Core Exchange Requirements

A cylinder core exchange is required for this item and must match the cylinder you wish to receive. Your core exchange must be received in good condition before the finished block can be shipped, it is the customers responsibility to remove and keep all plugs, dowel pins, screws, and/or fasteners before shipping us your old block. Your new 84mm block will be shipped to you immediately upon receiving and inspecting your cylinders for damages. Cores for exchange must meet the following conditions:

• No cast iron or steel liner (sleeve)
• No port-work whatsoever
• No broken or cracked skirts
• No detonation or head surface damage
• No over-sizes, must be OEM stock specs
• No pry marks or base surface damage

Quality

Millennium Technologies will provide you with the highest quality in the industry – period. “Quality First” is not a rule – it’s a way of life. They start with the best team and the best equipment – resulting in pride in their product. It is their determination in the constant pursuit of perfection that keeps them atop the competition.

Technical Superiority

Millennium Technologies remains on the cutting edge of cylinder technology. Since the first day they opened their doors, they have used their technical expertise to ensure that their Nickel Silicon Carbide coatings are harder, rounder and more wear resistant than any other you can buy. They are recommended and used by more Original Equipment Manufacturers than any other aftermarket plating company. Their engineering background combined with many years of experience has helped them master processes said to be impossible by their competitors. Millennium Technologies continues to welcome new challenges and development projects with confidence.

What is NSC?

Nickel Silicon Carbide composite is the technical name for the coating that is used, NSC for short. NSC is a composite of a special nickel and very small silicon carbide particles evenly dispersed throughout the coating. A good way to visualize the coating is to think of it as cement. The silicon carbide in NSC performs the function of the wear surface and is represented by the rocks. The nickel in NSC would represent the mortar that holds everything together.

Why is Silicon Carbide used?

Silicon carbide is used partly for its uniform particle size, and partly for its hardness. Silicon carbide is second only to diamonds in hardness and therefore provides excellent wear characteristics. The reason diamonds cannot be used is their high cost and the fact that there would be no way to hone it. NSC particle size is a Gaussian distribution of about 3 microns. This size is important so that the coating will not affect the internal components of the engine and too large of a particle will affect ring wear. Another major reason that silicon carbide is used is that it is oleophilic or it has a natural tendency to absorb oil, which in turn helps the oil retention of the coating.

Is all nickel plating the same?

No. The coating Millennium uses is made up of a special type of nickel that bonds the silicon carbide particles together as well as to the aluminum substructure. Corners will not be cut by using the generic nickel that some plating companies use. Millennium also strictly prohibits the use of any additives to artificially harden their coating. Use of generic nickel or these additives can result in poor adhesion or abnormal wear. Hardness of the nickel is very important. If too soft the coating will prematurely wear, and if too hard ring life and compatibility will be negatively affected.

Why do coatings peel, and is that normal?

Peeling coatings can be caused by many factors. When the coating is applied properly the nickel will bond stronger to the aluminum than the aluminum bonds to itself or about 25,000 psi. In other words, the coating has higher tensil strength than the aluminum does. Because of this bond, when seizure occurs and plating comes off, there is often aluminum that comes off with it. Coatings will most often peel as a result of substandard materials being used, or when a processing error occurs. Millennium has found that the trick to not having adhesion issues is to monitor the plating process very closely and to have good quality control checks. Unfortunately no one is able to catch all the problems, so occasionally one may make it into service. What they have done is to develop extensive and thorough procedures to eliminate all but the smallest percentage of problems. As with any industry, mistakes will happen. Separating the good companies from the bad is how they handle the problem and the steps they take to prevent it from occurring again.

Is the coating sprayed on, and how thick can it be put on?

No. The coating is an electroplated process that uses an electrical current to adhere the nickel and silicon carbide molecules to the aluminum. The process does involve dipping the entire part into the plating solution, and an electrical current must be present to start the plating process. Coating thickness varies with each cylinder and is determined by the amount of time it is in the tank as well as the amount of power used. The industry standard of plating thickness is between .003" to .005" with a useful limit of .040" thick. Applying the coating more than .040" is possible, however the coating becomes erratic if over this thickness. Another side effect is that the internal stress in the coating may cause it to crack when exceeding .040" thick.

How is it honed, and what do you use?

Due to the hardness of the coating and its silicon carbide content, diamonds must be used to hone the cylinder bore. Diamonds alone will not do the job correctly. Special honing tools and honing machines are also important. They have their own design of honing tools, ensuring that all their bores are straight and round within ± .00025". They are also capable of much tighter tolerances in necessary situations. Instead of horizontal hones, they use only vertical hones to ensure that the cylinder bore is square with the deck and that it receives a uniform crosshatch.

What is surface finish, and how does it affect my engine?

An important part of honing the coating is to provide a proper surface finish. If too rough, ring wear will be harsh, and if too smooth, the rings will not seat properly. Oil retention in the bore can also be negatively affected if the crosshatch is not the proper depth. Millennium uses a surface profilometer to check the roughness average (RA) and the depth (RPK, RVK, and RK ) of their honing patterns to ensure proper engine performance. With this equipment, it is possible to calculate the actual volume of the oil held on the surface.