Sometimes it’s easier to work on something if you can get it a little higher up in the air. I made a steel post with a tapered end to hold cylinder heads up high above the assembly bench. The single post allows me to swing the head around…
Steve Potz Steve’s Engine Shop Cocoa, FL
ISX Cummins DOHC heads are often return with an injector cam bearing seized to the camshaft. The cause is twofold: 1) When the technician removed the camshaft on the head exchange, they stood the camshaft on end. Since the camshafts are hollow, all of the oil…
Arvid Elbeck American Cylinder Head Oakland, CA
Measuring combustion chamber volume is an important step when trying to achieve a specific compression ratio in a custom engine build. CNC machining the chambers or even sinking the valve job will increase the chamber size by a couple of cc’s, so you really can’t be…
Ben Hoitink Hughes Engines Washington, IL
Diesel cylinder heads are heavy and can be dangerous to move around. I use a rocker arm shaft and bolts from a Detroit to make a handle for carrying Detroit heads around the shop. It helps keep my fingers in working condition and keeps the head…
Bruce Lizotte Lake Park Auto Machine Palm Beach, FL
Sometimes we get engines in the shop that have unexplained oil consumption. The rings, valve guides and seals all appear to be just fine. Valve guide replacement, spring cup modifications, heavy porting and machining rocker arm bosses are just some of operations that can cause oil to…
Dave Matton D and D Auto Machine Bloomington, MN
If you have to bleed down bucket style lifters you can make a easy to use tool from an old junk valve. Just cut the stem off leaving an inch or so above the face of the valve. Dress the end up in the grinder and you…
Dan Matton D and D Auto Machine Bloomington, MN
One of the most difficult heads to pressure test is the BMW DOHC 6 cylinder. It is nearly impossible to plug the water outlet on the side of the head, until now. A “T handle drain plug” from a boat is the perfect size, and easy to…
Scott Fisk Fisk Automotive Machine Shop Hanahan SC
Just about everybody uses either dead pilot or live pilot valve seat forming tools, and once in a while when cutting large diameter seats chatter will occur. We have found that an application of STP or LUCAS engine oil treatment on the pilot will act…
Timm Jurincie Tuf-Enuf Auto & Marine Performance Avondale, AZ
I manufactured a tool to collapse lifters including Toyota, Volvo and other bucket lifters. I made a frame for a bottle jack out of 1 1/2” and 2” square tube. I used some valve springs to raise the base when the pressure is released. I manufactured a slip…
Steve Potz Steve’s Engine Shop Cocoa, FL
When vacuum checking 4 valve per cylinder heads, its hard to tell if its both or just one valve that’s leaking. Use your vacuum tester and one of those long inexpensive BBQ or candlestick lighters. Hold the lighter close to the valves and the leaking vacuum…
Dan Matton D and D Auto Machine Bloomington, MN