Engine Rebuilding

Soon, I am going to partially rebuild and repaint the engine in my 1972 Chevy truck. I have been buying a few parts here and there and I am finally close to doing it. The reason I am rebuilding it is mainly for more power. I use it alot for pulling heavy loads like tractors and such, so more power is a really good thing, as it doesn't stress the motor and transmission parts as much. The main part of the engine is the cylinder block (middle picture) which actually makes the power by burning a mix of gas and air in a combustion chamber (the cylinder). The piston goes down pulling in more air/fuel mixture and then going up to compress and ignite the gases, thus causing an explosion which creates power. On top of the block are cylinder heads (left picture) that have 2 valves for each cylinder. In my case, it is a V8 or 8 cylinders. These valves have a simple job of opening and closing to let in air/fuel mixture and let burnt gases out. There is a intake valve and an exhaust valve which are opened and closed with a spring. This spring is compressed by a piece called a rocker arm which "rocks" back and forth on top of the valve and a piece called a pushrod. Another main part of the cylinder block is the camshaft (right picture), which has several raised spots that push a lifter up and down, which pushes the pushrod and all of that makes the valves open and close. It sounds complicated, but it is actually pretty simple when you see it operate. Basically, as the camshaft turns, it causes the valves to open and close.

The cylinder heads that I bought are called Vortec's and they are some of the best ones you can buy for a chevy truck. They are really good for making power because the way the head is made is very good for allowing the air/fuel mixture to get into the cylinders faster and more efficiently, thus making for more power. A turbo charger works in a similar way, but it forces the air/fuel mix into the cylinders very quickly. Also, the cooler the mix is, the more power you can get, because it is denser and burns better. On top of the cylinder heads is called the intake manifold. It's job is to funnel the air/fuel mix into the cylinder heads. Some brands are better than others becuase they can get the mix into the heads faster and more effieciently also. If you are looking for more power at a slower speed, then you want a "Dual Plane" intake manifold. It is actually a 2 (two) level intake, splitting off for each cylinder. A "Single Plane" intake manifold is better for higher speeds and it is just a 1 (one) level manifold which mixes all together and then is pulled into each cylinder. One of the most important pieces is the carburetor or fuel injection system. It is the one that actually mixes the air and fuel together. If the mix isn't right, the engine will not run as good. So, all of the parts of the engine must run in harmony with each other in order to get the most power out of it. Here's a good site showing just how the components work together - http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine1.htm. Enjoy!

My sister in need!

The other day my sister stopped at my house early in the morning. She was on her way to a friends house that lived about an hour from where she lives. When she pulled up, I noticed her van was wrecked in the front! She was following a car too close and the car suddenly stopped and she hit them. It did at least $1000 in damage! She has 3 daughters and her husband doesn't know how to to much auto repair, so she asked if I could help her. Naturally, I said "Of course, you are family!" Her radiator cap had been broken off and the radiator, transmission cooler and the A/C condenser had all been sandwiched together and bowed back like a smiley face. It broke her bumper cover ,passenger side headlight and both electric cooling fans were busted and hitting the alternator. Fortunately, it was just pushed against it and didn't hurt the engine at all.

We searched around for parts and found a few used cooling fans from a junkyard for about $100. The other parts were about as cheap new as the used ones, so we got the new ones. The bumper cover and other parts totalled about $700-$800. Several parts came from Ebay and were just like the original parts, which is sometimes the best way to go, unless it is a performance part. But, for a van, it's not needed. Anyways, when all the parts finally arrived, I started putting the pieces of her van back together. Vans are a little harder to work on, because everything is so packed into the front, that makes it very tight on working room. After everything was put back together, the coolant and transmission fluid was added and was tested for leaks while the engine was running. The bumper cover came as a black primer, so I found some cans of spray paint at Advance Auto Parts that matched the original color, which was a goldish color. The paint is actually made for touch ups, but 4-5 of the small cans was enough to finish the bumper cover pretty well. In a day or so, I'll put the clearcoat on to give it the shine. The new headlight still needed a little adjusting to match the old one. They just have a screw usually that moves them up and down. It's easiest to do it at night while the lights are shining on a wall or garage door, that way both headlights are the same level. After all of that, the van was taken to an A/C man to have the A/C recharged and refilled with the oil, which was another $110. She has her van back now and she is glad to have it back. I am glad to be done with it also!! On to my next project, haha!

Music - God's Gift To The Heart

Music has power. It can calm us, stir us and lift our spirits. It can express both our joys and our sorrows. Common to virtually all cultures, past and present. Music is a language of both the mind and the heart. Yes, music truly is a gift from God. From the time we were born, we likely heard some form of music. Perhaps our mother sang lullabies to help us fall asleep. During our teenage years, we may have developed a fondness for music that stirred our heart. Even as adults, many of us enjoy relaxing music while driving or at home, at the end of a busy day. The lyrics of a song may embody certain aspects of a country's culture of history.

All of us can make music by means of our voice. Thanks to the versatility of this built-in instrument, nearly everyone can make music, to some extent, with or without other instruments. All you have to do is open your mouth and sing. When you do, do not pay attention whether or not your singing voice will win you and prizes or cheers. If you practice, you should improve. The voice is directly in contact with the seat from which our deepest emotions spring, and it is the most efficient instrument for expressing them. Singing is exciting and I would recommend that anyone who feels like expressing himself or herself, to do so freely and spontaneously. Because music can have a powerful influence on the heart, we should be selective. Beautiful melodies, for instance, may sugarcoat ugly lyrics that make light of or even promote hatred, immorality or even violence. Our choices of music is no minor matter. Let us all enjoy music and all of it's many forms!