Researching the Rebuilding Market for Multi-Valve Cylinder Heads
Cylinder head work has provided a good income for many of our readers over the years. All engines eventually need a valve job and guide work if they accumulate enough miles. Head work may also be needed if an engine overheats and blows a head gasket, if the head develops a crack, or an OHC
PERA’s Core Corner
Have you ever had a tune get stuck in your head and it seems to follow you everywhere? No matter what you do, or where you go, it continues to go around in your head over and over again. For me, that is what it feels like with this month’s subject, the 4.6L SOHC Ford
How can the distributor cause damage to a freshly rebuilt engine?
How can the distributor cause damage to a freshly rebuilt engine? According to the AERA technical committee, cracked magnets in distributors on some 1987-2002 GM engines can indeed be a problem. In some instances faulty distributors have been reinstalled after an engine rebuild and caused premature engine failure. Distributors with cracks in this area (see
Valve lifter failure is experienced on Mack MIDR 06.02.12 or MIDR 06.02.26 diesel engines valve lifter failure is experienced on Mack MIDR 06.02.12 or MIDR 06.02.26 diesel engine valve lifter failure is experienced on Mack MIDR 06.02.12 or MIDR 06.02.26 d
If a lifter failed in a 2001 Mack truck, how concerned should I be about the rest of the components? If valve lifter failure is experienced on Mack MIDR 06.02.12 or MIDR 06.02.26 diesel engines with original style lifters, the AERA Technical Committee recommends that all 12 lifters and pushrods be replaced with improved components.
Rebuilding the Ford 5
Doug Anderson is president of Grooms Engines, Parts, Machining, Inc., located in Nashville, TN. He has authored numerous technical articles on engine rebuilding for Engine Builder magazine for more than 15 years. Anderson has also made many technical presentations on engine building at AERA and PERA conventions and seminars. The 330/5.4L Ford engine was introduced
Repair Of Worn Cam Bearing Housing Bores For Detroit Diesel 11.1l And 12.7l Diesel 60 Series Engines
Engine Builders: The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding the possible repair of worn cam bearing housing bores for Detroit Diesel 11.1L and 12.7L diesel 60 Series Engines. These engines use an overhead camshaft design with seven individual location precision bearing inserts. Over time, the bearing bores may become worn oversize or out-of-round,
Back to Basics: Preventing Piston Problems
Burned pistons. Scuffed pistons. Cracked pistons. These are problems no customer wants to experience in an engine you’ve built. Warranty claims can kill your business, so here are some tips on how to prevent these and other common piston problems. First and foremost, if you’re custom building an engine that has already suffered some kind
Valve Stem Seals
Valve stem seals play a critical role in controlling valve lubrication as well as oil consumption. If the seals do not fit properly or are not installed correctly, the guides may be either starved for lubrication or flooded with oil. Either way, the engine is going to have problems – and you’re going to have
Valvetrains: Better Materials & Design
Pushrods would seem to be an endangered species these days, atleast as far as most new engine designs are concerned. The onlybrand new engines built in recent years with a pushrod valvetrainhave been Chrysler’s 8.0L V10 for the Viper and Dodge Ram, andGeneral Motors new "LS1" 5.7L small block V8. All therest have either been
Ensuring Bearing Life: Crankshaft Bearings Are Always Replaced When Rebuilding An Engine
Crankshaft bearings are always replaced when rebuilding an engine because they’re a wear component. Heat, pressure, chemical attack, abrasion and loss of lubrication can all contribute to deterioration of the bearings. Consequently, when an engine is rebuilt new bearings are always installed. “Reading” the old bearings can reveal a great deal about conditions that may