Engines are built to fall within a wide set of standards and specifications, often not optimized to meet the original design. In short, cheap and fast engine production results in a sloppy final product. Of course, this is not idea for high-performance engines. To maximize the performance of any engine, it must be balanced and blueprinted to the exact tolerances that the factory should have adhered to in the first place. Four cylinder, V-8, American or import, the performance of all engines is greatly improved by balancing and blueprinting. Dedicated enthusiasts and professional racers balance and blueprint their engines because the engines will produce more horsepower and torque, more efficiently use fuel, run cooler and last longer.

In this book, expert engine builder and veteran author Mike Mavrigian explains and illustrates the most discriminating engine building techniques, so the engine is perfectly balanced, matched, and optimized. Balancing and blueprinting is a time consuming and exacting process, but the investment in time pays off with superior performance. Through the process, you carefully measure, adjust, machine and fit each part together with precision tolerances, optimizing the design and maximizing performance. The book covers the block, crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, cylinder heads, intake manifolds, camshaft, measuring tools and final assembly techniques.

For more than 50 years, balancing and blueprinting has been an accepted and common practice for maximizing performance. An enthusiast or professional that invests the time to precisely build an engine in this fashion will be rewarded with an engine that will run strong and last for years. This book provides an unprecedented level of detail and instruction on the process of balancing and blueprinting your engine.

Chapter 1:

• Flaw Detection 
• Sonic Testers 
• Hand-Held Magnetic Particle Testers 
• Wet Mag Bench Testers 
• Dye Penetrant 
• Pressure Testing

Chapter 2:

• Engine Blocks 
• Flaw Checking the Block 
• Decking the Block 
• Correcting Cylinder Bores 
• Oil Restrictors and Screens 
• Lifter Valley Surface 
• Rod and Crank Clearance 
• Oil Hole Alignment 
• Threaded Holes 

Chapter 3:

• Block Machining 
• Main Bore Align Honing 
• Deck Resurfacing 
• Cylinder Honing 
• Cylinder Boring 
• Plateau Finishing 
• Cylinder Bore Distortion 
• Lifter Bores 
• Hot Honing 
• Camshaft Bore 

Chapter 4:

• Oiling Systems 
• Wet Sump Systems 
• Dry Sump Systems 
• External Oil Coolers 
• Oil Restrictors 
• Oil Drainback 
• Intermediate Shaft 
• High-Pressure High-Volume Pumps 
• Pre-Lube Before Initial Startup

 
Chapter 5:

• Engine Math
• Bore and Stroke 
• Connecting Rod Length 
• Rod Ratio 
• Piston Compression Height 
• Compression Ratio (part 1) 
• Combustion Chamber Volume 
• Piston Dome Volume 
• Head Gasket Volume 
• Deck Height Volume 
• Cylinder Swept Volume 
• Compression Ratio (part 2) 

Chapter 6:

• Crankshafts 
• Crankshaft Types 
• Surface Hardening 
• Reducing Rotating Mass 
• Inspection 
• Stroker Clearance 
• Shot Peening 
• Stress Relieving 
• Counterweight Modifications 
• Cross Drilling 
• Chamfering Oil Holes

Chapter 7:

• Connecting Rods 
• Rod Types 
• Center-to-Center Length
• Piston-to-Rod Clearance 
• Rod-to-Block Clearance 
• Rod-to-Camshaft Clearance 
• Rod Bearing Clearance 
• Rod Side Clearance 
• Beam Design 
• Rod Bolt Tightening 
• Connecting Rod Inspection 

Chapter 8:

• Pistons 
• Performance Pistons 
• Piston-to-Wall Clearance 
• Piston Diameter 
• Piston Skirt to Crankshaft Clearance 
• Coatings 
• Piston Pins 
• Ring Grooves 
• Piston-to-Head Clearance 
• Piston-to-Valve Clearance 
• Piston Compression Distance 
• Compression Ratio 
• Deck Height 
• Gasket Volume 
• Piston Dome Volume 
• Combustion Chamber Volume 
• Valve Pockets 
• Ordering Custom Pistons 

Chapter 9:

• Piston Rings 
• Ring Types 
• Tension and Gap 
• Piston Ring Trends 
• Determining Ring Depth 
• Ring Installation Method

 
Chapter 10:

• Camshafts 
• Cam Types 
• Protecting the Cam 
• Cam Runout 
• Cam Endplay 
• Degreeing the Cam 
• Adjusting Cam Timing 
• Lobe Separation Angles 
• GM LS Cam Lifters 
• Special Firing Order Camshafts 
• Camshaft Needle Bearings 
• Distributor Gears 

Chapter 11:

• Cylinder Heads 
• Cast Iron versus Aluminum 
• Deck Surface Finish 
• Deck Flatness 
• Valves 
• Ports and Runners 
• Finishing Bare Cylinder Heads 
• Inspection and Reconditioning 
• Flow Bench Testing 
• Cylinder Head Installation 

Chapter 12:

• Valves, Springs, Retainers and Locks 
• Valve Inspection 
• Valve Seats 
• Performance Valve Technology 
• Valvesprings 
• Retainer Fit 
• Valvespring Seats 
• Retainers and Locks 

Chapter 13:

• Rocker Arms 
• Rocker Arm Ratio 
• Guideplates 
• Roller Rockers 
• Rocker Arm Materials 
• OHC Followers 
• Valve Cover Clearance 
• Upgrading OEM LS Rocker Arm Trunnions 

Chapter 14:

• Pushrods
• Check for Runout 
• Pushrod Length 
• Guideplates 
• Pushrod Diameter 
• Pushrod Wall Thickness 
• Pushrod End Types 
• Clean the Pushrods 

Chapter 15:

• Intake Manifolds 
• Manifold Types 
• Port Matching 
• Intake Plenum 
• Intake Port Surface 
• Manifold Bolts 
• Converting LS to Carb 
• Manifold Surface Protections 
• Carb Spacers 

Chapter 16:

• Balancing 
• Internal versus External Balance 
• Weight Matching 
• Bobweights 
• Balancing Procedures 

Chapter 17:

• Timing Systems 
• Chain Drive 
• Belt Drive 
• Gear Drive 

Chapter 18:

• Engine Performance Coatings and Treatments 
• Coating Types 
• Cryogenic Stress Relief 
• Vibratory Stress Relief 
• Hard Cylinder Coating

Specifications:

Pages: 192
Size: 8.5 X 11 (inches)
Format: Paperback
Illustrations: 474 color photos
Publisher: CarTech
ISBN: 9781613250471
Product Code: SA334P

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