The Street Rod Engine Market – What’s Hot and What’s Not in Selling to Hot Rodders
Street Rod/Hot Rod engines? Yeah, right! Defining this particular engine market has been likened to trying to nail Jell-O to a wall. There is an almost endless number of factors that cross engine “styles”’ usage and applications. It’s no different with hot rods. One hot rodder may want a stock unit just to keep him
Not Selling Short – MAR Automotive offers a full package to keep customers satisfied
Jeff Myers was asked to ride his bicycle down the street to meet up with his dad one summer day while he was home after high school graduation. His dad worked next door to an automotive shop owned then, and now, by a man named Tony. Tony ended up giving Jeff a summer job that
Top Fuel Racing Engines – Containing the Explosions
It’s been over 60 years since Vic Edelbrock starting experimenting with nitromethane as a racing fuel in the early 1950s. In the 60 years of hands-on education since, along with the help of modern technology, there have been some amazing results. Earlier this year, I wrote a Memory Lane column titled “Going Faster in 1954”
Sleeves & Liners – Selection and Installation
Engine sleeves have long been used to repair worn or cracked cylinders that can’t be bored to oversize. Installing a sleeve can save a block that would otherwise be unrebuildable. But sleeves can also be used to strengthen cylinders, especially in performance engines that are being pushed way beyond their original design tolerances. A prime
Celebrating Champions Past, Present and Future
Everyone loves it when magazine writers dedicate their December columns to a recap of the year just past, right? Okay, maybe not. Sure, if it’s been a great year for your favorite sports team, it’s awesome to relive the good times (oops, sorry about that, Golden State Warriors fans), but it can sure stink if
The Fuel Injection Phenomenon – What Normally (Naturally) Aspirated Engine Builders Need to Know
On a basic level, fuel injection just looks really cool. The intake on a fuel injected power plant is the most visible part of the engine while the ram tubes, injectors and fuel lines make it look intricately sleek. With recent developments, simple mechanical fuel injection (MFI) is also useful for a level of complex
10 Things You Might Not Know (But Should) About Pistons and Rings
We asked various aftermarket piston and ring suppliers what type of questions commonly arise when a customer is buying a set of pistons or rings for an engine.
V-Twin Validation – How a Harley Discussion Changed an Engine Builder’s Fortunes
What we will be covering here is a general overview of the most common practices and procedures we use in servicing and rebuilding Harley-Davidson engines and things that are unique to V-twin.
Dyno Decisions – Your Test Requirements Should Dictate Your Correct Dyno
Most engine builders either have an engine dyno or rent the use of an engine dyno at someone else’s facility. The purpose of running an engine on the dyno is primarily a way of “protecting the investment.” This not only insures the workmanship of the engine builder but also the interest of the customer.
Valves & Seats
When it comes to engine components working together, there are few areas that share the same level of relationship as the valves and valve seats. The factors that affect this duo’s ability to reside in harmony inside an internal combustion engine encompass everything from material compatibility to thermal conductivity. In regard to the actual physical
Making the Plunge into CNC
Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) machines are changing the way many machine shops build engines. CNC provides a level of automation, sophistication and accuracy that manually operated machines can’t match. CNC also has the potential to dramatically increase productivity and profitability.
Engine Bearing Technology – The Spin on Spun Bearings
One of the worst failures that can occur inside an engine is a spun bearing. It can happen in a stock engine, race engine, gasoline engine or diesel engine. A spun bearing is bad news because it usually seizes itself around the crankshaft journal. What happens next depends on the bearing’s location.
Why You Should Know How Different Fuels Need Different Motor Oils (But Proabably Don’t!)
A tremendous amount of attention has been focused on alternative fuels. However, little attention has been paid to lubricating oils for use with those fuels, and each different alternative fuel prefers oils with slightly different compositions.
Preventing Connecting Rod Failures
Connecting rods are some of the hardest working parts inside an engine. Fortunately, rod failures from severe overloading don’t happen that often. However, they can occur in racing or extreme street performance applications. So here’s what you need to know.
CP-Carrillo – PRI 2016
Bryce Mulvery, domestic sales manager with CP-Carrillo, talks about what’s new this year for the diesel market.
Ross Racing Pistons Custom Duramax Forged Piston Line
Built from high strength 2618-T61, Ross Pistons has an extensive line of custom, Chevy Duramax forged pistons for 16:5:1 and lower compression ratios.
October 2016 Shop Solutions
BIG D HEAD HANDLE Diesel cylinder heads are heavy and can be dangerous to move around. I use a rocker arm shaft and bolts from a Detroit to make a handle for carrying Detroit heads around the shop. It helps keep my fingers in working condition and keeps the head in good shape as well.
Introducing the 2016 Performance Engine Builder of the Year…
Larry Pritchett, owner of Mid-South Racing Engines in Clarkrange, TN, was named the 2016 Performance Engine Builder of the Year, sponsored by Speed-Pro POWERFORGED Pistons and Engine Builder magazine. This is the fifth year for the Performance Engine Builder of the Year Award in conjunction with Federal-Mogul Motorparts.
Champion Racing Oil Announces 2017 ‘Elite Racer’ Program
Champion Racing Oil has announced the details for its 2017 “ELITE RACER” Program, providing support for participants in almost every recognized sanctioned racing event in North America and Canada.
Head and Block Resurfacing Equipment
Regardless of what type of engine work you do in your shop (stock, performance, diesel, marine or anything that comes in the door), you need the ability to surface heads and blocks. Deck surfaces on high mileage heads and blocks are often corroded, pitted, scratched and/or out-of-flat – especially if the engine blew a head gasket or overheated.
