by Donnie Hurt | Feb 1, 2023 | CYLINDER HEADS
REPURPOSED STUD PULLER Back in the day, we did camel hump SBC heads by the dozens, and we really used our hydraulic stud puller. We recently did a 1944 flathead Jeep engine. There is no clearance to drive the guide out easily. So, we took a short length of grade 8...
by Donnie Hurt | Feb 1, 2023 | OTHER SHOP WORK
DOUBLE YOUR STRENGTH Lifting heavy objects is an everyday occurrence in machine shops. To prevent injury, it’s a good idea to install small, inexpensive wire cable hoists over equipment that can hold castings in place while mounting to machinery. Small hoists that...
by Donnie Hurt | Feb 1, 2023 | CRANKSHAFTS & CONNECTING RODS
EXTERNAL BALANCING ACT When balancing a crankshaft that has a flexplate or flywheel, make sure it fits snugly and there is no lateral movement. Any play can cause the balance not to repeat when the flex/flywheel has been removed and installed. I like to center them up...
by Donnie Hurt | Jan 1, 2023 | CRANKSHAFTS & CONNECTING RODS
GO OVERSIZE FOR EASE Next time you have set of large journal small block Chevy connecting rods to resize, consider honing the big ends of them for a +.002″ outside diameter bearing that the LS engines with fracture cap rods use. You will save yourself a lot of...
by Donnie Hurt | Jan 1, 2023 | CRANKSHAFTS & CONNECTING RODS
DENT PROTECTION When I straighten a crankshaft that just needs to be polished, I protect the journal surface from the chisel bouncing. Make a pad with a 7 or 8 layers of masking tape and stick it on the journal where you are peening. It protects the journal from the...
