacturers and suppliers involved in HD Transmissions, Volume Transmissions, HD Brakes and Electrical. Along with cutting edge seminars, the group will
Not Those Jeeps Again! The Facts About 4.0L Cylinder Heads
Back in the April 2003 issue of Engine Builder information was provided about the proliferation that occurred on the engine blocksof 4.0L Jeeps starting in 1996 and continuing though the present.Sound familiar? Well, you may remember the reference made to Popeye andhis "Jeep" friends. The 4.0L came on the scene in 1987 and is still
A Chip Off The Old Block: Aftermarket Blocks Are More Versatile Than Ever
It’s the same economic principle many body shops use on their rodding customers. You can expend good time, money and effort trying to resurrect an old hulk towards the customer’s ultimate goals or you can cut to the chase by starting with an accurate reproduction. In engine building, the same holds true but with a
Rattle or Knocking Noise from Audi Camshaft Adjuster at Cold Start
The following chart lists the production models and engines affected by this conditon. Service The camshaft adjustment is hydraulically actuated and controlled by the engine oil pressure. If the engine has been turned off for a longer time, the oil pressure drops down and the
Eliminating The Low Oil Pressure Gremlin
Whether you’re a Production Engine Remanufacturer (PER) or a Custom Engine Builder (CER), this issue has shown up in yourwarranty or complaint area like the nasty gremlin that it is. So let’sgo on a journey and see what you think. "Low Oil Pressure" is the frightening gremlin of which I speak! Here isthe situation: your
What’s New with Oil Pumps, Pickups and Pans
The two greatest concerns from a lubrication standpoint are dry starts and loss of oil pressure while the engine is running. Dry starts are more of a worry in engines that have front-mounted oil pumps with relatively long pickup tubes, which includes such popular engines as the GM 3800 V6, Chrysler 3.5L V6, etc. as
CNC?Head Porting & Machining Centers
The fact that CNC machines have come down in price over the years, coupled with less complicated interfacing systems means that today they can be used by nearly anyone. You don’t have to relearn everything. You don’t have to take endless courses on how to make a tool change. Today’s machines are sophisticated and savvy
Howards Cams Completes Purchase of Custom Camshaft Co.
The purchase fof CCC will enable increased production capacity and new production capabilities, according to a spokesman for Howards Cams. Engine builders will now have even more options for custom grind development. Included in the assets of the purchase is a Landis 3L CNC cam-grinding machine, a well regarded name in cam grinding equipment. According
HDRG Names ArvinMeritor Commercial Vehicle Remanufacturing the 2010 Heavy Duty Remanufacturer of the Year
At the 2010 Reman Summit in Las Vegas on January 18, 2010, the Heavy Duty Remanufacturing Group of the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) awarded ArvinMeritor its prestigious “Mike Hill Heavy Duty Remanufacturer of the Year Award.” The award is given to a company or individual who has demonstrated innovative ways to create and grow
Selling Vintage Speed Can Help Business Until Business Gets Better
Due to these hard times, fewer customers are looking for your services, and they’re looking to spend as little money as possible. A small shop can survive on low-margin jobs for only so long before the overhead simply eats you alive. One alternative plan is to add a line of vintage performance engines that command
Street Performance Cylinder Heads
Where I grew up in Connecticut wasn’t the hotbed of street racing like Woodward was in Detroit, but we had the Berlin Turnpike, River Road in Middletown, plus a few local small-town hotspots. It was during this period that I got my first education about the importance of cylinder heads. A local rich kid got