On many engines with timing covers that are located by dowel pins, there can me misalignment problems that may result in a leak. To eliminate this is, I drill the dowel pin locator holes in the cover one or two sizes oversize. Then I set it up in…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine North Branch, MN
When boring and honing engines with sleeves that have only a light press fit, we have found that the torque from the honing operation may cause the sleeve to slip in the engine case. We use 4 old 4-sided carbide inserts and some clamp bolts and nuts from…
Jerry McLain McLain's Automotive Machine Shop Cuba, MO
A simple way to chuck pistons into the lathe is to make a draw rod assembly that goes through the head stock of the lathe. I made a bushing to locate it and give the draw nut a place to seat. Sometimes you may have to make a…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine North Branch, MN
To improve the appearance when balancing connecting rods or other metal objects adding a “soft spot” to one end of your belt sander can help. Machining the end of the platen down about 1/8” will give you a “soft spot”. Finish sanding the part in the…
Lyle Haley The Shop Doc Andover, MN
After being disappointed with a cap splitter, I found the best way to remove tight caps. Clamp the cap in a rod vise and put a rubber coated hammer handle inside rod. Put pressure on the rod by prying against the vise. Then smack the rod…
Scott Ouellette Powerplay Machine Wilmington, MA
We do a lot of crankshaft snout rebuilding. To make the process easier we keep some homespun mandrels that screw into the snout of the crankshaft so it is held secure for welding and machining. Also, by using a copper washer between the mandrel and snout keeps…
Adney Brown Performance Crankshaft Inc Ferndale MI
I made an eccentric for the front of an Audi block to set up the block true fixture. It uses the original slot as there is a bolt hole directly behind it. Several variations could be made with a smaller diameter eccentric and a slot in…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine North Branch, MN
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. This phrase is a popular witticism in American English and it’s also a popular Billy Ocean song. In today’s context it refers to the state of our business and specifically, how to stay productive and profitable in these…
Steve Rich Sterling Bearing Inc N Kansas City, MO
Cheat the Tool Bit that is with a sliver of paper to change the angle slightly. Post-its or any thin paper seems to work well. I like to run my valve and seat angles the same. Tool Bits and Holders can vary and this helps with…
Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Menahga, MN
On some blocks that you may not have Main Bar Rings for there is often one that is very close to one you do have. I simply make precision spacers from shim stock and run them through slip roll to make them round. For example, the 400…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine North Branch, MN