A 360° Look Into the GM 60° 3.1L Engine
Over the years, GM has saved a bundle on manufacturing the 3.1L engine by using the production line tooling it originally developed for the 2.8L V6. By simply changing the bore diameter, the displacement of the same engine block could now be increased for more power and torque.
Diagnosing Murphy’s Law Under the Hood of a Ford F-150
Most of us working in the automotive service trades are very familiar with Murphy’s Law and how it affects our shop’s cost of doing business. Murphy’s Law says, “Everything that can go wrong usually will go wrong.” Gary Goms investigates a mysterious engine noise in a 1989 Ford F-150 pickup equipped with the venerable 5.0L or 302 cubic-inch V8 engine.
Getting Stoked to Service the 6.0L Power Stroke
If there were one engine that plagues the mid-size diesel world, you would have to say that it is the 6.0L Power Stroke. The 6.0L came into existence because the EPA demanded tighter emissions laws for diesel engines. Even though the 7.3L was branded as the reliable workhorse for Ford, it would never be able to pass the tighter emissions laws that were going to come into effect for 2004.
Tech Feature: Troubleshooting Internal Errors – Solving Piston and Ring Breakdowns
Rings that do not seal well during all four phases of the four-cycle combustion process can reduce an engine’s power potential by 20, 30, 40 or more horsepower, depending on the engine’s displacement, compression ratio and speed. Rings that leak during the intake stroke will reduce air velocity and volumetric efficiency.
Cylinder Head Sealing – Gasket Surface Machining Is The Most Critical Area of Cylinder Head Repair
Early this year, I had a chat with a technical representative for a major aftermarket gasket manufacturer who shed some light on some of the problems facing the cylinder head gasket market. According to this representative, the relatively short production life of modern engines also shortens the time that an aftermarket gasket company needs to
Tech Spec: Tackling Old Timers – Salvaging Pre-War Era Engines
It’s often surprising to some people that parts for these cars are still available. For other engine specialists, it’s sometimes more surprising when they aren’t.
Tech Tip: Gaskets from Different Eras Vary Quite a Bit from More Modern Vehicles
When selling engine gaskets, the modern parts professional is often faced with a dizzying array of gasket technologies. The difference in gasket technologies among a ’50s-model pickup truck, a ’60s-vintage, high-compression muscle car and a modern bi-metal or aluminum engine is often quite dramatic.
Engines Sealed with Fel-Pro PermaTorque MLS Head Gaskets Dominate Top 10 in NASCAR 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono
Engines sealed with Federal-Mogul’s Fel-Pro PermaTorque MLS (multi-layer-steel) head gaskets swept the top seven and nine of the top 10 positions in Sunday’s NASCAR 5-Hour Energy 500 Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway.
Tech Spec: Nailing Down the Misunderstood Buick Nailhead Engine
Like the Small Block Chevy, the Rocket 88 Olds, the Ford Flathead and the Chrysler Hemi, the Buick Nailhead engine is one of those that has the immortal smell of history all over it. Yet, unlike its more familiar brothers, cousins and even competitors, the Nailhead has an aura of mystery about it as well.
Component Connection: Manifold Destiny
As engine designs continue to evolve, so do the gaskets that the auto makers use to seal the cylinder heads to the intake manifold.
Mitch Schneider: Sealed, Signed and Delivered
Profit, Productivity and Proficiency are destroyed when parts adversely impact our profit model. It doesn’t matter what the reason – someone is going to suffer and I’ll bet you already know who that someone is going to be.
Engine Tech Feature: Choosing the Right Fasteners for the Job
Some of the most stressed-out parts of a high-dollar