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CHANGES IN PISTON DESIGN
Feb 1, 2014 | PISTONS & RINGS
CHANGES IN PISTON DESIGN Last month we discussed changes in piston ring design. Changes in rings also mean changes in the pistons they ride on. A century ago you could find cast iron pistons in your motor. Aluminum soon proved to be a lighter weight and more durable...

Installation Tool for Spark Plug Repair Inserts
Jan 1, 2014 | TOOLING
Installation Tool for Spark Plug Repair Inserts This tool was developed after I got frustrated with supplier installation devices. It is faster, easier and works with most spark plug thread repair inserts, including Perma-Coil, Time-Sert and Heli-Coil. Start with a...

Keep Chuck Keys in Check
Jan 1, 2014 | TOOLING
Keep Chuck Keys in Check This isn’t the most high-tech Shop Solution in the world, but it can save you hours of lost time and aggravation. Have you ever wasted time looking for your drill’s chuck key or fought chucking in a bit with the key tethered or taped to the...

“SHOPPING” AROUND
Jan 1, 2014 | OPERATIONS
"Shopping” Around One of the best ways to increase business is to make personal contact with your customers. Here is a somewhat different approach. A machine shop owner in Missouri started a program last year that he calls “Fat Friday.” Each Friday morning, he drops...

Replacement Head I.D. for Ford 6.0L Diesel
Jan 1, 2014 | CYLINDER HEADS
Replacement Head I.D. for Ford 6.0L Diesel Identifying a Ford 6.0L head by dowel size alone does not necessarily get you the correct replacement cylinder head. Ford/International has two casting numbers for their 6.0L head, the early 1843080C1 through C4 heads which...

Piston Ring Gapping Tip
Dec 1, 2013 | PISTONS & RINGS
Piston Ring Gapping Tip Some of you may know this ring end gapping tip, but I have never seen it anywhere. Not even in ring package instructions. This has to do with checking the flimsy oil rail gaps. Most conventional size bores are not much of a problem. The rails...