
About LN Engineering
Our Mission
LN Engineering seeks to provide innovative “no-compromise” solutions to the
automotive aftermarket to exceed OEM requirements. We strive to deliver the
highest level of precision performance for our products using improved material,
manufacturing, and finishing technologies, all backed up by industry leading
educational resources and support.
About Charles Navarro
Charles Navarro co-founded LN Engineering LLC while studying Computer Science
at Northwestern University in 2002 along with his wife, Tammy Hellings, also a
graduate of Northwestern with a degree in Chemical Engineering and MBA from
Olivet Nazarene University. LN Engineering formed a niche business, previously
non-existent for precision performance aftermarket engine components
specifically targeted toward addressing known issues and improving upon original
equipment engine components for Volkswagen and Porsche vehicles. LN Engineering
is best known for its trademark Nickies air-cooled cylinders.
Originally focused solely on research and development on legacy air-cooled
models LN Engineering continued to expand the business to include water-cooled
Boxster, Cayman, and 911 models beginning with the M96 and later M97 engines
utilized through 2008. Ever since then, providing products and solutions for
these newer water-cooled engines has become an area of intense focus and
development leading to the Nickies aluminum engine block sleeving process where
failed blocks could be repaired rather than be replaced, while allowing for
increased displacement as well as improved cooling and reliability.
Due in part to significant research in the field of lubricants, LN Engineering,
along with Jake Raby from Raby Engine Development (RED, also known as Aircooled
Technology and Flat 6 Innovations), were among the first in the automotive
industry to discover that changes in lubricant formulations with reduced ZDDP
levels. These changes were negatively affecting vintage engines and causing
cam/lifter failures, marking the end of backwards compatibility of engine oils
made for new vehicles. This discovery brought around the birth of specialty
lubricants designed for vintage as well as for performance engines, later
leading to a close working relationship with Lake Speed Jr. from Joe Gibbs
Driven Racing Oils and SPEEDiagnostix.
Most notably, the IMS Retrofit, IMS Solution, and procedure to replace the
troublesome intermediate shaft bearing was co-developed and patented by Charles
Navarro of LN Engineering and Jake Raby of RED, solving the well-documented and
publicized intermediate shaft ball-bearing failures the M96 engine is prone to
suffering. The IMS bearing problem was the subject of the Eisen class-action
lawsuit that brought heightened awareness to this problem and acceptance of the
procedure as a normal part of regular preventative maintenance.
Charles is also involved in several automotive related businesses including IMS
Solution LLC, RND Engines, HeaderShield, and Bilt Racing Service. Charles also
is a co-instructor at Raby Engine Development for their M96/M97 engine rebuild
“102” course and has previously conducted technical seminars on the importance
of lubrication, among other topics, at events like Porsche Club of America Tech
Tactics and Porsche Parade Tech Academy. Charles continues to focus on research
and development leading to solutions for past and current models.
To learn more about Charles and LN Engineering, check out Mark Greene's Cars
Yeah podcast and listen to Charles' podcast over at
CarsYeah.com.