When square decking blocks I simply take a measurement from each corner of the deck down to the parallel support bar. Choose the lowest side and deck it first. Then roll the block over and equal that side. Bruce Serene Hillsboro Racing Engines Hillsboro, KS September, 2022
Bruce Serene Hillsboro Racing Engines Hillsboro, KS
Attach a yard stick or length of an old measuring tape to the front of shelves where there's often a need to check the approximate size or length of inventory items to increases shop efficiency. It saves a lot of time and steps going back to…
Tom Nichols Automotive Machine & Supply, Inc Joshua, TX
3rd Gen Hemi MDS plugs can be tricky to remove. Even more so to get them out without breaking them! Here's a simple trick. Spray some penetrating oil around all the plugs, then apply compressed air with a rubber tipped air blower to the MDS drain port located…
Jake Sampson Sampson Racing Engines Inver Grove Heights, MN
Everyone misses occasionally, and this helps avoid dents and damage. When I need to adjust the guides to the correct depth after getting close with the air hammer it's good to protect the head. Everyone misses sooner or later, and this simple board will save…
Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Menahga, MN
I found myself without a welder to use to remove a check ball staked into the end of an oil passage of a crankshaft. So, I applied a different technique to remove it to clean the crank. I clamped some piece of steel together to form some…
Steve Morton R & R Machine Company Warwick, RI
The goal when servicing diesel connecting rods is to ensure the full set of rods are straight, on size and of the correct length. They should be machined back to the original OEM specification. Honeable bushings are acceptable if no other connecting rod big end machining…
Engine Pro Technical Committee with special thanks to MaxiForce Diesel Engine Parts
When resurfacing aluminum heads where the seat insert is contacted, sometimes the tool bit can leave tracking or drag marks across the deck surface in that area. To avoid this, you may be able to simply chamfer the seat slightly before the finish cut, so the tool bit…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine North Branch, MN
I made a valve tool to measure valve tip height as shown in the picture. I use it before cutting and write it down and check it after valve job. It is also very handy when setting new valve seats. It is easy to make. Take…
Joris Decker Deckers Motorenrevisie Belgium, Europe
It's tough to end gap rings in a canted deck engine such as a 409 Chevy. Turn a scrap piece of cylinder sleeve to about .003’ smaller than the bore. Make sure it’s long enough. Use that and it will allow you to push the…
Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Menahga, MN
When setting up a block for surfacing, depending on the machine used, it may not be possible to use the dial indicator that's attached to the head of the surfacer (if there even is one). Creating a bar shaped like an L as pictured and mounting a cheap…
Alexander Riggers C&P Machine Fort Wayne, IN