Proper Piston Replacement
While the “Fast and the Furious” crowd may have lost interest in the sport compact market, interest in the cars hasn’t dropped off completely.
Tech Feature: Manifold Makeover – Increasing Engine Power
An intake manifold is more than the plumbing that connects the carburetor or throttle body to the ports in the cylinder head. It is an integral part of the induction system that has to match the airflow characteristics of the cylinder head and camshaft, as well as the displacement and rpm range of the engine. A well-designed manifold that is properly matched to the engine’s requirements will make more torque and horsepower than a manifold which is mismatched to the engine.
Tech Feature: Engine Builders Have More Options Than Ever
The foundation of every engine is the cylinder block. Whether you are rebuilding a stock engine or building up a street performance engine, a circle track engine, drag engine, marine engine or whatever, you have to start with a good, solid block that’s machinable and free from cracks and other defects. That’s becoming more and more of a challenge in recent years because good cores for popular domestic engines are getting harder and ….
Tech Feature: Fueling the Future – Can You Fill Up with Alternative Fuels?
Currently gas prices have stabilized at around $1.83 a gallon, a price at which most Americans feel comfortable driving their SUVs, trucks, race cars, tow vehicles and other motorized toys. But when gas hits $4 and $5 a gallon, driving guzzlers becomes a challenge for many. It was only a few months ago that a barrel of crude oil was well over $100, a price that seemed to embed itself into the minds of most of us as we drove to wherever we were going. It felt like we ate a big triple scoop of ice cream way too fast as our wallets and gas monster SUVs were forced onto extreme diets ….
Mitch Schneider: Hiring Hell
Everyone has their own private hell, a place where monsters hide under the bed or in the dark corners of the closet down the hall, patiently waiting for just the right moment to strike. It would also be safe to assume that each profession has more than its share of such places, but it would be safer to assume that owning your own business has more!
Dispelling TPMS Myths
In the October issue, we addressed lessons learned from Toyota dealerships and how they have come to handle TPMS issues. This month, a Ford Motor Co. engineer provides helpful information on myths that surround TPMS units and service. Myths are fine if you’re teaching mythology. However, they are a pain in the bay for the
Mitch’s World: Hiring Hell
Everyone has their own private hell, a place where monsters hide under the bed or in the dark corners of the closet down the hall, patiently waiting for just the right moment to strike. It may be a different place for each of us, filled with all manner of dark images and demons. But, regardless
Tech Tip: Grand Am Rattles League Bowler
Mark, an accomplished bowler, is known for "rattling" the pins with his monster strike ball. But lately, his 2001 Pontiac Grand Am has been rattling his nerves. Mark said the rattle comes from the transmission while parking at the bowling alley before his league begins. When he leaves, the noise is gone. I had seen this problem before on another customer’s Sunfire, and I advised Mark that all he needed was a little oil.
Tech Tip: Use Proper Torque When Installing Wheel Fasteners
It’s not difficult to torque wheel fasteners properly, but it’s not difficult to foul up the job, either. We’re not using double talk here; we’re shootin’ straight from the hip. The easy part of proper wheel fastener torquing is knowing the vehicle manufacturer torque specifications for a particular passenger car, light truck or medium truck, and following those instructions to the letter.
Tech Tip: Sorting Out Tire Pressure Monitoring System Myths
Myths are fine if you’re teaching mythology. However, they are a pain for the automotive aftermarket, especially when dealing with new components like tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). With every new technology, there are inherent learning, maintenance and problem-solving issues. Also, there are accompanying apprehensions and fears. Some concerns are valid; others would fall into the category of myths.