Most Co-Ax indicators have a 3/8" or 1/2" diameter stem. Instead of wasting time closing the lathe chuck to hold the indicator and then more time opening it back up to hold a larger diameter work piece, make a simple stepped adapter with a precision reamed hole to…
Tom Nichols Automotive Machine & Supply, Inc Joshua, TX
For machining custom valve seats, in addition to the expansion arbor, I have a simple aluminum spud and lock. I can quick machine it down for whatever seat I need. It started out as a 1-foot-long piece of round stock, and I just keep drilling and tapping as…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine North Branch, MN
To save time, we use a half inch cordless drill to power our stroke and counterweight adjustments on our crankshaft grinder machines. Adney Brown Performance Crankshaft Ferndale, MI DECEMBER, 2021
Adney Brown Performance Crankshaft Ferndale, MI
Keep your tape measure in the toolbox when doing set ups that you repeat time and time again. Make some gauge blocks or fixtures, whatever it takes to save time setting up your machines. Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Menahga, MN DECEMBER, 2021
Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Menahga, MN
One of the most useful tools I have acquired and recommend are my two 3D printers. It allows rapid part prototyping as well as the ability to quickly make a tool. In this case I had a cam bearing that my two other cam bearing tools just weren’t…
Joshua Hartmann Hartmann Racing and Development Gerald, MO
It’s common for shops to use DOM (Drawn Over Mandrel) tubing to make standoffs they need to torque plate hone different engines. For a while there was a materials shortage, but that didn't mean there wasn't some old .927’ wristpins over in the scrap steel barrel. Some…
Jace Hoemberg Specialty Engine Motley, MN
If you have one of these style sharpeners, we have found the rest and stop can be adjusted to sharpen your drill bits on the appropriate angle, for a sharp tip every time. Adam Cofer Don Ott Racing Engines York Springs, PA NOVEMBER, 2021
Adam Cofer Don Ott Racing Engines York Springs, PA
Occasionally, when clamping an odd-shaped part like a cylinder head or small engine block on our Bridgeport mill, the mill table's T-slots are not always spaced for convenient clamping. To make the job easier and faster, we machined a pair of steel T-slot "bridges". We tapped them to…
Tom Nichols Automotive Machine & Supply, Inc Joshua TX
Every couple of months I repair a transmission ear. The people install the transmissions out of alignment and attempt to pull them in using the mounting bolts. Part of my repair includes donating a couple simple alignment pins fabricated from bolts to ensure the gearbox goes in straight. Once…
Archie Frangoudis Archie’s Racing Service Nashua, NH
When I check deck height the caliper pads can be hard to hold in the correct spot. I use the appropriate parallel to rest the caliper on, making the measuring process much easier. Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Menahga, MN OCTOBER, 2021
Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Menahga, MN