The second installment talks about how they’re all part of a system that includes various clearances, gas porting, & piston rockover, shape, & stabilization.
Piston Rings, Part 2: Lord of the Circular Cylinder Seals
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Positive Crankcase Ventilation: More Important Than You Think
If the PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation isn’t working correctly, it can cause problems that range from poor idle quality and serious oil leaks to sludging and internal engine damage from oil contamination. Every piston engine no matter how well designed and assembled has a certain amount of blow-by past the rings, and if it can’t get out of the crankcase pressure will build up and water vapor, excess gasoline, and combustion contaminants will collect in and dilute the motor oil.
Rat Rods Rising
When I first saw the phrase “rat rod” on craigslist.com some years ago, I knew intuitively what it meant, and it made me smile.
Random Thoughts on Random Things: A Dying (Car) Culture
According to studies by the University of Michigan, only about 60% of today’s teenagers between 16...
Renewing Engine Performance: Where Did the Power Go?
Backpressure can seriously sabotage your efforts to get plenty of air into the cylinders, yet many people overlook it and don’t know how to detect its presence. And how is the MAF sensor affected?
Roller Rocker Systems, 1: Translating the Camshaft
In this installment of Greg’s great exposition of high-performance rocker arms, we’ll be looking at the science and geometry involved, which you really must understand before you start building an engine.
Piston Rings, Part 1: The Lord of the Circular Cylinder Seals
Our man Greg has produced such a stupendous amount of truly useful copy on this subject that we’re going to present it in three parts. This time, we’re giving you interesting info on bore finish and block preparation.
Can a Computer Move a 175 lb. Man?
From tear-your-head off acceleration thrills to nerdy info technology?
It’s Fun Because It’s SUPPOSED To Be Fun!
When I tell my wife that I just love touching those dirty parts, she just shakes her head and laughs at me and calls me a fool.
Timing A Vintage Engine For Modern Gasoline
The changes in how today’s reformulated unleaded gasoline burns in a vintage carburetor-equipped engine will often cause it to not perform as it should. These new blends are not as volatile, but still burn somewhat faster than the leaded gasoline of the distant past.