Car salesmen reveal secret ways they sell you a car

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We recently shared our findings on car dealer lingo you should know before you buy, the top 10 things your car dealer won’t tell you and the quickest ways to spot a shady mechanic, but this time around we’re revealing the secret ways car salesmen try to seal the deal with a few tricky tactics over the phone.

When you start calling dealerships about your next new car, consider this: The salesperson at the other end of the line could be a veritable ninja in the use of the phone as a sales tool. Jerry Thibeau, a professional sales trainer, ought to know. In late 2009, he started a company called Phone-Up Ninjas, designed to sharpen skills and specifically train car dealership staff in the art of telephone sales tactics.

Thibeau teaches everything from phone etiquette and a “positive and productive” attitude, to scores of sales tips and techniques. One of his specialties is to convert the call-in shopper into flesh-and-blood presence on the dealership floor… READ FULL STORY

Car salesmen reveal secret ways they sell you a car

Car salesmen reveal secret ways they sell you a car originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 08 May 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Category: car advice, car buying, car buying advice, car buying tips, car dealer, car dealer tips, car salesmen, car selling tricks, dealerships, negotiate, sales secrets, shady car, sneaky sales tactics

Ford builds one-off 50th anniversary Mustang Convertible for charity

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At the New York Auto Show this year, Ford revealed a special-edition Mustang to honor the iconic pony car’s 50th anniversary. Only 1,964 highly symbolic examples will be made, all of them fixed-roof coupes. But the Blue Oval automaker has just announced that it’s also building a single 50 Years edition convertible that it will raffled off for charity.

The first production example of the new Mustang Convertible to roll off the line this fall, this one-off will pack many of the features on the 50 Years coupe, including its white paintjob, chrome trim, aluminum dashboard, two-tone upholstery, contrast stitching, special 19-inch wheels and special-edition badging throughout.

This unique cabrio will also be fitted with a special performance pack including Pirelli PZero rubber, Brembo brakes and a limited-slip differential to help get the 420 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque from the 5.0-liter V8 through the six-speed manual transmission and down to the road. It’ll also feature a serial plaque with the number 0001 of 0001 and chairman Bill Ford’s signature.

The convertible will be raffled off on Mustang Alley in Ferndale, Michigan, during the Woodward Dream Cruise on August 16. A limited number of raffle tickets are on sale now at $20 a pop, with proceeds benefitting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Ford builds one-off 50th anniversary Mustang Convertible for charity

Ford builds one-off 50th anniversary Mustang Convertible for charity originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 May 2014 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Green Strategies: Using Less to Do More

heating needs web 300x225 Green Strategies: Using Less to Do More by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

There are several memes associated with “going green.” For some, an image of a person donning a tide-dye shirt while holding up a peace sign may come to mind. For shop owner Stan White, that person’s in clean business attire.

“A nicely dressed woman comes to my shop with a smile on her face,” said White who owns RLD Performance in Temecula, CA. “I’ll ask her ‘How may I help you?’ She replies, ‘I’m here for an audit.’”

Those are the words that give shop managers and owners like White pause. Located in California, engine shops like White’s go through an intensive inspection by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resource Board (CARB) gauging the businesses’ energy efficiency.

The compliance tests cover a wide array of issues for regulation including battery storage, floor drains, parts cleaners and wastewater. Rest assured, White sees that his shop is in full compliance with U.S. and state code, although it’s not exactly a favorite part of his ownership.

“Regulation is not fun. We are getting so overregulated,” White said about his shop that deals in research and development for various racing teams. “We have been practicing green forever. We use California-legal fluids and dispose of our waste in a legal, green manner. As a matter of routine and habit because we have to do it.”

While having the seal of green approval provides many benefits for the environment, it also brings a set of problems for some engine shops, White noted.

“It’s not the same as it was 20, 30 years ago. You have to maneuver around regulations and it’s hard to do it efficiently,” he said. “Now, you’re tied up with audits and visits from people hounding you. Then, you have to search for new products because the ones you got will be illegal by January 1. You take away time from manufacturing to deal with regulation stuff. Taking time from the actual ability to produce and putting it in areas that I don’t believe in.”

While adhering to government compliance adds an unwanted stress to shop owners and managers, some use it as an opportunity to realize improvement for their business. More than 10 years ago, Matthew Dickmeyer, owner of Dickmeyer Automotive Engineering in South Whitley, IN, reached an energy epiphany.

“Owning less is the same as making more and in an industry that has its up and downs, it’s either feast or famine,” Dickmeyer said. “For a shop, it can be up or down, but you still have to know how to make your $40,000 every month. That’s a scary thing to think about.”

For starters, Dickmeyer’s 5,000 square-foot engine shop, which he shares with his wife Jennifer, was built in 1947. It proved difficult to provide heat while energy costs were burning a hole through the shop’s pockets. So, Dickmeyer took his hobby of chopping wood and decided to add his pastime to benefit the shop.

“We put a wood furnace in the shop rather than an oil burner. An average shop of my size uses a 55-gallon drum of oil per week. I use that in a month,” he said. “It’s a lot of work, you have to gather and cut the wood during the summer months but it saves us $10,000 a year. It’s like getting a $10,000 raise.”

Dickmeyer said the wood burner is similar to building an engine; instead of torque, the heat is the output. Once the wood fuels the burner, a squirrel-cage fan blows the hot air into the garage space. Dickmeyer said the process worked so efficiently, that it helped his parts washer tank.

“It’s a safe distance away from the tank, but it heats it up, and that helps clean the parts much better,” he said. “And it’s helpful in the winter time when cleaning a set of heads. When you wash them off, they need to dry thoroughly, especially iron heads or they start to rust immediately.

“I know, it sounds crazy, but you can blow the heads off then set them on top of the wood stove and they dry off within 45 seconds. It sounds funny, but I take advantage of those types of conditions.”

From the green perspective, Dickmeyer also realized he was on to something. Studies show distressed trees are producing methane gases more than 80,000 times that of ambient levels. For reference, the methane found in a 60-tree forest can burn the equivalent of 40 gallons of gasoline.

Dickmeyer has also taken his philosophy with energy and applied it to the shop’s finances. Instead of relying on bank notes and lines of credit, Dickmeyer insists on buying all of his equipment with cash. It’s just a part of how he’s using less to do more, he said.

“A lot of times, it’s making something out of nothing. As time goes by, it becomes something that is a part of the process,” Dickmeyer said. “We build efficient engines in an efficient shop and it worked well. We saved a ton. We have been able to work and have a business that is well within our means.”

For Dickmeyer, wood burning served as an alternative source for his shop. In a larger scale, White has worked toward an alternative source for our automobiles. He may have a few bones to pick with government regulators, but one subject has them at least on the same page: natural gas.

Taking advantage of the heat generated from a wood burner in the shop to dry cleaned heads and other components is one way to get more out of your resources.

According to the California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition, renewable natural gas curbs pollution by using landfill methane that, in most cases, would burn off into the open air and decreases pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions as transportation fuel.

In addition to its automotive engineering services, RLD Performance also manufactures compressed natural gas refueling station compressor systems. White said he decided to venture into this business while working with a German racing team a few years ago. Surprisingly, he found that Europe didn’t recognized most alternative fuel categories.

“E85 is not natural. Propane is man made. There is only one green fuel. And that’s natural gas,” he recalled.

White was working with the company while some members of the European Union were undergoing a phase of financial uncertainty. As a result, the partnering racing team was losing sponsors and unable to continue their relationship.

“I realized at that point that (the U.S.) did not supply a compressor infrastructure,” White said. “That’s why I got into the compressor game.”

The California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition, as well as many groups across the country, has an initiative to equip government and fleet vehicles to run on natural gas. It fits perfectly with the goal of White’s company that offers 33, 55 and 94 SCFM German-engineered Sauer-based systems.

“What’s better than 130 octane fuel?” White said. “Natural gas is proven to be safe. We have an abundance of supply. Talk about green and clean. How clean is natural gas? Gasoline has eight times more carbon and diesel is 16 times dirtier than methane.”

White said having natural gas is a win-win due to the return on his company’s investment coupled with the need to cut greenhouse gases from the environment and with the backing of the people and government, natural gas could be a regular part of our mobile society.

“If Congress got together and said, ‘Let’s get behind natural gas,’ that would put money in our pockets,” he said. “For the first time in my life in this country, I have seen a mature technology that is emerging, which is rare. Natural gas will save consumers a lot of money and time by spending less on fuel to go to work, go on vacation, do whatever they need to do. The money saved on fuel will make the quality of life go up. That’s what I want to see.”

Savings in the Shop

The Alliance to Save Energy (ASE.org) promotes energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and energy security for businesses.

The ASE began in response to a very critical period in our nation’s energy history – the OPEC Oil Embargo crisis of 1977 – and continues its mission today: to create an energy-efficient world.

Three and a half decades later, the Alliance is still advocating for the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit the environment, businesses, the economy and national security.

Some energy-saving tips for shops from the ASE include:

Wrap it Up: To save energy and money on heating water for your shop’s parts washers, wrap the water storage tank in a specially-designed “blanket” to retain the heat.

Invest in Strippers: Use power strips in offices, shop lobby, etc., and turn off devices and lights that are not in use to cut standby power.

Filtration: A dirty shop furnace or A/C filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool.

Bright Idea: Reduce energy use from about a third to as much as 80% with today’s increasing number of energy-efficient halogen incandescents, CFLs and LEDs.

The Alliance will host the seventh Energy Efficiency Global Forum from May 20-21 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.

This gathering includes more than 60 thought leaders who are some of the industry’s most powerful voices and energy efficiency heads from three major world economies.

For more information, visit: http://eeglobalforum.org

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Green Strategies: Recycling Options for the Engine Shop

Recycle or dispose. What’s the difference? It’s just trash, right?

Not really. The old adage of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” profoundly rings true in automotive aftermarket’s own recycling niché: engine building. We know you set aside your metals from a wide range of vehicle repairs and modifications, but when it comes to your recycling, do you have a separate bin (as you do — hopefully — in your home) for “paper,” “plastic” and box just for “metals?” Or like some shops, do you have “a guy” that comes by and takes it off your hands for a “reasonable” fee? Overlooking your precious metals can cause you to leave some extra money on the revenue table.

Engine-building shops have taken notice. For Matthew Dickmeyer, who owns Dickmeyer Automotive Engineering in South Whitley, IN, recycling makes garbage collections an easier process.

“We recycle everything,” he said. “Especially the cardboard for the size of our shop.”

After his recycling efforts, Dickmeyer’s 5,000-square foot building normally puts out less non-recyclable trash than most average U.S. families. Finding recycling materials through the shop’s waste, he said, is just a part of running an efficient shop. Core recycling and auto wrecking service, A&A Midwest CEO Scott Stolberg noted that many shops should mirror Dickmeyer’s efforts, particularly with precious metals.

“One of the things we see in many businesses is they fail to segregate their commodities. If they are mixed, the values drop automatically. It’s that simple,” Stolberg said. “It is amazing how some managers and owners realize that they can send that scrap to the recycling place themselves.”

Every year, nearly 27 million cars end up on the recycling block. According to the United States Council on Automotive Research, 80 percent of recyclable materials are found in each vehicle. Even at that point, the 20 percent that consists of auto shredder residue (rubber, plastic, wood, paper, glass, etc.) are disposed in landfills each year to the tune of 5 million tons. Stolberg said A&A Midwest communicates the virtues of core recycling and so far, the engine guys are listening.

“The PERs do a good job because they recycle in such a high volume. They know you should separate your cast iron from your steel, because cast iron is worth a premium,” he explained. “Pistons are a different aluminum than manifolds and timing covers. They are worth a premium because they are a high-nickel content aluminum. A piston manufacturer would pay a premium for that scrap if he could get just pistons. But if it is mixed, it is a different issue.”

For small shops like Dickmeyer’s, the savings from recycling is noticed and offers an immediate impact. But bigger shops, Stolberg noted, sometimes miss the bigger picture.

“There is a truck dealer I’ve visited not too long ago,” he explained. “They spent $2,000 per April on their garbage service. Their garbage. I looked at their cardboard. Before it cost them $4800 to buy a bailer to take away the cardboard.

“By recycling, they cut their bill by $1,000 and started getting $200 in revenue. So now, they are $1,200 ahead. Before that, the owner just assumed it was the cost of doing business. He never realized how much he actually spent to get rid of just the cardboard.”

Another problem that is common in recycling is metal theft. With the demand of nonferrous metals like copper and aluminum on the rise, an engine repair shop is a prime source of revenue for thieves looking for big money returns.

Stolberg says a quick way to curb this problem is for owners and managers to simply realize the worth of their unwanted material.

“You have to treat the stuff like it has value,” he warned. “For example, I got a call from a company that is going out of business. They were going to scrap all the fixtures. We told them that we’d give them the (recycle) box that Tuesday night. But don’t load it until Wednesday morning, so we can pick it up Wednesday afternoon.

“Because if you leave it out overnight, you’re going to come in the morning to find your scrap gone. With theft, I lose out because I’m coming to get a box full of scrap that’s empty. And the business loses out because someone stole their stuff. The moral: you’ve got to take care of your scrap.”

A&A Midwest and other similar organizations have stressed that to minimize metal theft, three groups must work collectively: recyclers, the theft victims and law enforcement.

“Recyclers need to know who are the people selling the scrap and how they got the material in the first place,” Stolberg said. “Law enforcement needs to take the crime seriously to prosecute the perpetrators when they catch them. Plus, the victims need to secure their property.”

While metals can reveal a considerable amount of savings, they’re not the only resources that can help shop owners increase efficiency. Parts washers found in shops today are becoming increasingly innovative with new lines of self-contained recycling.

Companies such as Safety-Kleen, Garymills Corp. and Eastern Precision provide such types of aqueous parts washers from manual and automatic to solvent-based and ultrasonic.

“Shop owners are very much aware of this equipment for years,” said Dave Weaver, SystemOne sales and service manager for Eastern Precision. SystemOne is Eastern Precision’s brand of recycling cleaning machines for light-to-medium duty parts cleaning.

By using such a parts washer system in general, Weaver said, owners rid themselves of major headaches by recycling the cleaning solvent and eliminating waste as well as the chance of liability after it has left their business.

“The old industry standard was that the service would come out of the truck and give you 12 gallons of solvent in a 30-gallon container. Then took your stuff away,” he said. “You signed a manifest to say that you’re liable if they roll their truck and spill it.”

Other companies have taken upon the responsibilities of handling waste. For instance, Safety-Kleen provides a “certificate of assurance” guarantee when handling waste by covering cleanup costs in case of a spill or accident.

Having to deal with handling and recycling waste around the engine shop is not a secret, but finding the right procedures and methods on recycling doesn’t have to be, Stolberg said. With the right amount of education and cognizance, shop owners can use recycling as a way to maximize their revenue and cut expenses.

“There is a much better awareness of recycling today across all businesses,” Stolberg said. “One of the things people want to do is be efficient. When it comes to recycling, people will listen. People need to get value from the effort. And once they do, they should let the world know it. From a business perspective, take a look at your garbage. You’ve got to be able to learn what has value and what doesn’t. Know what is recyclable.”

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Don’t Gamble When Choosing Cylinder Heads

cnc billet heads web 300x225 Don’t Gamble When Choosing Cylinder Heads by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

A cylinder head is much more than a casting that tops off the block, holds the valves and forms the combustion chambers. The head works in combination with the camshaft, induction and exhaust systems to determine how the engine breathes, the engine’s power curve and personality. The “right” cylinder head on an engine will deliver peak power in the RPM range where you want it. The engine will have good throttle response and produce the kind of torque and horsepower numbers you want. Head selection, therefore, is a key ingredient in building a winning performance engine.

Let’s start with the basics. Assuming you are going to choose an aftermarket cylinder head, you have to find out what’s available for the engine you want to build. For popular engines like small block and big block Chevy, Ford and Chrysler engines, there are dozens of head configurations, brands and product lines from which you can choose. The selection can be so overwhelming that sometimes it comes down to eenie, meenie, minee, moe to pick a head.

Some people pick a set of cylinder heads based on name brand, previous experience or word-of-mouth recommendations. Some will shop around for the least expensive set of heads that promise to meet their expectations. Others will make their selection based strictly on which set of heads claims the highest air flow numbers. But there’s a lot more that should be considered when choosing a set of cylinder heads.

Determine The Venue

Price, performance and availability are all important considerations in the head selection process. But equally important is choosing a set of cylinder heads that are right for the engine and the application. Building a street performance engine is different than building a circle track engine, a drag engine, a marine engine, or a truck pull engine.

Each type of application has its own unique requirements, so the heads have to have the right flow characteristics for that application.

Basic considerations include such variables as engine displacement, compression ratio, camshaft lift and duration specifications, RPM range (where the engine should make the most horsepower and torque), and target horsepower (be realistic!).

You also need to consider vehicle weight, type of transmission (manual or automatic), torque converter stall speed (if automatic), gearing (transmission and differential), and most importantly the application itself (street, street/strip, drag, circle track, road race, off-road, etc.).

Street engines spend most of their time between idle and part throttle so they must have good low and mid-range torque and throttle response to be drivable — especially in heavier cars with automatic transmissions. For this type of application, you want a set of heads with stock to moderately larger intake runner volumes to keep air velocity high. Peak valve lift is probably going to be no more than about half an inch with a typical street cam, so a set of heads that claims huge airflow numbers at extreme valve lifts would not be your best choice. Too much head can be counter productive in this type of application.

A drag engine runs at full throttle for a quarter mile. For this kind of application, you want lots of valve lift, duration and airflow at high RPM. Bigger is better in terms of intake runner volumes, valve size and peak airflow numbers provided the engine has the cam, induction system and cubic inches (or boost pressure) to handle it.

Bolt-on horsepower for street

Don’t Gamble When Choosing Cylinder Heads

cnc billet heads web 300x225 Don’t Gamble When Choosing Cylinder Heads by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

A cylinder head is much more than a casting that tops off the block, holds the valves and forms the combustion chambers. The head works in combination with the camshaft, induction and exhaust systems to determine how the engine breathes, the engine’s power curve and personality. The “right” cylinder head on an engine will deliver peak power in the RPM range where you want it. The engine will have good throttle response and produce the kind of torque and horsepower numbers you want. Head selection, therefore, is a key ingredient in building a winning performance engine.

Let’s start with the basics. Assuming you are going to choose an aftermarket cylinder head, you have to find out what’s available for the engine you want to build. For popular engines like small block and big block Chevy, Ford and Chrysler engines, there are dozens of head configurations, brands and product lines from which you can choose. The selection can be so overwhelming that sometimes it comes down to eenie, meenie, minee, moe to pick a head.

Some people pick a set of cylinder heads based on name brand, previous experience or word-of-mouth recommendations. Some will shop around for the least expensive set of heads that promise to meet their expectations. Others will make their selection based strictly on which set of heads claims the highest air flow numbers. But there’s a lot more that should be considered when choosing a set of cylinder heads.

Determine The Venue

Price, performance and availability are all important considerations in the head selection process. But equally important is choosing a set of cylinder heads that are right for the engine and the application. Building a street performance engine is different than building a circle track engine, a drag engine, a marine engine, or a truck pull engine.

Each type of application has its own unique requirements, so the heads have to have the right flow characteristics for that application.

Basic considerations include such variables as engine displacement, compression ratio, camshaft lift and duration specifications, RPM range (where the engine should make the most horsepower and torque), and target horsepower (be realistic!).

You also need to consider vehicle weight, type of transmission (manual or automatic), torque converter stall speed (if automatic), gearing (transmission and differential), and most importantly the application itself (street, street/strip, drag, circle track, road race, off-road, etc.).

Street engines spend most of their time between idle and part throttle so they must have good low and mid-range torque and throttle response to be drivable — especially in heavier cars with automatic transmissions. For this type of application, you want a set of heads with stock to moderately larger intake runner volumes to keep air velocity high. Peak valve lift is probably going to be no more than about half an inch with a typical street cam, so a set of heads that claims huge airflow numbers at extreme valve lifts would not be your best choice. Too much head can be counter productive in this type of application.

A drag engine runs at full throttle for a quarter mile. For this kind of application, you want lots of valve lift, duration and airflow at high RPM. Bigger is better in terms of intake runner volumes, valve size and peak airflow numbers provided the engine has the cam, induction system and cubic inches (or boost pressure) to handle it.

Bolt-on horsepower for street ­performance engines (such as this Edelbrock head) take the guesswork out of choosing a ­performance head.

Circle track engines are usually rule constrained. Some tracks only allow cast iron heads depending on the class. If we’re talking small block Chevys, some rules only allow heads with stock port locations and stock 23 degree valve angles. Others may allow any head configuration with raised ports and shallower valve angles. A shallower valve angle helps unshroud the valve for more airflow and power. For circle track engines, heads that deliver good mid to high RPM throttle response and torque out of the corners will usually win more races than heads that deliver more peak RPM horsepower.

Every cylinder head manufacturer offers a variety of different cylinder heads for this reason. They offer heads with various intake runner volumes, stock and raised port locations, various intake and exhaust port configurations, valve sizes, valve angles, combustion chamber volumes and spring pad sizes to accommodate a wide variety of possible applications. Some manufacturers concentrate on a narrow segment of the market (high end race only, street/strip, circle track, etc.) while others offer a broader range of products.

The people who make aftermarket performance cylinder heads know their product lines and can provide the kind of guidance that’s often needed to choose the right head combination. “The most common mistake people make is wanting the biggest head that will fit their engine,” said one head manufacturer we interviewed for this article. Other manufacturers agreed. “Bigger isn’t always better. Just because a head makes a lot of power on Bubba’s engine doesn’t mean it’s the right head for your engine.”

The Numbers Game

All too often, the only thing people look at are flow numbers. Yes, flow numbers make horsepower, but you have to keep in mind how the flow numbers were determined on a flow bench. If you hog out the intake ports and shove the valve open far enough, many heads can deliver impressive flow numbers. But if those numbers are rated at .700 inches of valve lift and the engine you are building only has half an inch of valve lift, you are better off choosing a head that flows best at .400 to .500 inches of valve lift.

According to one head manufacturer, good airflow numbers measured at .200, .400 and .500 inches of valve lift are the most important for a street performance engine.

coated combustion chamber web 300x225 Don’t Gamble When Choosing Cylinder Heads by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

Heat reflecting thermal coatings applied to combustion chambers in aluminum heads improve thermal efficiency and horsepower.

As for intake runner volume, generally speaking, smaller intake port volumes produce more low-end torque and throttle response while larger intake port volumes allow more flow at higher RPMs for peak horsepower numbers.

But airflow also depends on runner height (raised ports typically flow better), the contour of the port (especially the profile of the short side radius where the runner flows into the bowl area above the valve), the cross-sectional area of the intake runner and its relationship to the size of the valve opening, the angle of the valve stem (shallower usually flows better), and

the angles on the valve seat and valve face. The shape of the combustion chamber can also influence airflow.

Every head manufacturer and head porter has their own recipe for combining these factors to squeeze the best performance out of a given cylinder head. You can take two cylinder heads from different suppliers that have identical intake runner port volumes and valves and end up with very different airflow and horsepower numbers. Why? Because the profile of the intake runners in one head flow better than the other. Consequently, one set of heads may deliver 15 to 20 more horsepower on the same engine than a competitor’s heads.

When choosing a cylinder head for a particular engine application, one of the first variables that has to be considered is engine displacement. Are you building a 350 with stock bore and stroke, or a 383 stroker or something bigger? The more cubic inches the engine has, the more airflow the heads have to deliver.

A head with 180 or 185cc intake runners will work well on a typical 350 Chevy street engine that makes 400 to 450 horsepower. If it’s a 383 stroker, you can probably go with 200cc intake runners.

Putting a higher flow head with 220cc runners on a relatively stock 350 would be going in the wrong direction.

On the other hand, if you’re building a high revving race engine, or a big displacement stroker (over 400 inches), you could probably go with larger runners for increased airflow. Some aftermarket SB Chevy racing heads have intake runner volumes from 240 to 270cc or more!

ValveAngleLr 251x300 Don’t Gamble When Choosing Cylinder Heads by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

Last year, Mike Androwick’s big-block head designs won the Northeast Dirt Modified championship. According to Androwick, one of the two chief advantages of using a low, 10-degree valve angle is that it yields a shallow combustion chamber.
Source: www.mooregoodink.com

If you’re building a big block Chevy street performance engine, heads with 300 to 320cc intake runners will probably work best. Again, the larger the displacement, the more intake volume and airflow the engine needs.

On the other hand, if you’re building a 565 cubic inch big block stroker motor, you’ll probably want heads with 330 to 340cc intake runner volumes. If it’s a drag motor, you can go even bigger, maybe 350 to 360cc with a CNC-ported head. It all depends on the cam, RPM range and where you want the engine to make the most power and torque.

Aluminum vs. Cast Iron

Aluminum heads are lighter than cast iron, saving maybe 25 to 30 lbs. per head depending on the application. In a 3500 to 4500 lb. street car, that’s not a lot of weight savings, but in a 2,500 lbs. race car it is. Even so, lighter is usually considered better for performance.

Aluminum heads are easier to machine than cast iron because the metal is softer, and the heads are easier to repair because aluminum can be TIG welded to fix cracks and other damage.

Cracks in cast iron can be drilled and pinned, or even furnace welded, but the latter is more difficult and requires a high level of skill and experience to prevent repeat cracking.

Aluminum may be your only choice if you want a custom billet head. Billet aluminum heads can be made for almost anything, but are very expensive because of all the machine work that is required to design and fabricate the head.

This is what the big boys use on many top fuel dragsters and some Pro Stock mountain motors because nothing else will work. We’ve also seen some very slick billet aluminum heads for diesel engines used in Super Stock Pulling Tractors.

Aluminum conducts heat faster than cast iron. This helps cool the engine and allows a higher compression ratio with less risk of preignition or detonation — but it also sucks heat out of the combustion chamber and actually reduces combustion efficiency somewhat. At high RPM, there’s less time per combustion event for heat to escape through the cylinder head so the loss in thermal efficiency is not as great.

Applying a metallic-ceramic thermal coating to the combustion chambers can improve heat retention and thermal efficiency. Some who use these type of thermal barrier coatings say they have gained 30 to 40 horsepower on the dyno over uncoated heads on the same engine.

On a street engine, cast iron heads help an engine reach operating temperature more quickly after a cold start (good for emissions and cold drivability), while retaining more heat for improved fuel economy and thermal efficiency. Most cast iron heads are also less expensive than aluminum heads because the metal is less expensive.

cnc ported head mikes racing web 300x169 Don’t Gamble When Choosing Cylinder Heads by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

CNC porting can open up the intake and exhaust ports for better airflow. The same port profile can be ­replicated with a new casting.

Go with the Flow

A common question that’s often asked is whether CNC ported heads outperform as-cast heads? It depends on the head.

If the intake runner profiles of an as-cast head are identical to those of a fully CNC-ported head, both heads should flow exactly the same.

There may be subtle differences in airflow based on the surface finish in the ports, but basically the numbers should not differ significantly.

That said, most CNC-ported heads are marketed as offering a significant advantage over the typical as-cast head. CNC heads can start out as rough castings which are then machined to final dimensions, or as cast heads (stock or performance) which are then reworked by CNC machining to increase intake and exhaust runner volumes and/or reshape the runner profile for more airflow.

You usually pay more for CNC heads because of the extra machine work that’s done to them. But if you can get the same performance from an as-cast head with similar port configurations, the latter can save you money.

Speaking Volumes

Heads are available with various combustion chamber volumes. Larger chambers can accommodate domed pistons and are often compatible with a wider range of aftermarket pistons, while smaller combustion chambers allow you to achieve a higher compression ratio using flat top pistons or smaller domed pistons.

Many head suppliers can also mill a set of heads to reduce the combustion chamber volumes to your specifications if that’s what you want.

An important point to remember here is to always check valve-to-piston clearance with the head installed on the block to make sure there are no interference problems at peak valve lift. Milled heads, larger diameter valves, reduced deck height, a higher lift cam and/or rocker arm ratio can all add up to create interference problems if you fail to take everything into account.

cylinderheads 300x199 Don’t Gamble When Choosing Cylinder Heads by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

The “right” cylinder head on an engine will deliver peak power in the RPM range where you want it.

Port Points

Raised ports or relocated ports generally provide better airflow and more power. But changing the ports also means you have to change the intake manifold and/or exhaust manifold/headers. On big block Chevy, you also have the option of going with rectangular ports or oval ports. Some say oval ports flow better, but again compatibility with existing manifolds may be the deciding factor as to which port configuration you choose.

What’s Your Angle?

The angle of the spark plug doesn’t matter as much as its location with respect to the valves. On many heads, relocating the spark plug closer to the exhaust valve adds some horsepower. But relocated plugs or different plug angles may interfere with some exhaust manifolds or headers. Consequently, you may have to choose a set of heads that will work with an existing set of manifolds or headers over a set of heads that won’t.

Final Thoughts

Other items to consider when choosing a set of heads includes valve sizes (intake and exhaust), the quality of the valve seat material, the type of valve guides (integral, bronze, powder metal or cast iron), and the diameter and location of the spring pads (larger pads can accommodate larger, stiffer springs).

Do you want assembled heads ready to install, fully machined and unassembled heads you can assemble yourself, semi-finished heads so you can do the final valve work and assembly, or raw castings that you can CNC machine yourself in-house?

Some head suppliers have mass-produced fully assembled heads that are typically sold through online retailers and performance parts distributors. These are a good value for the DIY engine builder or somebody with a limited budget, but are probably not the best choice for most professional engine builders. Many engine builders want full control over the final valve work and assembly to make sure the heads are finished to their specifications.

Get Advice

If you’re confused by the bewildering array of cylinder head configurations that are available in the aftermarket today and need help choosing the right head for your engine, use the expertise of the people who make the heads to help you in the selection process. As we said earlier, they know their product lines and can steer you towards the best head for what you want to accomplish.

The post Don’t Gamble When Choosing Cylinder Heads appeared first on Engine Builder Magazine.

Read more here: Engine Builder Magazine

Category: Featured, Features, Tech Center, cylinder heads

April Engine Builder Shop Solutions

Combustion Chamber Molds

When making chamber molds for a variety of purposes, including holding up the valves on the assembly bench, (as opposed to a beanbag or shop rag) common auto body filler (Bondo) works very well. It’s fast and very inexpensive.

Just mix the body filler and fill chambers of an assembled head. The molds release easily if you just spray a little silicone into the chamber for a release agent before filling. At pennies per mold, it’s a very practical way to make enough molds of each chamber for assembling heads or for many other purposes such as determining piston dome requirements, valve relief locations, etc.

Keith Morganstein

Max Effort Engines

Sutton, MA

Metal Chips in the Media

To save money on media blasting, I use the metal chips generated from my boring bar and brake lathe as a blasting media. I installed a reducer in the feed line to generate the correct amount of air speed, then use the chips instead of glass bead. I get a nicer finish on both iron and aluminum parts.

Gary Musman

Channel City Engineering

Santa Barbara, CA

On a More Personal Note…

I got a handwritten letter in the mail this week, and since it’s so unusual these days, I opened it first.

Inside there was a plain note card with these words scrawled in neat block letters, “Hi Steve, just a quick note to thank you for your recent order. We appreciate your business.”

Hand-addressed envelopes always get opened. Handwritten letters always get read. A creative machine shop marketer could mail notes to local engine installers asking them to drop by the shop for a free cup of coffee and a tour, or the note might offer a discount on a portion of their next job.

The note doesn’t have to be long. In fact, the shorter the better. And for the price of a $.49 stamp, you just can’t beat this cost effective marketing tool.

Steve Rich

Sterling Bearing Inc.

Kansas City, MO

Get the Job Into the Shop

When I get a call for an engine rebuild, I am not immediately willing to give an exact price over the phone. I like to give a ballpark estimate and tell them that not until after we take it apart and check out the job completely, will we be able to give them a better idea on the exact price. I encourage them to bring it to me to check out first. Once that job comes through the door, I have the potential to make it a bigger sale instead of spending time on the phone debating with them the cost without ever seeing the job.

Jeffrey Myers

MAR Automotive, INC

Philadelphia, PA

Roller Timing Set Block Clearance

When using a Double Roller timing set on a GM 350 Vortec or a GM K block, you must check the clearance between the cam gear and the bosses around the oil galleys in the block. Some blocks may need to have some grinding done for clearance and on some this was already done at the factory.

An easy way to check is to place the cam gear on a camshaft then carefully install your cam into the block.

Now, just spin the gear and if you see it hitting the block just grind on the bosses until the gear has plenty of clearance. If not done, the gear will grind off metal filings that will be carried throughout the motor by the oil and we all know the damage this can cause.

Greg Myall

Engine and Performance Warehouse

Oakland, CA

Cylinder Liner Cavitation Erosion

Cavitation erosion is often found in diesel engines on the exterior walls of wet cylinder liners. The amount of erosion and decay will vary from engine to engine and may also vary from cylinder to cylinder. Vertical strips or patches of decay often form outside the cylinder corresponding with the piston thrust face. They also form just over the top sealing ring of the liner. If not kept in check, coolant may eventually penetrate the cylinder and contaminate the oil or oil may be introduced to the coolant.

It has been proposed from a group of engine rebuilders and parts manufacturers that this cavitation erosion is caused by excessive harmonic vibrations in the engine and possibly by or in conjunction with loose fitting cylinder liners. Both cause the formation and implosion of vapor bubbles within the coolant which attack and erode the cylinder liner surface. Vibration is caused as the pistons move up and down within the cylinders, especially at the piston thrust area. The surface of the cylinder sleeve that comes in contact with the coolant is moving in and out very quickly. During this process small bubbles are produced and struck. The resulting implosion causes shock waves against this surface that have been calculated to reach over 10,000

April Engine Builder Shop Solutions

Combustion Chamber Molds

When making chamber molds for a variety of purposes, including holding up the valves on the assembly bench, (as opposed to a beanbag or shop rag) common auto body filler (Bondo) works very well. It’s fast and very inexpensive.

Just mix the body filler and fill chambers of an assembled head. The molds release easily if you just spray a little silicone into the chamber for a release agent before filling. At pennies per mold, it’s a very practical way to make enough molds of each chamber for assembling heads or for many other purposes such as determining piston dome requirements, valve relief locations, etc.

Keith Morganstein

Max Effort Engines

Sutton, MA

Metal Chips in the Media

To save money on media blasting, I use the metal chips generated from my boring bar and brake lathe as a blasting media. I installed a reducer in the feed line to generate the correct amount of air speed, then use the chips instead of glass bead. I get a nicer finish on both iron and aluminum parts.

Gary Musman

Channel City Engineering

Santa Barbara, CA

On a More Personal Note…

I got a handwritten letter in the mail this week, and since it’s so unusual these days, I opened it first.

Inside there was a plain note card with these words scrawled in neat block letters, “Hi Steve, just a quick note to thank you for your recent order. We appreciate your business.”

Hand-addressed envelopes always get opened. Handwritten letters always get read. A creative machine shop marketer could mail notes to local engine installers asking them to drop by the shop for a free cup of coffee and a tour, or the note might offer a discount on a portion of their next job.

The note doesn’t have to be long. In fact, the shorter the better. And for the price of a $.49 stamp, you just can’t beat this cost effective marketing tool.

Steve Rich

Sterling Bearing Inc.

Kansas City, MO

Get the Job Into the Shop

When I get a call for an engine rebuild, I am not immediately willing to give an exact price over the phone. I like to give a ballpark estimate and tell them that not until after we take it apart and check out the job completely, will we be able to give them a better idea on the exact price. I encourage them to bring it to me to check out first. Once that job comes through the door, I have the potential to make it a bigger sale instead of spending time on the phone debating with them the cost without ever seeing the job.

Jeffrey Myers

MAR Automotive, INC

Philadelphia, PA

Roller Timing Set Block Clearance

When using a Double Roller timing set on a GM 350 Vortec or a GM K block, you must check the clearance between the cam gear and the bosses around the oil galleys in the block. Some blocks may need to have some grinding done for clearance and on some this was already done at the factory.

An easy way to check is to place the cam gear on a camshaft then carefully install your cam into the block.

Now, just spin the gear and if you see it hitting the block just grind on the bosses until the gear has plenty of clearance. If not done, the gear will grind off metal filings that will be carried throughout the motor by the oil and we all know the damage this can cause.

Greg Myall

Engine and Performance Warehouse

Oakland, CA

Cylinder Liner Cavitation Erosion

Cavitation erosion is often found in diesel engines on the exterior walls of wet cylinder liners. The amount of erosion and decay will vary from engine to engine and may also vary from cylinder to cylinder. Vertical strips or patches of decay often form outside the cylinder corresponding with the piston thrust face. They also form just over the top sealing ring of the liner. If not kept in check, coolant may eventually penetrate the cylinder and contaminate the oil or oil may be introduced to the coolant.

It has been proposed from a group of engine rebuilders and parts manufacturers that this cavitation erosion is caused by excessive harmonic vibrations in the engine and possibly by or in conjunction with loose fitting cylinder liners. Both cause the formation and implosion of vapor bubbles within the coolant which attack and erode the cylinder liner surface. Vibration is caused as the pistons move up and down within the cylinders, especially at the piston thrust area. The surface of the cylinder sleeve that comes in contact with the coolant is moving in and out very quickly. During this process small bubbles are produced and struck. The resulting implosion causes shock waves against this surface that have been calculated to reach over 10,000º F and pressures more than 10,000 psi.

Cost effective materials to manufacture parts from that would prevent this cavitation erosion have not yet been found. Some coatings have been applied to slow the decay and extend engine life before major repairs are needed. A reduction in harmonic vibrations will also eliminate cavitation. Correct fitting liners cannot be over stressed. Incorrect clearance between liner and cylinder block can be a serious contributor to liner vibration. In many cases cavitation can be avoided by making sure the fuel injection complies with the manufacturer’s specifications, the engine’s speed is governed according to the manufacturer’s data and that these controls function.

Supplementary Cooling Additives (SCA) are specified by manufacturers and these additives form a protective coating on surfaces exposed to the coolant in an effort to reduce cavitation erosion.

Following proper maintenance schedules will help keep the proper level of concentrations of these SCA’s aiding cavitation protection, to maintain proper pH to avoid corrosion and to check water hardness to avoid mineral deposit formation. All manufacturer’s recommendations regarding additives, coolants and coolant filters as well as maintenance schedules should be strictly adhered to and followed at all times.

Engine Pro Technical Committee with thanks to Howard Enterprises

The post April Engine Builder Shop Solutions appeared first on Engine Builder Magazine.

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Category: Featured, Features, Tech Center, April Shop Solutions

Saturn Drives exotic car cruise kicks off supercar driving season in Toronto

Toronto+Exotic+Car+Cruise+Event+ +Saturn+Drives+%252826%2529 Saturn Drives exotic car cruise kicks off supercar driving season in Toronto by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

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Hosting over 130 exotic supercars and custom luxury vehicles in the same place sure draws some attention, as Saturn Drives kicked off another year of organized car cruise events in Southern Ontario.

We’ve gone ahead and gathered a huge photo gallery showing these rev-happy car enthusiasts out in full force, as the roaring pack of Lamborghini Aventadors was seen driving alongside several Ford GTs, Dodge Vipers, Porsches, Aston Martins, Ferraris and more. The sound of these cars could be heard from miles away, marking the unmistakable sound that Spring has indeed sprung.

The organized event featured a full day cruise along some of the GTA’s nicest roads (while obeying the law of course) and wrapped up with an exotic car BBQ sponsored by Saturns Drives and Signature Luxury Division in Toronto. The crowded parking lot was packed with a few hundred spectators hoping to get a closer look at all of these dream cars on display.

Click here to view the full photo gallery from the event for yourself and stay tuned for more.

Toronto+Exotic+Car+Cruise+Event+ +Saturn+Drives+%252821%2529 Saturn Drives exotic car cruise kicks off supercar driving season in Toronto by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley
518208928 c 630 444 Saturn Drives exotic car cruise kicks off supercar driving season in Toronto by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

Saturn Drives exotic car cruise kicks off supercar driving season in Toronto originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 06 May 2014 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ACCEL Ceramic Boot Spark Plug Wires

ACCEL Extreme 9000 Ceramic Boot Spark Plug Wires with Packaging High Res 300x300 ACCEL Ceramic Boot Spark Plug Wires by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

ACCEL, an industry leader in high performance fuel and ignition system products, has announced the availability of its Extreme 9000 Ceramic Boot Spark Plug Wire sets. Designed to perform under the most extreme underhood temperatures, the ACCEL Ceramic Boot spark wire sets are ideal for a variety of street and race applications, especially vehicles with tight header clearances and limited engine bay space. The wire sets feature ceramic ends capable of withstanding temperatures where conventional boots would simply fail – up to 2,000-degrees Fahrenheit. The Extreme 9000 wires also feature double silicone protected 8-mm Ferro-Spiral core construction with stainless steel terminals to deliver the fastest, most powerful spark while maintaining the highest level of RFI/EMI suppression.

ACCEL Extreme 9000 Ceramic Boot Spark Plug Wires are available in universal configurations with straight, 45 or 90-degree ceramic boots to accommodate a wide range of engines, as well and as custom fit sets for more than 20 different Chevy, Ford, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth and Buick applications.

For more information on ACCEL Extreme 9000 Ceramic Boot Spark Plug Wire sets, ACCEL’s complete line of high performance fuel and ignition products, or to order online, visit ACCEL-Ignition.com.

The post ACCEL Ceramic Boot Spark Plug Wires appeared first on Engine Builder Magazine.

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