HEAD INSTALLATION STUDS Here's an easy way to put the head gasket and cylinder head on a engine. Simply cut off the heads of 2 head bolts to make some Guide Studs. Now screw them into the block and set the head gasket on. Then install the head and install some head...
SEEING BETTER IN THE MACHINE When machining, sometimes seeing where your tool is in relation to the part you are machining can be difficult at best. In the first photo it is difficult to tell exactly where the tool tip is. In the second photo you can see that I laid a...
VACUUM FOR CAST IRON DUST To help with the cast iron dust when boring, I've made a couple different collectors. Vacuum cleaners work, but are so noisy you can't hear the machine. This last one I built,with the large air filter is by far the best one. Made from an old...
KEEPING THE FLUIDS OUT If you’re honing a block without a torque plate for any reason, use clear packing tape and cover all the water holes in the deck. This will reduce the drain time and you’ll see much less "walk off" of your honing oil as well. Saves money and...
PISTON PIN POLISHING I found it easy to polish piston pins in the rod hone. I use a small mandrel to hold them. Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Menahga, MN October, 2019
MDS PLUG POPPER Some of the late model Gen 3 hemi engines have plastic plugs in place where the MDS solenoids locate in the valley. They need to come out for block cleaning. They can be stubborn or even break when trying to remove. There is a small oil port near the...