I like to check rod alignment before I install the pistons. I had SB and BB Chev piston pins centerless ground .0025” under some years ago. Since then I have chucked other sizes short and ground them in the crank grinder slightly under size. I believe it…
Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Menahga MN
I have a quick and easy way to check or measure the stroke of a crankshaft. I put the crank on some V-blocks on the vertical mill table. I chuck up a BB Chev fuel pump pushrod or any similar round stock in a drill chuck. Position…
Nick Jones Automotive Machine Fraser MI
When cutting the parting faces on rods and caps for resizing, make sure the bearing locating tang is facing the same way for both on the cap grinder. This way, if the parting surface is not perfectly 90° from the side, cutting the cap…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine North Branch, MN
Crankshaft end play is important to check in all engine builds. You want to make sure there is no pressure or binding at the flange of the thrust bearing. On these John Deere applications the end play needs to be checked once the engine is installed, as well as during…
Engine Pro Tech Committee with special thanks to Reliance Power Parts
A quick way to center up crankshaft bobweights is to use a piece of round aluminum rod, machined to 1/2 the difference of the widths of the weight and the journal. Use it to space one side up and snug the bobweight. That centers it right up…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine Service North Branch, MN
When I mount pistons onto press fit rods I set my mounting fixture so I get them perfectly centered. But setting the mounting fixture on tapered pin boss pistons is harder to get right. I took an old rod and honed the small end until the press pin…
Dave Matton D and D Machine Bloomington, MN
As part of my crank balancing tools, I have an assortment of lower timing gears that I use when balancing a crank that requires the balancer to be installed. Some are slip fit, others I hone to slip fit for ease of removal. This allows me…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine Service North Branch, MN
Installing a speedy sleeve on a 22R Toyota crank can be difficult because of the flywheel pilot flange sticking out of the back of the crank. I used a piece of tool steel, drilled a hole in it then installed a spring and a pin to…
Nick Redenbaugh Sierra Auto Modesto, CA
When you are balancing a crankshaft and you need to add a small about of metal in a spot where there is no hole, I use what I call “pixie dust”. Pixie dust is tungsten shavings that I’ve saved from machining slugs to size in the past. Drill…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine North Branch, MN
Our aftermarket pistons for a LS7 Chevrolet came with SBC .927” pins. The standard LS7 pin is .925”. There is meat in the bushing to hone, but the problem is the shape of the small end of the rod and bushing. They are tapered. It…
Mike Schmelzer Bay Speed Center De Pere, WI