Shop Solutions January 2015 - Engine Builder Magazine

Shop Solutions January 2015

When working with a ball-and-cup type pushrod from an application like a Ford or Chrysler product with adjustable shaft rockers, it is important to know the "effective" length when ordering custom length pushrods. In this case, the effective length is the length from the tip of the ball end to the bottom of the seat cup.

Ball Cup Effective Length

When working with a ball-and-cup type pushrod from an application like a Ford or Chrysler product with adjustable shaft rockers, it is important to know the “effective” length when ordering custom length pushrods.

In this case, the effective length is the length from the tip of the ball end to the bottom of the seat cup. This is not to be confused by the overall length, which some manufacturers use.

To determine the effective length use your standard adjustable pushrod length checker, the ball-ball style. Set your rocker arm adjusting screw to a mid-adjustment so you have some travel left in both directions. Now, using your length checker, adjust it out until you just come in contact with the ball of the adjusting screw.

This measure from the lifter cup to the tip of the adjusting screw ball is the effective length and the measure most pushrod manufacturers want when ordering custom length ball-cup pushrods. If the overall length were required, you would then add one-half of the diameter of the adjusting screw ball, or the radius of the ball. This plus the effective length will give you an overall length.

Conversely, if you know the overall length, you can get the effective length by subtracting the radius of the adjusting ball.

Darrin Anderson

Sterling Bearing Inc

Kansas City, MO

Guide to Tipping

I keep about 15 different valve guides next to my valve-refacer to use when “tipping” the valve stems.

By clamping the guide into the machine instead of the stem of the valve, I can easily insert the valve and use two fingers on the head of the valve for pressure while grinding the tip of the stem.

This makes grinding the tips for valve adjustment clearance much faster than clamping the stem each time. For efficiency keep a good selection from 5mm to 7/16” I.D. close to the stem size.

Randy Torvinen

Torvinen’s Machine

Menahga, MN

Evolution of Ring End Gap Theory

It’s easy to see or know when you don’t have enough ring end gap. Common signs include scuffed ring faces, damaged rings and cylinders and/or shiny areas on the butt ends of the rings. The ideal minimum ring end-gap would by found under the most extreme operating conditions.

Unfortunately, this would often be too late. The ring manufacturers published information, the engine manufacturers recommendations and your own personal experience are about all most engine builders have to go by to arrive at a desirable end-gap.

Current thinking suggests that the end-gap on the second ring should be larger than that of the top ring. Testing has shown that by providing a larger second ring end-gap top ring stability increases allowing for a better seal. This larger gap provides a path allowing inter-ring pressure to escape preventing top ring lift, which allows combustion pressure to get by.

In most cases the second ring’s primary function is oil control and the act of opening up the end-gap has no effect on the compression sealing of the ring pack.

On supercharged and turbocharged applications producing extremely high cylinder pressures where the second ring is used as a compression seal, opening the end-gap may not be beneficial. Again on most applications many builders have reported less blow-by and horsepower gains in the upper RPM ranges with a wider second ring gap.

Steel alloy rings have many advantages over ductile and cast iron rings. They conform better to the cylinder wall, are lighter weight, extend fatigue resistance, have better yield strength and have higher tensile strength. But a stronger ring is also more difficult to file fit.

Some ring manufacturers engineer the minimum end-gap for the bore size into the ring at the start. Allowing the possibility to run the rings at the minimum end-gap or at least less filing to get the ring to the desired gap.

General guidelines for checking end-gap include inserting one compression ring at a time into the cylinder bore about 1-inch down from the deck. Use a ring-squaring tool to get the ring square in the bore. Use a feeler gauge and adjust the gauge thickness until you have just a slight drag when inserted into the gap.

Remove the ring and use a proper ring file-gapping tool to get a square cut and increased end-gap. Deburr the edges of the cut with a fine stone.

Clean the ring before installing back into the bore. The abrasive dust and metal shaving can contaminate and damage an engine.

Engine Pro Technical Committee with thanks to Mahle Aftermarket Inc.

You May Also Like

Shop Solutions March 2024

I always keep a pair of needle nose pliers and a small, straight screwdriver in my blast cabinet to hold small parts when blasting.

Engine Builder and Engine Pro present Shop Solutions in each issue of Engine Builder Magazine and at enginebuildermag.com to provide machine shop owners and engine technicians the opportunity to share their knowledge to benefit the entire industry and their own shops. Those who submit Shop Solutions that are published are awarded a prepaid $100 Visa gift card. Submit your Shop Solution at [email protected]. You must include your name, shop name, shop address and shop telephone number. Submitted Shop Solutions not published will be kept on file and reevaluated for each month’s new entries.

Degreeing the Camshaft and Checking Valve-to-Piston Clearance

Jeff McCord of LinCo Diesel Performance walks you through degreeing a camshaft and checking valve-to-piston clearance.

Designing a Better LS Engine

After a customer wanted a Steve Morris Engines’ SMX in an LS version, Steve saw the upside and potential in the market, and a challenge to build a better LS.

The Importance of a Good Valve Job

The valve job ensures the mating surfaces of the valves and the seats properly control the air/fuel mixture.

Other Posts

Getting Better Cylinder Head Airflow

When it comes to improving horsepower and rpm, airflow has a lot to do with it, and it seems the job is one that’s never finished.

Horsepower and Head Gasket Technology

Head gaskets have one of the toughest job in an engine, and now we’re pushing them harder than ever, making it easier to expose the slightest weakness.

Inside the Development of Frankenstein’s F-Series LS Cylinder Heads

Right away, engine builders knew it was special.

Shop Solutions – January 2024

Before installing cam bearings, make sure to chamfer any oil holes and clean up back grooves of any sharp edges.