CAM BEARING ISSUES LIKELY TIED TO BURRS
We’ve found that almost all issues related to camshafts being too tight in the bearings are caused by burrs in the cam tunnel, which were caused by the original bearing installation at the factory. This is especially true with split cam bearings found in an LS or late model Hemi.
In our shop, before the block goes into the hot tank, we use a bore polishing flap wheel that’s smaller than the cam bore to very carefully just take the burrs off the big gouges. After that we use a dingle ball hone on a long extension and use honing oil to thoroughly deburr the cam tunnel bores. We started this process on LS Chevrolets, but have since been doing it on all blocks and haven’t had one go tight yet. This includes BB Chryslers!
As a side note, LS Chevrolets usually have a giant burr at the opening of the cam bearing oil hole. This can be removed with a scraper knife before running the dingle ball hone through. Once everything is nicely deburred, those pieces of fractured metal from the burr won’t go through your fresh bearings.
Jake Sampson
Sampson Racing Engines
Inver Grove Heights, MN
QUICK INSTALL TOOL
Yes, it’s great to have the proper tools to install a press-fit pick-up tube onto your new oil pump. However, there are times when you may be helping someone in their shop and you need to improvise a quick tool to get this job done. With two simple cuts with a metal saw, a piece of scrap steel pipe can be made into a driver to finish the job. If it wants to open up, just clamp it on with vise-grips.
Mike Segar
Segars Engine Building
Bloomington, MN
MAIN CAP COLLECTION
This is a tip to help with setting up the mandrels on the line honing machine. I have an assortment of single main caps labeled with paint marker for many different engines on the cart next to my line hone. If I have a block that I’ve installed caps on and line bored, I don’t need to remove one cap to centralize the mandrel, I can use the corresponding marked cap to do it and it saves time.
Bonus tip: On the backside of the “wing” of the line honing machine, I write what each mandrel is currently set up for using a dry erase marker. This way, no matter who was the last one to use the machine, I know what each mandrel is centralized to.
Ron Flood
Cedar Machine
North Branch, MN
INEXPENSIVE T-HANDLE BOLTS
For 7/16˝ holes, take a 7/16˝ rocker arm stud, weld a metal pin at 90-degrees on end and it becomes a T-Handle. Make two of them. This way you don’t need a wrench to take a lift chain off of an engine block. For 1/2˝ bolt holes you can do the same, but with a 1/2˝ rocker arm studs. The integral hex on the stud makes it safe and strong
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Kimberly Duncan
Reid’s Automotive, Inc.
Whitman, MA
MOUNTED HEADS
Mounting certain heads in a seat and guide machine can be difficult.
This is especially true if the heads are uneven or the head bolt holes aren’t at the same height. I have a few pieces that came with the machine, but they don’t solve all the problems. I have several different length bolts and nuts that I use as adjustable stands.
They fit inside the head bolt holes and can be adjusted by turning the nut. I ground all the marks off the top of the bolts so it would be smooth. I keep them in my tool box next to the machine for easy access.
Dan Matton
D and D Auto Machine
Bloomington, MN
YOUR SECRET MAY BE SOMEONE ELSE’S SOLUTION
Shop owners tell us all the time that things they read here in Shop Solutions help them do their jobs faster, easier and more profitably. They sometimes say they wish they could share an idea too.
It’s easy! Just send your best idea with photos or video to us at s[email protected] or [email protected]. Be sure to include your name and your shop name, address and phone number.
The teams at Engine Pro and at Engine Builder encourage you to share your ideas. Even if it seems obvious to you, you may have the answer to someone else’s biggest challenge.
