Performance Diesel: Turbos & Tuning
There is nothing more fast and furious than the roar of a turbo engine when it is finely tuned and performing efficiently on all levels. Whether pulling gear with the diesel truck or revving the street hot rod, making the most out of the turbo is crucial to most engine builders. As the consumer’s appetite
Sleeves & Liners
I often hear customers ask about the difference between a sleeve and a liner. It’s an understandable question. Automotive guys call them sleeves and diesel guys call them liners. And while they may be used for similar purposes, the perception of what they do may be very different among different groups. Many automotive enthusiasts understand
Don’t Overlook The Easy Dollars To Add To Your Bottom Line
As I began to review the profit and loss statements from last month, I was reminded of something I learned long ago. Financial data, although very useful, is just a snapshot of the past or history. I’ve seen so many shop owners over the years have the right tools for the job, and they attend
Why Replace Oil Pump Intermediate Shafts?
The material worn off all goes to the oil pan where some is washed out during the oil changing process, but a portion goes through the oil pump and to the filter. Pushing grit through the oil pump puts an additional load on the oil pump intermediate shaft. The photos in Figures 1-2 show the
How a Legend Got His Start
Last March, when Ed “Isky” Iskenderian picked up the Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Hot Rod & Restoration Show in Indianapolis, he talked about the automobile engine business in the early years. The Iskenderians were Armenians who fled Turkey and came to America around 1910, settling in Northern California’s wine country.
Strategies For Success in Building a World-Class Shop
We are in an era whereas with each passing day technology is making pricing more accessible
Ready for a Diesel Resurgence?
Diesel engine building will soon see an increase in numbers – very soon! Why do I say that? In an effort to eliminate smoking engines and reduce emissions, the EPA came down hard on tuner manufacturers just a few months ago, issuing warning/cease notices on diesel particulate filters (DPF) and EGR delete tunes/kits.
Valve Seats & Guides
Most engine builders worth their salt know that with the components and technology available today, it’s not that difficult of a task to make horsepower. With the availability of so many performance parts – whether it’s from the OEM or the aftermarket – engine builders can pull from vast resources to achieve a balance between
Going Green Not Just for Irish
Did you know that as engine builders, we were green long before green became the IN thing? We were green even before Kermit said it wasn’t easy. How are we green, you ask? We are green because we rebuild, which means we recycle. Green is defined as: • Relating to or being an environmentalist
Green Strategies: Cleaning Techniques & Equipment
It may seem that there’s nothing natural about cleaning an engine. Even after the couple of hours of cleaning time, the engine might be cleaner than the tech working on it – but the engine still needs cleaned (and so does the cleaning crew from time to time). We are long from the days of
8th Annual Rev’ved Up 4 Kids Charity Car Show To Benefit the Edelbrock Family Foundation
On Saturday, May 4th, 2013, Edelbrock will once again be opening the doors of their corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility to the public for free shop tours. Participants will partake in a guided tour of the research and development, manufacturing and quality control departments. This is a unique opportunity for automotive enthusiasts to see what
Warranties Are Everyone’s Problem
Warranty! The word shouted from the other end of the telephone can cause some people to wake up screaming in the night. It seems that warranty problems grow exponentially – once one comes in they seem to multiply just in time to ruin a good month’s sales results. Who’s Fault Is It? Usually it’s yours
Top Reasons and Causes for Camshaft Failure
Of all the damaged cams that Crane Cams has checked over the years, it says more than 99.99 percent have been manufactured correctly. Some people have the misconception that it is common for a cast iron flat tappet cam to occasionally have a soft lobe. Crane says they have yet to see a cast iron
Custom Crankshafts and Connecting Rods
As an engine builder, you get to decide what parts go into the engines you build. If you’re rebuilding a stock engine to stock specifications, you’re probably going to use a reconditioned stock crankshaft and connecting rods to keep costs down. There’s no reason to upgrade these parts because they should be adequate for the
Matching Pistons And Rings
Whether you are rebuilding a high-mileage engine or building a fresh engine from scratch, matching the pistons and rings to each other and the application is essential for a successful outcome. Rings are a wear component that are usually replaced during a rebuild. The pistons may be reused if they are not damaged, cracked or
Buying Parts In A Storm
Business signs are still unclear as we daily set forth on an uncertain journey. Business can be complex. And if you are the boss, your world becomes even more complex. We are each responsible for what we do or don’t do and we can only really control ourselves and our own actions. You know things
Setting Your Goals In 2013
When it comes to setting your long-term goals, the best advice I can give you is to make sure that they all align with your core beliefs and that they are challenging enough to inspire you. As the leader of your company, you are not only responsible for setting the goals, but it’s your job
Robert Yates, Sunnen, Team Up For 2012
After working hard for three days to build a 600 hp and 495 ft-lbs. NASCAR-approved spec engine valued at more than $28,500 legendary engine builder Robert Yates offered apologies that only one person could take the engine home from the recent IMIS Show. Nancy Plagman of Wizmo, Inc., in Bloomington, MN, held the winning ticket,
HPBG: What
ProCar Associates in Akron, OH, recently took on a classic HEMI build and made it into a one-of-a-kind mill. They did the complete car, which took R&D work and some special components, then it was run on the chassis and engine dyno for final tuning. The engine was built by another shop out west
Nitrous
A nitrous engine can be built as a stock rebuild or it can be a dedicated effort to maximize the total performance package. As more power is generated, more waste heat, exhaust air flow and combustion pressures push the limits of engine strength. Often more beef is needed in the drive train and tires. The