On some crankshafts, the pilot bushing bore is undersize or irregular. Driving in a bushing with too much interference would lead to the I.D. of the pilot bushing being too small for the transmission input shaft. Simply mic the bore and adjust the bearing you are replacing it…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine North Branch, MN
You can make a GM-LS engine priming tool using just about any oil pump. I used a new big block Chevy M77 pump that I already had. I tapped the inlet and outlet to NPT threads and installed fittings to adapt to rubber hoses. The pressure side needs…
Dave Sarno SCH Racing Heads Arvada, CO
When balancing a crankshaft for heavier parts, often you must add metal in an existing hole. If the hole was drilled with a regular drill bit, versus a spade drill, the hole can be irregular and oversized. It can be time consuming to try to make a slug that…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine North Branch, MN
Sometimes when I first spin up a crank, the correction area is off the counterweight. Instead of grinding up by the rod throw, try adding weight to the opposite end if there are balance holes already. I taped in some flat disc plugs until the “spot” moved…
Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Shop Menahga, MN
Starting to see more and more cracked (powdered metal) connecting rods these days. After checking to make sure the size is correct, I use a plateau brush with a few drops of oil to clean up any rust or dirt. If you have a finished set…
Joshua Pridgen Parks Engine Service, Inc. Seguin, TX
When installing a shorter connecting rod than a crankshaft was meant for, it is sometimes necessary to clearance the counterweights. A quick reference we do is to use the shorter connecting rod as a guide to mark how much counterweight needs to be removed. First, with your piston…
Adam Cofer Don Ott Racing Engines York Springs, PA
When balancing an externally balanced crankshaft, the harmonic damper needs to be installed at the correct location against the timing gear to maintain proper balance. Sometimes you might get a balance job and the timing gear is not on the crank. We have saved a selection of…
Nick Jones Automotive Machine Fraser, MI
I always “phase” my bobweights. I start by screwing in a couple bolts into the crankshaft flange. It seems to be a good starting place and seems to place the first throw up. I level across the bolts then 0 my degree wheel. Then I level each Bobweight…
Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Menahga, MN
We shim many different components to get square or level before we machine. Don't forget the rod and cap when cutting for resizing. Shim to get the parting surface to cut as the factory did whether it's 90 degrees to the sides or not, and your rods will…
Randy Torvinen Torvinen’s Machine Menahga, MN
When attempting to remove a locating dowel pin from a connecting rod, screw in a tap with the same diameter as the dowel pin. Then use a punch or drift to hit against the tap from the other side. The tap will grip the dowel pin and…
Joshua Pridgen Parks Engine Service, Inc. Seguin, TX