GEARING UP FOR ACCURACY 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 to...

22R SPEEDY SLEEVE TOOL 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 hold it to the...

FINE BALANCING 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 a hole...

TAPERED ROD PIN BORE MANDREL 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 looked...

MARK THE SPOT When grinding cranks I like to know where the thrust, radius or the crank cheek is. Once I clean up that side, a simple paper clamp marks that and is a good guide on how close that surface or radius is when sweeping for final size. It works for me. Randy...

GEN III VS. GEN IV CONNECTING RODS The early Gen-3 press-fit connecting rod was replaced by the Gen-4 free-floating piston pin with rod bushings. Some shops try to upgrade Gen-3 engines by substituting Gen-4 pistons, and keeping the earlier rods. You need to be aware...