STOP FRETTING If you work on any high-power adder or high rpm engines, chances are you will see some fretting on the bottoms of main caps and the backside of the upper rod bearing. Even when the tune is right you will still see minor signs of movement between the...
GOOD TO BE FOILED Keep a roll of kitchen aluminum foil handy in the shop. It is useful for many things including shimming chuck jaws, wrapping parts to keep shavings out, protecting parts from weld splatter, covering mill or lathe ways when machining abrasive cast...
CRANK TURNING SOCKET I took a BB Chev crank socket and drilled and taped (3) ¼”-20 holes for set screws, 120 degrees apart. You can now use it on Mopar, Pontiac or just about any crankshaft with a 3/16” keyway. Paul Pionessa Pionessa Automotive Lancaster NY February,...
HIT YOUR MARK Here is a trick I use when I am boring for sleeves, line boring mains or any other type of boring where I absolutely must to hit my size and tolerance is tight. Prior to removing the tool on your 2nd to last cut, set up a mag base and a tenth indicator....
HIGH ZINC OIL FOR MORE THAN JUST CAMSHAFTS With more engine builds moving away from flat tappet cams to avoid the “oil & zinc” issue, another engine component frequently gets overlooked, the piston ring. While we all know flat tappet cams need to be broken in, piston...
SAVE THAT SPECIAL PISTON When I really need to save a piston that does not have a good way to press it off without wrecking the sides, I mill a slot along the exposed lower side of the pin bore and it will release the pin fit. Then you can just tap the pin out. Randy...