subject: Under The Hood Of American Autos [print this page] United States citizens have had a special love affair with their automobiles. Ever since the first Ford Model Ts began flooding city streets, it has been a special relationship that ceases to burn out. Four wheels and a few seats became the mode of transportation around which our nation developed and there has been no looking back. The freedom of going anywhere, anytime and without restriction was a purely American fantasy. Cars made the dream possible.
Although automobile production shut down across the nation during World War II as manufacturing plants shifted to war machine building, the technology gained in war time kick started a post-war automotive boom of luxury sedans and hot rods that didn't slow down until the fuel crunch, nearly three decades later. The automobile has come a long way toward fuel conservation, creature comforts and economy, but the American spirit that fueled the mid-century automobile boom still shines beneath all the modern designs.
The Fuel Injection Revolution
The Chevrolet Corvette and Bel Air were two of the first widely popular automobiles to feature fuel injection as opposed to carbureted fuel delivery in the 1950s. Doing away with the intricate bowl and needle system made for a more reliable, on-demand power source, but the economics of mass producing fuel injection weren't there yet. Auto mechanics and shade tree tinkerers were also slow to accept the change to fuel injection as they had mastered the art of fine tuning carburetors over the course of several generations. By the mid-seventies, though, fuel injection revealed itself as the way of the future. Better fuel economy and over two decades of auto manufacturer perfection had also made it a viable cost option. Today, most American-made cars feature fuel injection--most are electronic and computer controlled, delivering precise amounts of fuel and ensuring that not a drop is wasted. Precision fuel injection also prevents burned piston rings and carbon buildup.
The Camshaft Migration
Traditionally, a single camshaft turns in a hollow cylinder of the engine block and controls the cylinder valves by actuating them with pushrods that ride on the lobes of the camshaft. The rods attach to lifters under the valve cover or covers and these directly control the cylinder valves. The modern trend is toward overhead cams and dual overhead cams. The most famous example of this migration was when Ford replaced the Mustang's venerable 5.0 liter engine with the new 4.6 liter motor. The 4.6 featured many technological advances, including dual overhead cams. The Cams are located under the valve covers and control the cylinder valves directly, eliminating the need for pushrods. Many enthusiasts and shade tree mechanics moaned at the new engine design because the long timing chain needed to run from the crank shaft at the bottom of the motor to the cam shafts at the top of the engine was prone to breakage and expensive to replace.
Modern Steering and Suspension
The most recent sophistication of American cars has been the improvement of steering and suspension. Taking cues from European manufacturers, many American made sports cars now boast world-class suspension and handling characteristics with thrilling, curve-gripping ability beyond belief.
by: Jon Miller
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