CALIPER STAND When I check deck height the caliper pads can be hard to hold in the correct spot. I use the appropriate parallel to rest the caliper on, making the measuring process much easier. Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Menahga, MN OCTOBER, 2021
CHAMFER REMOVAL Shallow head fasteners like flywheel bolts can be a challenge to remove without rounding the head off. I place a socket in my metal lathe and face it flat to eliminate the chamfer. I get full contact with the fastener and fewer stripped heads. Dave...
THE GROOVY SPOT When I cut the oil groove in lifter bores, I put ink on the top of the cutting tool with a metal marker. It makes it easier to see which side the carbide cutter is on to be sure to cut the grooves on the passenger side of the lifter bores. Then I touch...
SET-UP STEMS When checking in heads, it's nice to just use “Set-up Stems” instead of having a box of miscellaneous valves for testing. They can at least tell you if the valve guides are useable or worn. I have the common sizes, the ones I use a lot and plan to add...
PLUG AND FITTING HOLDERS We keep NPT unions by the lathe for drilling pipe plugs for restrictors. We can screw the fitting in, chuck it up and use the lathe to drill the fitting. We use a split nut on conventional thread fittings. Adam Cofer Don Ott Racing Engines...
FIRE WIRE When I install wire O-rings, I use a mini handheld belt sander to do the first 45° scarf cut. Then, I walk the ring wire around, partially depth-set in place, leaving about 5/8” of a tail. Next, I mark the mating end with a felt tip marker. This gives you a...