When tapping tapered pipe thread for oil or coolant passage plugs in blocks and cylinder heads, it is important not to tap too shallow nor too deep. A length of soft copper wire, twisted around the tap, works much better than tape or a Sharpie mark to…
Tom Nichols Automotive Machine & Supply Joshua, TX
When I restore an early Chevy V8 that used a cannister oil filter, I like to update for a late style spin-on filter. I machine up a ring 3.800” O.D. with a 3.075” I.D., .300” thick. I bore out the block to except it. I’ve…
Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Shop Menahga MN
If you work on any high-power adder or high rpm engines, chances are you will see some fretting on the bottoms of main caps and the backside of the upper rod bearing. Even when the tune is right you will still see minor signs of movement between the…
Nick Jones Automotive Machine Fraser, MI
When removing an oil filter on the dyno you can make a mess. Our solution was to cut the side out of a 1 qt oil container. This catches any of the runoff and you can place the filter in the container to move it out of the…
Adam Cofer Salina Engine Salina, KS
Many OE and even some aftermarket windage trays do not do a good job of draining the oil in the tray back to the sump of the pan fast enough. The two worst that come to my mind are BB Chrysler and FE Ford. The oil really…
Jake Sampson Sampson Racing Engines Inver Grove Heights, MN
I was looking at purchasing an oil reservoir tank type oil system primer but thought there might be another way. I had just rebuilt an early SB Ford and still had the old school aluminum oil pump. It was very easy to cut off the…
Mike Smelzer Bay Speed Center De Pere, WI
Inexpensive set screw sets are very handy to have around the shop. They work great as oil restrictors. They can also be used as oil galley plugs in small import and late model cylinder heads if you need to remove steel oil galley balls for…
Jake Sampson Sampson Race Engines Inver Grove Heights, MN
We had rebuilt a customer’s 5.3L GM engine but they were still complaining of low oil pressure at idle. We sent them a new oil pump, but it still was low, about 17lbs at idle. We learned that there was a second oil pressure relief…
Kenny Burns Harry’s Machine Works Dodge City, KS
With wintertime temperatures approaching, now is the time to ensure that your diesel engine coolant/antifreeze is up to the task and staying in its liquid form. Everyone has a hydrometer or refractometer, and they’re easy to use. The question now is,”What goes in there if you…
Engine Pro Technical Committee with special thanks to Reliance Power Parts
CK-4 Diesel Update Recently diesel engine oils changed from the decade old CJ-4 formulation to the new CK-4 formulation. While intended to be an upgrade, the new CK-4 formulation has been met with resistance and even an outright “do not use” warning from Ford Motor Co. -- The new CK-4…
Engine Pro Technical Committee with special thanks to Driven Racing Oils