HONING TITANIUM RODS I recently used major aftermarket high strength bolts in some LS9 GM connecting rods and had to bring the rod bores back into spec. The titanium tears up stones and shoes in the rod hone. I used fine emory-cloth pieces with the abrasive side...
RELUCTOR WHEEL INSTALLATION Many late model engines, like the LS series GM V8’s, use a press fit reluctor wheel as a crankshaft trigger. When the need arises to swap the crankshaft reluctor, some companies sell a tool for approximately $200. Taking one off is as...
CONNECTING ROD PIN END - BORING In certain cases, we have to remove a good deal of stock from the pin end of the rod. Whether to fit oversize pins in a press-fit rod, to fit bushings that are .001-.002” oversize or bore out an undersized bushing to spec, this can be...
DOING THE LS CRANK STAND Since the new LS motors all have reluctor rings, my son and I figured out a relatively easy way to stabilize our cranks when we are installing the reluctor ring to the crank. We honed out a junk harmonic balancer to use as a stand for reluctor...
ADDRESSING CONNECTING ROD SMALL END ISSUES When dealing with piston pin ends of connecting rods, we have found a countersink to be a very useful tool. Attempting to guide a piston pin into a bushing with only .0001-.0005” clearance can be a frustrating task,...
TAPERED ROD PIN BUSHINGS Pin Bushings require about the same amount of interference fit as a piston pin. The same rod heater you use to fit pins can be useful with certain pin bushings. Tapered rods can be very difficult to remove and install bushings in and usually...