RING INSTALL PLATFORM When I opened my shop, I used to struggle with holding pistons between my knees while installing rings. One day I noticed that on the common shop cart, most piston and rod assemblies would fit perfectly between the handle and the cart. It holds...
MODIFIED OIL RAILS When file fitting rings I also like to add a radius to the backside of the oil ring support rails, at the gap. I rough in the radius on the belt sander and then finish it on the debur wheel on my ring grinder. Without adding this radius to the...
PIN POINT PISTON MARKER I took these broken off valve stems and ground the tips to a point to mark valve centerlines on pistons for flycutting valve reliefs. Just install the head on the block and insert the stem in the guide point down and with the piston at TDC,...
PAPER CLAMP PIN CLIP Some piston pin clips can be a bear to install. If not supported right, the first one will push in too far or can be hard to seat. I lube and install the piston pin and then use the arm or wing of a paper clamp to keep the pin in place while I...
PISTON CLAMP Eliminating the movement of the parts when installing or removing Spirolox type retaining rings makes the job easier. This device, simply made, stabilizes the assembly and/or removal. Instead of clamping a connecting rod in a vise and trying to steady...
REDUCED RADIAL WALL BY DESIGN The use of steel in the upper compression ring has many advantages. Steel provides 35% more strength, weighs 30% less and increases the resistance to side wear, which is observed on the newer model engines. Another feature from the...