THE FREE NICKEL TOUR Often a new customer will stop by saying, "So-and-So at XYZ Garage told me to stop by and ask for the 'Free Nickel Tour'. I'm interested in having a high-performance engine built." I have found this too be far more productive marketing than...
PAIR OF GLASS PLIERS If you have trouble with flat-band spring-type hose clamps, try using a pair of glass pliers. The jaws are so wide that they hold any hose clamp very securely. They make it easy to compress the clamp for removal, installation, or repositioning....
T-TAPS I have some pipe taps with a T-handle welded on we keep in the cleaning department. It's easy to clean the rust or sealer from oil galleys and block drains. You cannot make the holes deeper with these, and they don't walk away with the T-handle on them. Randy...
COAT-IT HANGER If you coat head gaskets with copper coat spray, using a clothes hanger as a support is a convenient way to keep the spray off of your hands and to keep your gasket from sticking to another surface. Adam Cofer Don Ott Racing Engines York Springs, PA...
LOAD BLOCKS WITH EASE I have an older thermal cleaning system by Peterson. The shot blaster is designed more for cylinder heads than blocks as it is a side loading machine. To wrestle blocks into the machine was not reasonable so I came up with this simple solution to...
LS PISTON PIN SIZE Stock GM LS full floating connecting rods use a .943" pin and stock LS press rods use a .945" pin. Some aftermarket forged pistons designed to use a stock LS 6.098" length rods come with the .945" pin type. Pistons can be used as "Pressed" or...