Block Machining: Cobra Automotive can machine your block and work with you to maximize your engine combination. We are fully experienced with all categories of engines, from stock restorations to competitive racing engines. We offer a wide variety of machining options for blocks, heads, intakes, and internal engine parts. Advanced machining techniques can not only increase engine power through reduced frictional losses, but also add to component life as well. We specialize in balanced-and-blueprinted engines and all associated services.

Component Lightening: We offer machining on engine blocks and components, including the main caps. This provides weight savings while keeping material where it is needed for structural integrity, rigidity, and strength. Weight reduction of between 15-20 lbs. on a fully machined small block and main cap assembly is typical. We also offer specialty crankshaft machining, such as stroking / de-stroking, lightening, and ‘knife edging’ of counterweights for reduced drag and oil windage.

Cryo Treating: The cryo treatment process uses sub-zero temperatures down to -300º F to modify and promote a more uniform micro-structure of the material. Benefits include longer life due to reduced wear, less failures due to cracking of stress lines, and a reduced coefficient of friction on polished metals.

The following components are commonly cryo treated:

• Camshaft: Increases wear resistance of the cam lobes and reduces the tendency of camshaft breakage.
• Connecting Rods: As with all treated parts, increases fatigue life and equalizes hardness.
• Crankshaft: Reduces wear on journals and stabilizes the crankshaft to prevent distortion and breakage due to heat and vibration.
• Cylinder Head: Strengthens the head and reduces wear on valve seats and guides, and helps prevent warping of the head due to heat and vibration. Heads become more resistant to detonation.
• Engine Block: Reduces cylinder wear and distortion caused by vibration and heat, stabilizes the block, and equalizes material hardness. This makes better machined surfaces. Ideally, treatment should be done before final machining.
  
• Valve Springs: Greatly increases the spring life and reduces the loss of spring pressure. Racing customers report over seven times the life.
  
• Rocker Arms: Reduces breakage, flex, and wear.
  
• Ring and Pinion Gears: Reduces wear and tooth breakage, greatly increases life.
  
• Brake Rotors and Drums: Equalized hardness prevents distortion and wear, and helps prevent cracking.

Mag and Sonic Testing: Magnetic particle inspection is the most definitive method of detecting cracks and imperfections in any ferrous engine part. We can magnaflux your block, heads, crank and camshafts for cracks and flaws. If a crack or flaw is present, we can identify and repair it, or suggest replacement if necessary.

Pressure Testing: We can pressure test blocks and heads to double check for pin holes after magnafluxing has been completed. Cracks and defects not detected by magnafluxing are found at this time. The second process ensures integrity of the parts used in your engine. These testing procedures reduce costs related to breakage or failure by identifying sub-par components prior to performing expensive machining procedures.

High Tech Coatings: Special coatings provide added performance and protection and greatly extend service-life by reducing engine damage from heat and lubrication-related failures. That translates directly into cost savings. Another benefit from the use of coated parts is the performance gain from reduced friction and optimized heat management. Coatings can be used for heat dissipation or heat containment; examples of benefits are cooler intake temperatures, reduced oil temperatures, and reduced under hood temperature.

Oil-shedding coatings can be used on crankshafts, rods, blocks, windage trays and oil pans to aid the return of oil to the sump and reduce drag on the rotating assembly. Intake charge temperatures can be reduced to increase power by applying a black heat dissipating coating to the outside of an intake manifold and a white heat reflecting coating to the underside.

Friction-reducing coatings are used on “wear” surfaces such as crank and rod bearings, piston skirts, and oil pump internals. Other special coatings can be applied to piston crowns for more efficient combustion, and inside and outside of exhaust headers for better flow and heat management.