7 Shop Survival Tips
Ford 5.0L/302 "Cobra" Cams Problem: Ford made a limited number of the Mustang Cobras with a "super-high-output" 5.0L in ’93, ’94 and ’95. They all had a unique roller cam (p/n F3ZZ-6250-A) that can be identified by the "GT" stamped on the barrel, right behind the distributor gear (see Figure 1, at right). This cam
APRA Technical Website Soon to Surpass 110,000 Bulletins
The Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) recently announced that after adding 2,459 new bulletins, the association has now surpassed108,233 technical bulletins on www.AutoBulletins.com, a website designed specifically for professional technicians diagnosing vehicle problems. “Using AutoBulletins.com gives the automotive and light-duty technician the ability to look-up Original Equipment Service (OEM) bulletins for almost any car
AERA Names Paul Hauglie New President
Paul Hauglie from Jackson, Michigan, is now set to take the helm as president of AERA. Hauglie comes to the association after a long career with Melling Engine Parts that began in 1996 where he started as a customer service rep. Hauglie moved into the sales department at Melling as a district sales manager at
Do You Fire or Promote?
Have you heard the story about the know-it-all employee who really happens to be a great performer? Recently, I was reading the book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni who applies the story to an executive who works at a fictitious computer company in Silicon Valley. Early in this CEO’s career, as
This Super Duty Was a Super Headache
By Eric Seifert, Automotive Technical Editor Some 5.4L 3-valve engines found in 2004-’05 F-150 and 2005 F-Super Duty, Expedition and Navigator vehicles may experience difficulty with spark plug removal, which may cause damage to the spark plug and leave part of the spark plug in the cylinder head. Repair Procedure If the plug does come
Lower Cylinder Bore Damage Caution for CAT 3400, C15, & C18 engines
The wear shown in Figure 1 is an example of the damage that can result on a worn cylinder block. The cylinder block should be repaired prior to installing a new cylinder liner. With newer engines developing higher cylinder pressures and horsepower, and older engines possibly having been overhauled a few times already, making sure
Marketing During Tough Economic Times
These are any campaigns where you reach potential customers while they are outside of their homes and workplaces. Little league games, charity drives, local fairs, etc., are all good examples. So do this … Each Monday put 10 business cards in your pocket, and make sure you pass them all out, off premise, by the
Cylinder Head Caution for Mercedes M112 and M113 Engines
Sealing surfaces of the crankcase and cylinder heads are provided withan 0.8 mm thick silicone layer (Loctite 5900) during standard factoryassembly. Silicone sealant should be applied during repair assemblyonly if sink holes exist in the sealing area. When cleaning sealing surfaces of the factory applied silicone sealant,during cylinder head reassembly, extreme care must be taken
King Engine Bearings Introduces New eCat
The new eCat, which features an improved user-friendly design and expanded functionality, is available at www.king-bearings.com/cat. The new e-Cat includes three basic search functions. Users can search by engine/brand, by dimensions (housing diameter, length and thickness) and by part number (King or interchange). A quick search field has been added to the top of
Wet Sump and Dry Sump Oiling System Differences
Theuse of a wet or dry sump oiling system is often determined by the levelof competition and the racer’s budget. A wet sump system is based onthe original equipment oiling system, and can be enhanced with certaincomponents to improve oil control and increase power. A dry sump systemis designed for the top levels of racing
Diesel Motorsports: Pulling in Profits or Just Blowing Smoke?
Let’s take a look at the diesel market’s history. A dozen years ago, when the first organized event was held for diesel pickups in Muncie, IN, there were a couple of hundred trucks. And most of were lucky to hit 500 to 600 horsepower. Fast-forward to today and you will find close to 40 diesel-only
2012 Machine Shop Market Profile – Part 1
Because of the years of continuous data we’ve collected, we believe the information in this study is the most reliable data available for tracking trends in the production of engines, cylinder heads and crankshafts, as well as specific business data. While it isn’t always a rosy one, the picture that develops from our survey gives
Power Adders: Turbos, Blowers and Nitrous
The engine can only inhale so much air because the atmospheric force that’s pushing air into the engine is only 14.7 lbs. per square inch at sea level. To make matters worse, atmospheric pressure decreases with elevation. Air density also decreases with temperature because hot air is thinner than cold air. Most stock naturally aspirated engines
New Products for Modern V8 Engines
The numbers aren’t there yet, but engine builders and suppliers are taking notice of the new V8s. What has taken so long? For one, the new engines are more expensive and more complex. Some shops do not have the capability or expertise to work on them just yet, but more and more shops do. One
Diesel Engines: Dino Fuel or Bio Fuel?
Though they lately seem to be going the other way, with rising fuel prices, consumers are constantly looking for inventive ways to cut fuel costs and consumption. That’s the American spirit: we love to look for ways to beat the system. There is nothing wrong with this attitude, because this is where inventive minds
Federal-Mogul Board Elects Broderick CEO, Global Aftermarket Division
Broderick will fill a role that was established in March when the Federal-Mogul Board of Directors announced its decision to modify the company’s corporate structure to create a separate and independent aftermarket division. Broderick will report to the company’s board. Federal-Mogul’s aftermarket business is one of the largest independent global suppliers of leading, premium-branded
Four Tips for Running a Family Business
Since its inception over 70 years ago, Bremen Castings has been a company at the forefront of the foundry industry having won numerous awards for its safety, technology and environment-friendly manufacturing. “In an industry with strong traditional roots, it’s important to have your company stay on course and to keep up with the times,”
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: June 2012
Reducing Vibrations And Chatter Vibrations when machining with extended length setups can not only cause chatter and premature tool failure, but also reduce spindle bearing life and lead to poor surface finish, dimensional control issues and premature tool wear. Shops are often forced to reduce cutting parameters to avoid chatter, decreasing productivity. Chatter occurs when
Study Finds Newer Engines May Be Damaged by E15 Fuel
The study supports the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s (SEMA) claim that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was premature in approving the sale of E15 for use in 2001 and newer vehicles. The EPA simultaneously made it “illegal to fuel pre-2001 vehicles” with E15, but only required gas stations to place orange and black warning
Modification of Timing Belt Tensioner Bracket on 2004-2005 Subaru Engines
Affected applications: 2004MY Forester; 2005MY Legacy and Impreza On SOHC engines, the shape of the bracket and the size of the 2 (upper side) installation bolts were changed. On DOHC engines, the shape of the bracket was changed and ribs added to increase rigidity. PRODUCTION LINE CHANGE The new style tensioner brackets were used in