DIAGNOSING THE CHICKEN AND THE EGG Sometimes a failure or even a comeback seem obvious and we point a finger at a failure point and assume that it was defective. A little investigating might show a cause and effect scenario and what might be thought of as defective or...
TODAY’S TIMING FAILURES Timing components are more complicated then ever. Today’s components were designed to last well over 100,000 miles, with proper maintenance. Sadly, often due to poor maintenance and falsely stated factory oil maintenance claims, many timing...
GM AFM VLOM The GM Active Fuel Management, or AFM Engines in 2005-2014 5.3L and 6.0L Passenger Cars, Trucks and SUVs are prone to lifter failures. These lifters are expensive and labor intensive to replace. As is common with lifter failures, the lifter usually gets...
PRESSED FOR FAST BLEED DOWN When reassembling late model Chrysler heads with roller follower/hydraulic lash adjuster type lifters, I found that they bleed down much faster when turned upside down. When I used the vise it would take 2 or 3 squeezes and sometimes they...
CAMSHAFT INDENTIFICATION Our shop has had a cam analyzer for over 28 years. Recently I was at an friends shop and had to remember how we did it in the old days. He needed to verify which of the three customer-supplied cams to install because the previous shop had...
MAGNETIC LIFTER CATCH On the LS engine platform, when changing camshafts, the hydraulic lifters can fall into the oil pan on performance blocks such as the LSX. Instead of plastic buckets to hold the lifters up, these engines only have anti-rotational guides, that do...