Plastic gauge?

[racprops]

Question: Can plastic gauge read correctly if used on a crank already oiled or with assembly lube??

I am wanting to confirm the work done by my machine shop but I do not want to tear it down and dry it off, just see if they did the clearances correctly.

I figure to check one or two main caps and the same of a couple of rod if they check good will trust the rest to be good.

Sadly I have come to feel less happy with their work.

Rich

 

[Grumpy]

yes theres almost ZERO difference in the result, or measurement,
(yes I personally tested this several times)
simply because the lubricant squeeze's out very easily , thus having nearly no effect,
BTW I generally spray the crank journal and bearing surfaces with WD40,
to prevent the plasti -gauge from sticking or stretching when removed

Clevite Engine Parts MPG-1 Clevite 77 Plastigage | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Clevite 77 Plastigage with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Plastigage at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

Precision measuring tools

I’m looking for the best quality precision tools on a limited budget (i.e. I don't want to pay $300 for one mic). I plan on building the occasional small- & big-block Chevy (more than one, less than 1000). Names that come up on the limited results I’ve found on the web include Starrett...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

bearings and oil flow​

Bearings and oil flow https://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/building-a-custom-wet-sump-oil-pan.65/ http://www.babcox.com/editorial/us/us90126.htm http://www.insightservices.net/testoil/ ... cation.htm http://www.thirskauto.net/BearingPics.html...
garage.grumpysperformance.com

yeah a 2lb dead blow hammer to gently whack or two on both sides and the bottom surface, on the blocks main caps after you've torqued them into place to verify they are firmly seated and a quick recheck on the torque settings is generally a good idea,
this is also a good idea when checking clearance's with plasti -gauge on main bearings)

plastigauge green - Google Search

and cutting a shallow , .006 thousands deep)oil groove in a thrust bearing vertical surface to add additional oil flow to the crank/bearing surface to help lube that surface as you depress the clutch with a jewelers file certainly aids increased durability

2 lb. Neon Orange Dead Blow Hammer

Amazing deals on this 2Lb Neon Orange Dead Blow Hammer at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

EZE-Lap Diamond Needle Files - Lee Valley Tools

Discover the Eze-Lap Diamond Needle Files. Buy this product now on our Lee Valley online store.

www.leevalley.com

lining up oil feed holes in bearings shells​

I just got an e-mail asking what to do if you find that the blocks oil feed passage holes don,t line up exactly right with the holes in the oil feed holes in bearings shells? http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/viscosity-centistoke.15612/ paint, marker etc. tends to...
garage.grumpysperformance.com

10pcs Plastigage Green Main Rod Bearing Clearance Gauge Indicator Tool .001-.003 | eBay

Item for sale: 10pcs Plastigage Green Main Rod Bearing Clearance Gauge Indicator Tool. 001-.003. 10 pieces of green. Other uses include marine drive shaft bearings, turbine housing bearings, pump and pressure system bearings, shaft end-float, flatness and clearance in pipe-flanges and cylinder...

www.ebay.com

Plastigauge Plastigage Green .001"-.003" Rod Main Bearing Clearance strips 6 | eBay

Make sure your bearing clearances are in spec.

www.ebay.com

A Few Basic Precision Tools

Hey GRUMPY, I need a few basic tools to measure bearing clearances and tools for installing a cam, etc, and suggestions? (and yeah, I'm not swimming in cash, so please take that into account!) keep in mind there's a long list of more expensive tools, like mills, lathes, various types of...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

bearing clearances

Understanding Today’s Bearing Clearance Recipe ■Tech Center by Engine Builder Staff - Feb 6, 2015 0 3928 Print Email What’s needed to keep the rotating assembly rotating? It’s a recipe that includes three key ingredients: the bearing, the crankshaft and the oil. But understanding the...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

855-3851880

VEVOR Micrometer Set 0-6" Machinist Tool Micrometer Set 0.0001" Accuracy 6 Pcs Precision Machinist Tool Set Micrometer, Laser-Etched Micrometer with Calibration Standards, Wrench | VEVOR US​

Discover VEVOR Micrometer Set 0-6" Machinist Tool Micrometer Set 0.0001" Accuracy 6 Pcs Precision Machinist Tool Set Micrometer, Laser-Etched Micrometer with Calibration Standards, Wrench, Professional Measurement Tools and Calibration Standards at lowest price, 2days delivery, 30days returns.

www.vevor.com


http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...guess-on-clearances-and-journal-surface.9955/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/bearing-clearances.2726/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...tion-of-crank-durring-short-blk-assembly.852/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/rotating-assembly-bearings.9527/

 

[racprops]

As always many thanks.

 

[Grumpy]

AS ALWAYS I'M GLAD TO HELP OUT!
I very well remember how hard it was when I was younger to get correct an strait answers to questions,
most machine shops I dealt with, were convinced that, from their point of view...
the LESS THE CUSTOMER KNEW...or could verify
THE BETTER OFF THEY WERE!
(and in most cases the low quality machine work,I saw done,
and not having the customers verify precise measurement's, bore that idea out)

 

[racprops]

So I believe I am looking for a reading of .00268 correct?? Hard to read that small a reading I am guessing some where between .002 and .003

 

[Grumpy]

yeah, anything .in the main bearing clearance range from .0025-.0028 is going to work reasonably well

bearing clearances

Rod bearings 0.002 - 0.025" , side clearance 0.010 - 0.020" Main bearings 0.002 - 0.003" for most engines ( 0.020-0.025 bearing clearance on small blocks, .025-.027 bearing clearance is about ideal, on...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

 

[racprops]

The Good news is: The plastic gauge show just a hair over .002

And the screw in studs on the heads I just picked up are NOT stock size but a 1/4 of an inch taller and thus they will be just right for my steel roller rockers with roller tips.

Plus the coater only charged me $200.00 instead of $250.00 so I saved about $100.00 in expected costs today, as I will not be buying studs either, so a good day.

Rich

 

[Grumpy]

it always feels good when things go a bit better and less expensively, it always feels good.....
but keep in mind the quality of the work done, maters more over time than the few dollars saved

,that's one reason I was forced to learn how to do a great many things myself and had to acquire
a number of skills and a good many expensive tools,
as I got very tired of paying good money for sloppy half assed machine work,
and once you know exactly how to measure and inspect machine work precision,
and you've dealt with several machine shops and machinists
and a you will get into your project details, when we/you get the time,
and become more accustomed too dealing with machine shops that think...
you might not know the difference in the quality of work being done,
we damn sure won't put the time and effort into precise machine work that might not be required,
and we will generally pay far more time and attention to components that requires in the vast majority of cases.

a dial caliper. a pad of paper, a magic marker, some fabrication skills ,
and owning a drill press and a decent welder or ideally a milling machine
can allow you to do amazing things in the correct hands,
especially when getting what you need is not available off the shelf
what you save initially, in lower price ,on any engine components
will more than likely be made up in the cost of required additional machining and time & effort added in required balancing/clearance work
you tend to get what you pay for, quality machine work and precision measurement and careful inspection processes take time and that costs money.
there is ALWAYS a compromise, made between quality and price
I learned that long ago,
“Quality is like buying oats: like:. If you want nice, clean, fresh oats, you must pay a fair price.
However, if you can be satisfied with oats that have already been through the horse ...
that comes a little cheaper.”

 

[racprops]

A last (I hope) question: I HAD a gapless second ring set, I thought it was a very good idea, to nearly stop all blowby.

The shop threw them away and put in a standard ring set.

So question is was those rings a good idea or a so so one or a waste of money and time??

Rich

 

[Grumpy]

in theory the gapless ring sets are superior,
but Ive personally had much more consistent and better results ,
with the standard moly rings when gapped correctly.
in fact on my 1985 corvette I used gapless rings on one rebuild and within about 7K miles I tore it down,
replacing the new gapless rings and found I got more consistent leak down test results,
as the gapless rings just never seated correctly in my opinion,
and yes I followed the TOTAL SEAL manufacturers installation instructions to the letter!

Another rings end gap question

Total Seal Max Seal Gapless Top Piston Ring Sets

Grumpy Do You have any recent up to date info on Total Seal Gapless Piston ring sets. I have used The TSS & TS1 in my other Pontiac 455's in past with good sucess. People either love them or hate them. I do love them. Never used Gapless Top. Gapless 2nd sets. Called Total Seal & talked to a Tech...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

how piston ring groove depth & clearance effects ring seal

the job of the rings is to provide a high pressure gas tight seal preventing pressure in the combustion chamber during the compression, exhaust and power strokes above the piston from leaking past the rings and piston, the combination of slight inertial loads friction and pressure above the...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

ring gapping and basic piston ring info YOULL NEED

YES YOU NEED TO READ THRU THE LINKS THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR...AND THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF USEFUL INFO IN THOSE LINKS, don,t get over whelmed, make a list and test adjust correct or replace each problem, and check it off the list then move to the next issue, its a finite list and theres...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

maximizing piston to bore ring seal

From the February, 2009 issue of Circle Track By Jeff Huneycutt Piston Ring Prep It can be a hassle filing... read full caption Piston Ring Prep It can be a hassle filing three sets of rings per cylinder, but when done correctly the results can mean more power and less fall-off before the...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

 

[FishFry]

I used Plastigauge before, but it always seems a little fishy to me.
Then I learned this from on old race mechanic:

I like to use a narrow strip of .0015" brass shim stock between the crankshaft and the rod or main cap instead of plastigauge, and adjust the shim pack until the crank can be turned a little with a moderate amount of effort.