Evolving Crankshaft Designs and Applications
In the early days, a crank didn’t have to be very sophisticated or strong because most engines were an inline design, and the loads and speeds were relatively low. Fast forward to today. The evolution in engine technology, power and performance has led to a whole new generation of performance crankshafts that are a mechanical
Cylinder Sleeve Installation Procedures
Dry sleeves have long been used to repair damaged and worn cast iron and aluminum engine blocks. If a cylinder has excessive taper wear, or is cracked, scored or otherwise damaged, boring out the damaged cylinder and installing a repair sleeve can often save the block. Likewise, if all of the cylinders are heavily worn,
Understanding Today
Metallurgy is one of the oldest sciences in the world – it’s a history that can be traced back to the beginnings of civilization. It’s hard to believe that in the thousands of years since the discovery of gold and silver there have only been 84 new metals discovered. In fact, when the automobile was
Sizing Up The Valve Guide
Worn guides will draw oil down the valve stem and will coat or coke on the port side of the valve. This will hinder air flow and cause engine performance to be compromised. Too much oil getting down that valve stem and may cause mechanical failure due to the increased possibility of pre-ignition. Worn valve
Heavy-Duty Diesel: Big Opportunity, Big Challenges
One of the most sought-after status symbols in America is a pickup truck with a Cummins, Duramax or Powerstroke engine. The expectation continues that diesel automotive engines will soon find their way in larger numbers to our shores. A rebounding economy should help get trucks moving again and recapture some lost maintenance dollars. First, what
Caterpillar 3508, 3512 and 3516 Engine Updates
This series of engines fall into various models that each include their own updates, those models are: 3500A / 3500B / 3500C One of the most significant changes in the diesel applications was in the method of fuel delivery systems from: Mechanical Unit Injection (MUI) To Electronic Unit Injection (EUI)
New Federal-Mogul Piston Ring Improves Fuel Economy and Emissions
Federal-Mogul Corp. has announced the availability of its proven, innovative two-piece oil ring design for direct-injection gasoline engines, previously developed for high-demanding diesel applications. The patented LKZ oil control ring reduces oil consumption by up to 50 percent and friction by up to 15 percent, compared to the best conventional two-piece oil rings, according to
Valves: When to Reclaim, When to Replace
Performance engine builders can’t afford to take chances with questionable valves because they have to withstand high rpms and temperatures. Likewise, rebuilders who overhaul high dollar heavy-duty diesel and industrial engines want to minimize their comeback risks by making sure the valves they use are either new or have been carefully inspected and reconditioned to
Compatibility of Component Design Changes in Cummins ISX/QSX
Listed below are a few of the basic, although major, changes you may encounter when rebuilding an ISX/QSX engine: Head Gaskets: Early versions of these engines were produced with a multiple piece head gaskets to seal the cylinder head to the block. This design could only be used with the early “grooved top” liner
GM Northstar 4.6L V8 Engine
Initially rated at 295 horsepower, the Northstar V8 has grown over the years to an incredible 469 hp at 6,400 rpm (STS-V Supercharged Northstar engine). In 1995, the engine was ranked as one of the “10 Best Engines in North America” by Ward’s Auto World. It repeated the honor in 1996 and 1997, but it
Fuel Economy Increases by Using Evans Waterless Coolants Proven in Series of Field Tests
Evans has been testing its waterless Heavy Duty Thermal Coolant (HDTC) in wastevehicles, over the road trucks, and buses, with fuel savings rangingfrom 3 percent to over 7 percent. Year-longresults from a test with USA Hauling, a CT refuse fleet, showed fuelsavings of 7.2 percent. At Veolia Environmental Services in Wisconsin,an on-going fuel economy test
A Closer Look at Today
The location of the wrist pins must match the stroke of the crankshaft, the length of the connecting rods and the deck height of the block. The compression ratio needs to be right for the application, and the configuration of the piston dome and valve reliefs have to be compatible with the combustion chambers in
Diesel Enthusiasm Often Tempered By Fear of the Unknown
Most automotive guys understand the principles of an internal combustion engine. Whether it is gasoline or diesel these are fuel, fire, and compression! Without one of these ingredients, the internal combustion engine will not function. So what is it about diesel engine rebuilding that makes automotive guys so nervous? This basically comes down to what
SBI Announces New Catalog Release
Long noted throughout the engine parts aftermarket for its industry-standard catalogs, SBI released its 1,040-page 2010 catalog with an emphasis on the more than 600 additions to its comprehensive line of cylinder head parts since its previous catalog in 2007, as well as a 32-page supplemental catalog insert of K-Line BronzeBullet-brand valve guide liners and
Valve and Guide Material, Selection Update
Today’s engines are being designed with more valves per cylinder with smaller valves to reduce valve train weight and increase intake volume. Cylinder heads typically require valve guide and seat work to restore compression and oil control if you are rebuilding the heads. For the valve to seat properly and to gain the most power
BMW Head Bolt Threads Pulling Out of Block During Engine Reassembly
While performing the torque procedure on the cylinder head during engine reassembly, the head bolt threads strip out of the block on some BMW M52TU and M54 engines. Typically, this occurs during the repair of an engine that has been overheated. The cause of the problem is due to an overheat condition that has weakened
Take Care of Your Tooling and It
Let’s face it, when you invest in new state-of-the-art equipment, some or most of that investment is in the tooling. That tooling needs proper care – especially if you want your new machine to perform according to the manufacturer’s specs. These newer machines don’t have a clue that your tooling is dull, bent, nicked, burred,
60 Series Detroit Diesel Engines
The Series 60 engine is an in-line 6 cylinder, with wet replaceable liners, overhead cam and electronic engine control. These engines are mostly used in class 8 trucks, but can also be found in industrial and generator applications as well as occasional marine applications. The Series 60 DDC diesel engine comes in 14.0L, 12.7L &
Cummins B Series Engine Rebuilds
The Cummins B Series engine was developed by Cummins for use in a variety of industrial applications such as aircraft tugs, wood chippers, drill rigs, material handling equipment, etc. The B Series engine was developed as an American alternative to Perkins, Deutz and other industrial engines in the 70-150 HP range. Unlike those industrial engines
Engine Blocks & Cylinder Sleeves
In our February 2009 issue, Technical Editor Larry Carley provided a comprehensive overview of the changes in engine blocks over the years. Thanks in part to natural attrition (after all, many of the most popular engines were actually designed and built more than 50 years ago) and the high price for scrap metal in the