Dodge and Mopar Join Forces with New Scat Package Performance Kits
Good things are coming in many packages for Dodge owners who love performance and delving into Dodge’s rich history. In honor of the 45th anniversary of the legendary “Scat Pack Club” that played a prominent role in Dodge heritage, Dodge and Mopar announced the introduction of new Scat Package performance stage kits for the 2014
Impact of Today’s Fuels on Carbureted Engines
The pump gasoline sold at gas stations around the country has changed quite a bit over the last several decades. The first major change was the removal of lead from the gasoline. The next major change was to reformulate the gasoline to reduce both the evaporative and exhaust emissions from vehicles. Then, the federal government
Replacing Timing Belts on VW and Audi 4.2L 8-cylinder Engines
Many timing belts have different change intervals even in the same car line. The change intervals can be different not only because of engine size, but also due to model year. The following are helpful tips for timing belt replacement on the VW and Audi 4.2L 8-cylinder engines. Many timing belts have different change intervals
Quieting Down Chrysler’s Versatile 3.3L And 3.8L Engines
These engines have a mixed reputation for being high-mileage, dependable powerplants as well as noisy motors that can fail at relatively low mileage. First introduced as a family back in 1990, these engines have been upgraded and improved to provide good torque for the necessary applications, reasonable fuel economy and a reputation for durability and
Extended Oil Change Intervals Taking Their Toll on Today’s Engines
Neglected oil change intervals can ruin the best engine oils. As engine oil accumulates miles, it becomes contaminated with carbon, water and various acids, all of which are a by-product of internal combustion and which will form a film of black, gooey sludge on the interior parts of the engine. Auto manufacturers, in general, are
COMP Cams® Conical Valve Springs for Street and Race Engines
Company: COMP Cam www.compcams.com The conical design accomplishes damping without wear, heat and friction, or risk from interference contact like flat dampers or interference fits. Built for both street and race applications, the new line of conical valve springs from COMP Cams® represent a revolutionary advancement in high performance valve spring technology. Expected to become the new
Performance Rocker Arms
Pushrod engines new and old are still a hot topic. Overhead cams have been used in many European and Asian engines for years, so when Ford opted to go the overhead cam route with their 4.6L V8 engine, some predicted pushrod engines were on their way out. But, GM stuck with the pushrod design for
Service Issues on Ford 4.6L SOHC & DOHC Engines
In 2005, Ford introduced a three-valve (3V) SOHC version of the 4.6L for the newly restyled retro-look Mustang. Major changes included the use of two intake valves and one exhaust valve per cylinder to increase air velocity, torque and power, variable cam timing and a weight-saving aluminum cylinder block. Ford’s overhead cam 4.6L V8 engine has been
Inspection of a Kia VVT Oil Control Valve
Helpful tip for inspecting the oil control valve (OCV) used in Kia’s constant variable valve timing (CVVT) systems. This bulletin provides information related to the oil control valve (OCV) used in constant variable valve timing (CVVT) systems. If, at any time, the OCV is suspected as a cause of rough idling, poor acceleration, camshaft timing
Powertrain Products; Problems With Ford 5.4L Truck Engines
The proper rebuild must contain not only new phasers, but also resized and machined camshaft bores, with the installation of OEM sized cam-bearings or an oversized camshaft with machining to zero runout (along with the traditional re-manufacturing process) Powertrain Products Inc., a national distributor of rebuilt automotive engines, reports on an alarming trend in Ford 2004-2010 trucks, equipped
Diagnosing Engine Noise Under The Hood Of A Ford F-150
This article is about diagnosing a mysterious engine noise in a 1989 Ford F-150 pickup equipped with the venerable 5.0L or 302 cubic-inch V8 engine following a rebuild. Most of us working in the automotive service trades are very familiar with Murphy’s Law and how it affects our shop’s cost of doing business. Murphy’s Law
A Look Into the GM 3.1L Engine
Over the years, GM has saved a bundle on manufacturing the 3.1L engine by using the production line tooling it originally developed for the 2.8L V6. By simply changing the bore diameter, the displacement of the same engine block could now be increased for more power and torque. The General Motors 3.1L V6 engine enjoyed a long
Jon Kaase Picks His Top Five Engines
Jon Kaase’s standing was propelled to the forefront of his craft by winning the annual Engine Masters Challenge four times. But his reputation as an innovative engine builder had already been established over previous decades. By Archie Bosman/Photos by Moore Good Ink Starting his career with the acclaimed Dyno Don Nicholson in 1977, Kaase was
Rebuilding Liberty: Timing Belt Service on Jeep Liberty Engines
The 2.4 L I4 PowerTech is a Neon engine variant based on the Chrysler engine that was designed originally for the Dodge and Plymouth Neon compact car. The naturally aspirated 2.4L 4-cylinder PowerTech engine provided 150 hp (110 kW) and 165 lb.-ft. (224 Nm). In 2002, the Jeep Liberty was the first Jeep to use the two
Sassy Engines Builds Attitude
Knox family has success from drag racing to tractor pulling with Hemi engine power for 45 years Located in the quiet countryside of Weare, NH, is an engine shop that for over 30 years has been building some of the most powerful Hemi engines in the competitive world of truck and tractor pulling. Sassy Racing
Gems From ’49 Bell Catalog
Long before the Internet, there was a man with a vision – and a catalog When Roy Richter wrote, “Here it is”on the inside cover of his 1949 Bell Auto Parts Catalog, he probably didn’t realize what he started. He said it was, “the most comprehensive and up-to-date catalog of racing equipment.” Bell Auto Parts
Tech Talk: Why VVT Engines Are Becoming a Reality for Most Vehicles
Variable valve timing can dramatically increase low- and high-speed engine torque, increase fuel economy and reduce exhaust emissions. When the topic of variable valve timing (VVT) comes up, few realize that the concept of increasing low- and high-speed engine torque by automatically advancing and retarding valve timing isn’t a recent development. For example, I recently discovered an
Moly-Based Coating Conflicts
Using a Molybdenum Disulfide-based coating, such as a lubricating coating that is often used on camshafts, is an excellent way to increase load capacity and improve durability. Molybdenum Disulfide is also used in CV and universal joints as well as on bullets for easier passage through the rifle barrel, allowing the barrel to retain ballistic
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: July 2013
How to See Through Pistons for Clearance With the advent of longer stroke crankshafts, one inch plus lift camshafts, raised camshaft locations, lifter angles, bore spacing, etc., exact camshaft lobe and connecting rod clearance may not be able to be determined from looking up from the crankcase area of the block. To see through the
One Minute Might Save You Thirty!
The call, one of hundreds made every day, goes something like this: “Hello. This is Billy-Joe-Bob, can I help you?” “Yeah Billy, this is Hank with Smith Machine. I’m working on an F-150 with a 4.6 and I need some parts.” “OK, Hank. I have several Smith Machines, do you know your account number?” “No.”
