Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-15
MAKING ENGINE
OF MOTOR CAR
!. C. Mason, Designer of
Chevrolet Tells of Care and
Quality Necessary

The automobile engine. with its
resent-day refinements, has made
ossible the efficient automobile of
b-day.
The engine of an automobile is its
ost important UNFIT is the life
the mechanism. 1t is the breath
bg, energizing instrument that pro-
des power to move the rear wheels.
Without a dependable power. plant
be remaining part of the chassis,
lough it might be perfectly at
med, would go for naught.
How many motorists, as they spin
olg in an automobile. listening to
he quiet, even purr of the engine,
yer give a thought to the brains,
he labor and the material required
produce q power-unit that will
We uniformly satisfactory service? ?
1t is a task-a task of accuracy in
gery direction. There must be
lreness everywhere. knowledge
detail must be positive at all
mes. Nothing is done haphazardly.
ach step of the progress must be
h positive ground. The design of
he engine; the selection of the
lateral; tile analysis of that ma
rial after it is received; the ma
Inning of that material after it is
aced in the different departments;
e assembling of the different units;
he various tests; the finishing
lch step is vital to the finished
roduct. Each detail in construction
of the utmost importance in it
If. For the quality and the eff
ency of the engine will depend on
accuracy and the faithfulness
ith which each detail is followed.
To illustrate the need for COM
etc harmony in constructions: An
lgine would be of little value If
Q cylinder walls were not as
nooth as they should be; or if a
ston was not of the correct
ameter; or if there was COM
Eession leak; or If the cams were
bt in true position; or if the piston
ms were loose; or for any other
asons that might be mentioned.
An engine must be true. Each
ciprocating part must be true to
ch other, and the unit must be so
instructed as to stand almost con-
hnt wear. Think of the number of
volutions made by an engine in a
n, say, of a hundred miles. Sup
|se you are in -Four Ninety" and
e car is going at the rate of
enty-five miles an hour. In the
hndred miles the engine will have
rned over about 244,000 times.
lagine the consistency, strength
d durability of metal required to
thstand tests like this day in and
V out.
There are more parts required in
ilding a quality engine than any
her unit in an automobile. There
$50 parts in a Chevrolet -Four
nety" engine, and there is reason
each part or it wouldn't be
ere.
Among these hundreds of parts
five kinds of steel-nickel,
lrome-Vanadium, carbon. sheet
i spring. In addition, bronze, brass
pper, malleable and gray iron are
ed. Each selection is the best
the purpose intended.
In order that the layman may
We a proper conception of the
,rk involved in building q salts
ctory engine, there will be cited
more important steps and oper-
ons in building high-duty power
hnt.
The careful designer and builder
yer loses sight of the most i'm
rtant thought in connection with
is work, and that is, elimination of
ction. This is the greatest fault
at must be overcome. In the
eeting of two pieces of metal, fric-
IN is inevitable, and the life and
rvice of an engine depends on how
oroughly the engineer does his
brk and the precautions that he
hploys to do away with this one
Ill. 1t is all-important and over
adows anything else.
There are a number of equally
portant parts which must be exact
to measurements, weight and ma