MAGNETIC SEAL When installing valve stem seals on OHC cylinder heads, I use a small pencil magnet on the top side of many valve seals to locate them over the valve stem. There is enough magnetic material on the seal from the tension band that the magnet holds the seal...
PISTON FIXTURE A simple way to chuck pistons into the lathe is to make a draw rod assembly that goes through the head stock of the lathe. I made a bushing to locate it and give the draw nut a place to seat. Sometimes you may have to make a ring adapter for the...
NUMBER YOUR LIFTERS When installing flat tappet lifters, we number the lifters to their corresponding cylinders. This can be useful in the event that the engine is ever disassembled. This helps to keep the lifters from getting out of order and to ensure they are put...
SAVING YOUR STONES On the Sunnen CK type honing head, the stones are a one shot install. We all have that box of good single stones though, and various ways to reuse them. I take a single strand of copper wire and lay it in the “teeth” of the stone holder and then...
OHC LIFTER PULLER When I disassemble an Ecotec head I always have trouble getting the lifters out. There is not enough room for my small fingers to grab on and sometimes they are stuck with varnish. I use ¼” fuel hose, about a 6” length, to slip over the tip of the...
WELDING ROD WEIGHTS AND MEASURES First, find the length of your welding rod that is equal to one gram. On my welding bench I stamped the numbers 1 through 5 for that distance to give me a visual reference of the weight of the welding rod. As shown in the picture if I...