Hastings Announces Marion Holt As VP Of Business Development
Hastings Manufacturing Co. has announced the addition of Marion Holt as a key member of its global sales and business development team. Holt has been appointed to the position of vice president of business development reporting to Bob Kollar, president and CEO. In this capacity, Holt will be responsible for complete management of the company’s
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: May 2013
Using Multi-Layer Steel (MLS) Head Gaskets As the name implies, MLS gaskets are constructed from 2 to 5 layers (depending upon the application) of heat treated stainless steel. Each layer is separated by a thin layer of a nitrile rubber coating. They have also been embossed in key areas to aid the sealing process, and to
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: April 2013
Making Your Own Piston Ring Compressor Some customers have been asking me for piston ring compressors in sizes we do not carry. My suggestion to them is to do what I do. Look in a cylinder sleeve catalog and find one that is close to the ID of the job you’re working on. Place the
Racepak Names Burgess Product Manager
Burgess, who is co-owner of BMI Racing, will be in charge of managing and marketing the Racepak brand. Racepak, which focuses exclusively on securing and acquiring meaningful data with their data acquisition products, will expand its global marketing-focus with Burgess spearheading this effort. "The expansion of our marketing focus strengthens our ability to continue
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: March 2013
Safe Valve Spring Break-In Most engine builders are well aware of the fact that high performance valve springs should be compressed to coil bind through several cycles before being installed. The problem with this procedure is that it can be time consuming, costly and even dangerous. It is time consuming if each spring is compressed
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: February 2013
5 Tips For a Manual Milling Machine Editor’s Note: A manual milling machine is typically at the heart of every machine shop. In the following, Jim Kovach gives some useful tips on how to get the most from your mill. 1. Always use a high-quality machinist’s square on the mill. You will be surprised how
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: January 2013
Detonation vs. Pre-Ignition (Editors Note: the following is in response to Greg Goss’s entry in the August 2012 issue) A sharp point or edge that can glow in a combustion chamber or on a piston top does not cause detonation. Mr. Goss inadvertently was referring to pre-ignition. Detonation and pre-ignition are two distinctly different terms and
Beseth, Corey Win $1,000 in Engine Pro’s ‘Top 5 of the Past 5’ Contest
Engine Builder and Engine Pro recently teamed up to offer the "Top 5 of the Past 5" awards to commemorate the last 5 years of Shop Solutions. We awarded both the Shop Solution authors and our readers who helped us choose the winners with cash prizes. Jeff "Beezer" Beseth of Beezer Built Inc., Newton Square,
Engine Parts Group, Inc. Honors Top Suppliers
Five suppliers to Engine Parts Group, Inc. (EPGI) were honored at the group’s recent winter shareholders meeting. Each year, EPGI shareholders choose the Featured Suppliers from more than 90 companies providing engine parts to the group. The five are selected based each company’s ability to offer extraordinary value, exceptional programs, policies, and building and
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
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: September 2012
Editor’s Note: This coming October will mark the 5thanniversary for the Shop Solutions column, and to help Engine Pro celebrate, we’re putting plans into place to have a “Top Five from the Past Five” contest where you get to choose your favorite Shop Solution from the past five years. Send your favorite Shop Solution to
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: August 2012
Editor’s Note: This coming October will mark “Shop Solutions’” fifth anniversary and to help Engine Pro celebrate, we’re putting plans into place to have a “Top Five from the Past Five” contest where you’ll get to choose your favorite Shop Solution from the past five years. Watch this section as well as the magazine for
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: July 2012
Olds V8 Distributor Gear Lubrication Problems When building an Oldsmobile V8, especially a performance engine with a high volume oil pump, it is a must to drill a small squirter hole in the rear galley plug by the distributor gear. A hole .025? to .050? in diameter will do wonders for gear lubrication and save
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: May 2012
Why Engine Valves Break The following are some of the most common reasons why engine valves break. This information is courtesy of Basso S.A., a manufacturer of engine valves for original equipment and aftermarket customers. Break between valve head and stem: Cause: Repeated stress to valve stem Contributing Factors: - Weak springs -
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: April 2012
Cold Air Tool Cooling For Machining We have been using cold air cooling in our shop for cast iron machining for several years. It does several things: it keeps the tool cool without the use of wet coolant, it blows away the dry chips, and it eliminates having the mess of coolant everywhere. Also, we
Caterpillar Announces New Parts Distribution Center in Mexico
Caterpillar Logistics Inc.(Cat Logistics), a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., has announced further enhancements to its parts distribution network with the addition of a new parts distribution center in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The 500,000-square-foot facility will employ up to 150 people and is expected to be operational mid-2013. The capital city, San Luis
Building Ford Strokers Engines: Make Most of a Windsor Block
Nijssen, the Apple Valley, CA-based engine builder, operates strokerengine.com and builds domestic V8 engines for the U.S. and international (primarily Australian) enthusiast markets. He says he doesn’t try to push his desire onto the customer. “I don’t sell you what I like, but rather you and I figure out what you really need for power
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: February 2012
The Perfect Pilot With the increasingly smaller valve stem diameters it is getting harder than ever to get an air-floated, self-centering, single point, multi-angle pilot aligned with the guide. Here is a pretty simple way of getting you almost dead-on every time and without bending or breaking your $80 to $100 solid carbide pilot.
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: January 2012
Finding Better Ways to Clean Fasteners I work on all brands of American classic cars, and mostly rebuild their engines. Most of my clients desire the preservation of original parts as much as possible, especially exposed fasteners. Here are the ways I clean and detail head, pan, front cover, valve cover, intake and exhaust manifold
PRI Offers Race Engine Builders Opportunities to Increase Efficiencies, Profit in 2012
The PRI Trade Show is being held December 1-3, 2011, in the North/South Building of the Orange County Convention Center, in Orlando, Fla. It is open to the racing trade only. You must be part of a racing business or professional race team to gain admission. “The PRI Trade Show is where you go when