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CHECK BEFORE YOU CUT
When deciding how much to mill an intake manifold for “fit”, I use cardboard shims. Most gaskets are .060 compressed, and if the intake fits great with, say, a .020 shim, then a .040 removal is needed. At that point, I also check the ends for fit. Machine once, wash...
RING GAP TIPS
1) Always file only one end of the ring: this will allow for a quality inspection of the ring after use to identify witness marks of "ring butting" from insufficient ring end gap 2) Always use a gauge pin to check the ring end gap instead of a feeler gauge. This will...
MAKE NOTES
Time is money and it helps to know where your tooling cuts, especially when it’s some that isn’t used every day. I use note cards, the back of my business cards, or tape to write myself notes for the next time I grab that tooling. Randy Torvinen Torvinen’s Machine...
A NEW CAP
This is so simple, but effective. It’s very easy to end up wasting a large portion of a caulking gun tube or even a small tube of gasket maker by losing the cap. I use electrical wire nuts as caps. They come in a variety of sizes, and they screw on very securely. Tom...
PICK YOUR PLUG
This tip may be helpful for the DIY guy at home to easily remove the plastic barbell plug from an LS engine. Unscrew the oil galley plug at the driver’s rear of engine block. Insert a 90-degree pick tool inside the oil passage and pry rearward on the backside of the...
UNDER PRESSURE
On blocks and heads that have “suspect areas”, I have a “quick check” before I commit to bolting on the pressure test plates. I simply use my blow gun with a brake line attached, and blow air behind the questionable area, with some soap or bubble spray on the face...
