Machine shop staff tend to forget their capabilities. They get into a groove that works and then resist change. This not only precludes improvement, but fails to address problems with new solutions that actually work.
Case in point: Leaking rear main seals on vintage engines with rope seals. The Stovebolt Chevys (inline sixes – 235 and 261 cube engines) are a good example. I have been working on a series of articles for these engines, addressing possible solutions and improvements, and found one seal solution that is pretty slick. Not only that, but it illustrates the point of thinking about old problems with new technology and quality machine shop engineering.
Let’s say your customer can’t stand the thought of an oil spot on the garage floor and wants a DRY Stovebolt.