Need to make a piston stop... - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

sancho · 12-03-2002, 09:59 PM

...because I'm cheap and don't want to pay $14.00 for one at Jegs.

I just spent $30.00 on a timing wheel (*just* the wheel) and all I'm trying to do is mark TDC. I've heard that you can get TDC by just sticking something in the plug hole and "feeling" for when the piston is as high as it can go, but the piston-stop method seems like it would be more accurate.

I figure that I can "rig" a piston stop with an old spark plug, so really the only thing that I need to know is: roughly how far does the "stop" need to extend into the cylinder?

This is on an L98 engine.

PS -- If you can suggest a better way to rig a piston stop, I'd be interested to hear it...

8Mike9 · 12-03-2002, 10:38 PM

Is your name Sancho, or El Cheapo?

Just kidding...

Do you have a drill press? If so, chuck the spark plug in a vise, drill to some materials diameter, preferably a little undersized...maybe a hard poly piece or wood dowel you have??? and press the pice in....2.5 inches in length ought to do it.

AlkyIROC · 12-04-2002, 12:04 AM

The piston stop goes about 2" into the cylinder. When using it, you need to remove the rocker arms so that the valves don't hit the piston stop. A proper piston stop also has a hole through it so that the air inside the cylinder can come out when the piston comes up.