PRW Announces New Hires, Moves To New Location
PRW Industries, Inc. has announced a new addition, Chris Roberts, who has been named product manager. Roberts is a 17 year veteran in the automotive aftermarket and is responsible for new products and quality control. Roberts has an extensive background in the performance aftermarket in product management, research and development as well as sales. He
Solving The Riddle Of The V10 Chrysler Cylinder Head
I know, I know – don’t quit my day job. But that really IS my dayjob – dealing with mysteries and riddles. In this case, the riddle isthe cylinder heads of the 8.0L, V10 Chrysler truck engine. Although there aren’t nearly as many of the Chrysler V10 engines out inthe marketplace as the Ford Triton
Today
Although extremely important, the job of cleaning engine parts leaves nothing to the imagination. You’re idly standing with a spray gun in your hand or beside a washer tank or cabinet. It’s a basic, time-consuming procedure, but that grime, oil and baked-on sludge won’t come off by itself. This necessary evil is the difference
HPBG: The Power of Racing Fuels
An engine’s power potential depends on how much air it breathes and the fuel it burns. Engine modifications such as larger bores and longer strokes add displacement, which increase airflow and power. Bigger valves, CNC ported heads and a hotter camshaft with increased lift and duration also increase airflow for more power as engine rpms
Racing Rocker Arm Technology
The rocker arms play a more important role than ever these days in high performance valvetrains. The rockers are the teeter-totters that translate the upward motion of the lifters and pushrods to the downward motion that opens the valves. It seems like a relatively simple task, but it demands the utmost from the design of
Automotive-Powered Inboard Hydroplanes
They’re fast, have power aplenty, can turn on a dime, and throw a huge column of water behind them. They’re called Inboard Hydroplanes and are one of the most exciting motorsports shows on water with their automotive powerplants. The Inboard Hydroplane The looks of these boats spell speed with fighter aircraft aerodynamics on both the
Crank It Up
Whether you think diesel crankshafts are the same as or different from their smaller gasoline counterparts, you’re right. Diesel crankshafts and rotating assemblies – like their cousins in the gas engine world – turn a linear motion from combustion into a rotating motion that can move a vehicle, supply power through a generator, pump oil
John Force to Headline PRI Opening Breakfast
It’s not unusual to see John Force taking center stage and he’ll be doing just that at this year’s Performance Racing Industry Trade Show as the 15-time NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car Champion joins Dave Despain on a live version of his popular Wind Tunnel TV program during the PRI’s Grand Opening Breakfast. “I am
Camshaft Selection
When it comes to racing, sometimes the belief is that only custom-designed parts are good enough for a winning team. The question here is, do off-the-shelf components automatically have a performance handicap? In order to get to the bottom of the “Custom Grinds vs Catalog Specs” debate Engine Builder magazine reached out to experts at
High Octane Educations
In October, you learned about the teachers at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, OH, involved in the school’s High Performance program. This one-year certification program provides hands-on, certified automotive training for skilled entry-level positions in automotive dealerships, independent garages and motorsports and other auto-related industries. Its auto department is recognized as a leader in training
Breakin-In Is Hard To Do
Before we begin discussing assembly lubes and break-in oils, I would like to emphasize that no one factor is responsible for racing success (or failure). It’s like an algebraic equation with a lot of variables, all of which must be addressed. The same is true of engine assembly and break-in. You must utilize only those
Crack Detection and Correction
First off, let’s get one thing perfectly clear – there’s no such thing as “flawless.” Like those shocking tabloid photos of that Hollywood actress who gets blindsided beside a bistro, even the most conscientious engine builder sometimes has to deal with surprising surface imperfections. And just as she has paparazzi to expose the damage and
Getting Your Bearings
Engine bearings have a tough job to do for such a small component. They must support big loads on a thin film of oil (between .0001-.0004? thick) between themselves and the crankshaft journals to prevent metal-to-metal contact. One of the biggest causes of bearing failures is dirt and debris that enters into the oil pan
Longtime Babcox Media Executive Becky Babcox Passes Away
For many years, Becky was co-owner of Babcox Media (publisher of Engine Builder magazine), along with her brother, Bill Babcox. Together, they were the third generation of the Babcox family to run the company founded by their grandfather, Edward S. Babcox, in 1920. Becky retired from the company in 2006, after nearly 30 years in
Rebuilding the Buick 3300
This engine was installed in many of the "A" bodied cars including the Buick Century, the Cutlass Ciera and the Cutlass Cruiser wagon. It was also installed in some of the "N" bodied cars including the Buick Skylark and the Olds Cutlass Calais. The engine had a smaller bore (3.70" versus 3.80") and a longer
Calico Coatings Moving to New, Larger Facility in North Carolina
“We have been planning this move for more than a year now,” said Calico Coatings president, Tracy Trotter. “We’re having our best year since we’ve been in business and it was crucial that we completed this expansion in order to keep up with current demand and accommodate future growth opportunities.” Headquartered in the Denver area,
Cashing In On The Cafe Racer, Vintage Bike Revival
The Rockers who rode on the racy-looking machines sculpted after grand prix motorcycles gained the nickname “cafe racers” because they were often seen parked outside a coffee shop and were considered wannabe racers. The name was originally intended to be an insult but later turned out to be a proud moniker. A right of passage
Hail to the Chiefs
With all of the talk of special interests, pork barrel spending and polarization, the political landscape across America seems hopelessly mired in rhetoric. But while it may be politics as usual in Washington, DC, on the airwaves and at both of the major party conventions, constituents of the Production Engine Remanufacturers Association (PERA) will celebrate
It’s All About The Choices
When I had difficulty coming up with ideas worthy of the space between the covers of this magazine it took only a couple of phone calls from customers before the light bulb came on: I realized I needed to examine the past to address the present. After two or three calls from customers relating their
Musings on Presents, Prizes and Presidents
Sometimes these tips are of a very technical nature. Sometimes…well, not so much. “My wife decided to help me out this winter by buying me a new jacket to wear during the cold weather. She purchased a new camouflaged-colored work jacket. The jacket is just fine, except when I take it off and lay it