Labor Costing Study: GM LS-Series Engine
The venerable Chevy smallblock engine has been one of the most popular and successful engines in the history of the world since it was created in 1955. So when GM decided it was time to update the Mouse motor, people were understandably worried. And when the resulting replacement was the LT1/LT4
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: April 2009
Top 10 Machine Shop Business Tips Engine Pro recently held a series of 8 focus-group meetings in the Midwest. Each meeting consisted of 8 to 10 machine shop owners and a moderator. Three questions were asked during the meeting. “What’s working? What’s not working? What do you need most to help you ‘make it’ for
Executive Interview with Vic Edelbrock Jr., President and CEO of the Edelbrock Corp.
From aftermarketNews.com There have been plenty of media reports detailing the struggle in the auto industry today due to the tough economic climate. We haven’t heard much, however, about how this situation is impacting niche suppliers and the performance sector. What are you seeing out there right now?
Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Engine Rebuilding
The book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance demonstrates that working on motorcycles may be either dull and tedious drudgery or an enjoyable and pleasurable pastime; it all depends on the inner attitude, or lack thereof. Looking deeper into Zen and the Art, the narrator seems to point out that there are two different
Quaker State Challenges Motor Oil Competitors to End the “Wear Wars”
Quaker State is calling for an end of today’s “Wear Wars” by challenging its motor oil competitors to a head-to-head motor oil comparison. Quaker State has issued a challenge to Mobil1, Valvoline and Castrol to prove that that no leading full synthetic SAE 5W-30 motor oil provides better wear protection than Quaker State Q HorsePower
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: March 2009
Top 10 Machine Shop Business Tips Engine Pro recently held a series of 8 focus-group meetings in the Midwest. Each meeting consisted of 8 to 10 machine shop owners and a moderator. Three questions were asked during the meeting. “What’s working? What’s not working? What do you need most to help you ‘make it’ for
Stroker Tips – Getting It All to Fit
Almost since the first production engine rolled off the line, people have known that when it comes to power, it’s cubic inches or cubic dollars. In some cases both. There’s only two ways to get more cubes – bigger bore and longer stroke – so engine builders use both to get the performance they want
Racing Oil and Additves
Engine oil has sometimes been compared to a cake mix. The base oil is like the flour and the additives are the spices. How much is used of each varies by the type of cake and its intended use. Birthday cakes don’t really work for weddings. Engine builders have also been compared to gourmet chefs,
Stroker Tips – Getting It All to Fit
Almost since the first production engine rolled off the line, peoplehave known that when it comes to power, it’s cubic inches or cubicdollars. In some cases both. There’s only two ways to get more cubes –bigger bore and longer stroke – so engine builders use both to get theperformance they want from the available components.
Engine Dress Up
Engine dress up parts are like the proverbial chicken or the egg question. Did the shiny new pieces come about to enhance a stock engine? After all, pioneer hot rodders weren’t able to go to their local car part shop and pick up chrome goodies. Or did the parts evolve with the advent of modified
Piston Options and Opportunities
The sport compact market, it was thought, was going to breathe new life into the performance engine market, and for many years, the rapid growth of the market seemed to indicate that there was no limit to how big those little engines could get. Then something happened: to quote Engine Builder columnist and performance expert
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: January 2009
Top 10 Machine Shop Business Tips Engine Pro recently held a series of 8 focus-group meetings in the Midwest. Each meeting consisted of 8 to 10 machine shop owners and a moderator. Three questions were asked during the meeting. “What’s working? What’s not working? What do you need most to help you ‘make it’ for
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: December 2008
Top 10 Machine Shop Business Tips Engine Pro recently held a series of 8 focus-group meetings in the Midwest. Each meeting consisted of 8 to 10 machine shop owners and a moderator. Three questions were asked during the meeting. “What’s working? What’s not working? What do you need most to help you ‘make it’ for
Tech Tips for 2004 and Up Ford F-150 Engines
Abold new look and some subtle changes probably best describe the2004-and-up Ford F-150. To the installer/engine builder, it is the subtle changesthat he or she needs to be aware of. Spark Plugs Watchout when changing the spark plugs on the 5.4L three-valve engine foundin 2004-and-up F-150 and 2005-and-up Expedition and Navigator (see Photo 1). Firstof
Building a Hemi 528 Stroker Engine
The Hemi has made a comeback in recent years in various Chrysler and Dodge vehicles, most notably in the Charger and Challenger. But for hardcore Hemi fans, the real deal goes back to the first-generation 331/354/392 mills that culminated in the “Elephant Motor,” the 426 Street Hemi of the Sixties and Seventies. Even though the
Polk Introduces New Vehicle Statistics Reports for the Automotive Aftermarket
R. L. Polk& Co. has announced the launch of its New Vehicle Statistics reports forthe automotive aftermarket. The New Vehicle Statistics reports are available ona monthly basis to help provide faster clarity to developing market situations,enabling aftermarket-related companies to make business decisions more efficiently. Now availableto the aftermarket, Polk has provided this information to Original
EngINtel: Practical Builder Tips To Common Questions
Since you all indulged me last month with editorial musings, thismonth will be a couple of Practical Builder Tips (PBTs) that shouldkeep you out of hot water from time to time. They’re somewhat genericbut have been popping their ugly heads in all types of engines and theyhave no manufacturer preference so no one is immune.
Jack Roush, Valvoline Collaborate on New High Performance Motor Oil Line
Racingnotable Jack Roush has partnered with Valvoline to create Roush MotorOil, “the ultimate engine elixir for performance vehicles.” Roush Fenway Racing exclusively uses Valvoline oil in its stockcars for its quality and performance, and now it wants to work toimprove the oil used in high-performance street engines. The end resultis Roush Motor Oil, a line
EngineQuest Unveils New Web Site
EngineQuest (EQ), the engine parts division of AAEQ Manufacturers and Recyclers, recently introduced its new Web site at www.enginequest.com. The Web site features out-of-production or hard-to-find automotive engine parts for import and domestic vehicles that include gas or diesel applications. “Much of the EQ product line was developed in response to specific requests for help,”
IndyCar Series Holds Automotive Manufacturer Round-table to Discuss New Specs, Encourage More Participation
With the Indianapolis MotorSpeedway on the cusp of celebrating two significant centennials, andthe unification of open-wheel racing in North America complete, theIndyCar Series has announced plans to define its next generation oftechnical competition rules with the ultimate goal of encouraging newmanufacturer participation within the series. An ‘IndyCar Automotive Manufacturers Round-table’ targeting seniorlevel automotive executives will