SADDLE PROTECTION If you are shot blasting an engine block but want to protect the crankshaft housing bore surfaces, you can install some used upper main bearing shells in place, then secure them to the block with threaded rod or machine screws with a nut up in the...

WATER PUMP VALVE STAND I use some large water pump pulleys to hold valves while glass bead cleaning them. I rest the valve on the rim of the pulley, the overspray also cleans some of the other valves at the same time. This also saves wear and tear on the floor of the...

AGGRESSIVE SOCKETS The easiest way to remove a protruding pipe plug, like rear cam galley plugs, is to use a stud remover socket of the appropriate size. These have a very aggressive, tapered left handed threaded inside that really digs into the outside of the plug...

CLEANING KEEPERS When cleaning valve train parts it is so easy to lose the tiny keepers. We always keep any extra keepers we have in case of losing one, but there’s always that one head that you don’t have extra keepers for. We purchased a very inexpensive item on...

COVER YOUR GLASS To make the glass in our glass-beading machine last longer, we cover the inside with duct tape, leaving a small open port to view the work. When this gets cloudy, we remove another small piece of the tape. Our glass lasts much longer now before it...

LAP IT UP Allen head bolts get stripped out easily. If they are showing signs of wear, before trying to remove them fill the recess with lapping compound then install the proper allen bit. This will make it a little tighter and have better grab so it doesn’t strip as...