I had to shorten some axle studs for my Hot Rod. They were hex head and could be gripped in the back of the chuck jaws along with a couple nuts and that kept the stud in place. I set the last nut to the point of the amount to be removed and machined up to that. Randy...
I use magnetic hooks around the shop to organize and hang small items. They do work great in the hone cabinet, and I don’t need to wash the gaskets every time. A pack of 20 hooks cost around $10. Randy Torvinen Torvinen’s Machine Menahga, MN
Typically, most places that grind crankshafts store them on end before and after grinding, but that gets to be difficult when they have pins in the flange. We found that an anti-fatigue mat with holes in it works perfectly to keep them upright. Adney Brown Performance...
If you’re taking an engine apart and are unsure of the cubic inch or the crank stroke, here is a quick way to figure it out. Simply rotate the engine until one piston is at BDC. Take a measurement from the deck of your block down to the deck of the piston. You can use...
When valve train clearances are going to be tight, I like to double check my measurements and bench calculations by actually testing the components after they're assembled. I put the valves and springs in this head, then used my quill on the seat & guide machine to...
When checking and correcting rod straightness, I use two bars against each other in the rod vice. Since the vice isn’t mounted to the cabinet strong enough for most correction work, this allows you to use it. I feel the two bars gives me a better feel for how much I’m...