Add-On Parts Sales Can Boost Your Business Profits
POP, or point of purchase. At the movies, buying popcorn? How about something to drink? At the supermarket buying detergent? What about bleach? The connection is fast and direct. Not completing it is missing a huge opportunity for any business.
How You Can Increase Your Payoff by Including a Transmission With Your Engine Builds
Bundling two or more products into a single package simplifies the buying process for a consumer, saving both time and money. This isn’t limited to household goods and groceries. An engine builder can increase his bottom line by selling more than one product, such as a transmission. And additional accessories and services also can be added.
Rockford Systems Draw Bar Cover
Vertical mills are essential cutting tools in machine shops used to remove material from the surface of metal workpieces. However, these tools present serious danger when an operator comes into contact with their high-speed rotating draw bars, resulting in injuries and costly OSHA fines. To bring needed safety to the shop floor, Rockford Systems, LLC has launched a new Milling Machine Draw Bar Cover.
Numbers Don’t Tell The Whole Story
Thankfully, many of YOU took time to give us an inside look at your businesses.
Engine Assembly Lubes and Break-In Oils
Assembly lubes are one of the most important parts of an engine build. But, some components are hard to lubricate prior to start-up, and other parts allow assembly oils to drain off during storage. Let’s address the best way to overcome both of these problems.
Shop Solutions February 2016
Most bolts broken off flush or slightly below the surface can be easily removed using a MIG welder. Place a flat washer the same size as the broken bolt over the bolt and weld through the center. Then, place a ½” nut on top of the washer and completely weld in the hole and tack weld the outer edge of the nut to the washer.
Fastener Intricacies
At first blush, using fasteners properly seems like a straightforward task: tighten them to spec and all is well. But in reality, there are many nuances in the selection and application of fasteners that can make the difference between a well-built engine and a candidate for self-destruction.
Oiling Systems for Grassroots Racing
Priority one when choosing an oiling system for any type of racing (grassroots or professional) is to establish what the rules allow and prohibit. Somebody has to read the rule book. Whether that’s you or your customer it doesn’t matter. The oiling system has to fit within the framework of the rule book. Period.
The Payday Polka
Payday. While it is music to an employee’s ears, payday presents logistical and legal challenges for your company. One of the chief challenges is ensuring your employees are paid properly under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Employee Benefits That Don’t Cost a Lot of Money, But Provide a Lot of Value
When it comes to a small business, every penny counts, just like every employee counts, in the successful operation of the business. But with health insurance and major benefits being too expensive for most small businesses to offer, how do you balance being able to recruit and retain good employees with benefits and incentives while keeping an eye on the bottom line of the business?
Sourcing Engine Blocks
Production engine builders today want engine cores that match a very specific vehicle application. In many cases, they also want the tinware that goes with the engine because the oil pan, valve covers and timing cover are also year, make and model specific. That has changed the way core suppliers have to inventory their stock.
IAC Group Names Robert ‘Steve’ Miller President, CEO and Director
International Automotive Components (IAC) Group announced that Robert “Steve” Miller will join IAC on July 20 as president, CEO and director, effective Aug. 7. He succeeds James Kamsickas, who has resigned as president, CEO and director, effective Aug. 6.
Start Planning Now for Next Year’s Taxes
You may be tempted to forget about your taxes once you’ve filed your tax return, but did you know that if you start your tax planning now, you may be able to avoid a tax surprise when you file next year? Now is a good time to set up a system so you can keep your tax records safe and easy to find. Here are six tips to give you a leg up on next year’s taxes.
When Oil and Water Mix – The Marine Engine Market
For those unfamiliar with marine engines, there is a common misconception that these are highly unique devices. This simply isn’t the case. If you can rebuild an automobile engine, you can rebuild a marine engine. If you can build a solid, reliable drag or circle track engine, you can build, or rebuild, a marine performance engine. The key to success is understanding the subtle differences and being able to recognize the pitfalls.
Choosing the Right Oil Pump
Choosing a replacement oil pump for an engine you are building or modifying is a process that requires some thought. Original equipment oil pumps are usually adequate for most stock applications – but some are not, especially if an engine is being modified.
The Benefits of Outsourcing Payroll
As most engine shops already realize, paying employees involves much more than simply writing a check. Business owners must calculate tax payments, monitor hundreds of state and local jurisdictional requirements, and keep up with new-hire reporting, quarterly and annual tax returns, direct deposits and issuing W-2s. With these complexities, more small companies are choosing to
Kasey Kahne Crew Chief Keith Rodden wins MOOG ‘Problem Solver’ at Dover
Kasey Kahne and the No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet SS picked up 21 positions to post their second top-five finish of the season and crew chief Keith Rodden was named MOOG “Problem Solver of the Race” in Sunday’s FedEx 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup event at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
Parts Coatings
Whether it’s more horsepower, better throttle response, or better durability, everybody is looking for an edge when it comes to building a performance engine. Any of these can win races. So what kinds of tricks are winning engine builders using to get an edge over their competitors? Many are using highly specialized coatings.
What Does Ethanol Mean To Your Shop?
Although ethanol alcohol is mostly made from corn, it seems to be a real hot potato! Almost all pump gasoline today contains 10 percent ethanol (E10) because the Renewable Fuels Standard Act requires it. The reasons why are partially practical, partially political and partially economic.
Forced Induction Facts
Many articles outline the guidelines and basic knowledge to follow when installing some form of a forced induction system. Sometimes you’ll see the “quick and easy way” to upgrade an existing forced induction system, like a turbo, supercharger and/or nitrous oxide system. What if your customer wanted a bigger turbo for a diesel engine or decided to change the pulley size of the supercharger, or maybe use a bigger shot of nitrous on a street car?
