Machine Shop Terminology
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: So Cal
Car: 1989 IROC-Z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R-4
Machine Shop Terminology
Hey guys, I think it would be cool if somebody could make a list of all the machine shop procedures that they do on engines and write a definition for each. I think that would really help me and others! I've already done several searches and looked all over on the net but came up with nothing.
no idea where or how you looked for anything but i found more on thirdgen and google than i could ever read in a week.
edited, link not needed
edited, link not needed
Last edited by ede; Aug 26, 2003 at 05:01 AM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 543
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From: So Cal
Car: 1989 IROC-Z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R-4
No, I'm talking about a list of machine shop terms, like what they do to an engine when it get re-built. I just thought a list of all the different procedures would be helpful to a lot of people.
I'll take a stab at it.
Bore: enlarging the cylinder
Hone: using a semi-smooth stone to put a cross-hatch pattern on the cylinder wall, allowing the rings to seat better.
Deck: cutting the top edge of the block down (where the heads mount), giving you less cubic area and higher compression.
Align Bore: a long boring bar is run through the main bearing journal mounting area to ensure the crankshaft will spin straight.
Sleeve: used when a cylinder cannot be bored any larger. Basically a new cylinder wall is pushed into the block.
Hot Tank: dip tank used to clean the block of all gunk and goo. Usually eats the cam bearings, so make sure to replace them.
Polish: make a surface smooth. A smoother surface has less friction and resistance.
Normalize/Stress Relieve: to me, this means to remove any sharp corners. Sharp corners are weaker than more gradual, rounded ones.
Not sure about the rest, or even if the first ones are correct.
Induction Harden;
Mill;
Surface grind;
Flute;
Ream;
Lap;
Extrude Hone;
How many did I get right?
Hone: using a semi-smooth stone to put a cross-hatch pattern on the cylinder wall, allowing the rings to seat better.
Deck: cutting the top edge of the block down (where the heads mount), giving you less cubic area and higher compression.
Align Bore: a long boring bar is run through the main bearing journal mounting area to ensure the crankshaft will spin straight.
Sleeve: used when a cylinder cannot be bored any larger. Basically a new cylinder wall is pushed into the block.
Hot Tank: dip tank used to clean the block of all gunk and goo. Usually eats the cam bearings, so make sure to replace them.
Polish: make a surface smooth. A smoother surface has less friction and resistance.
Normalize/Stress Relieve: to me, this means to remove any sharp corners. Sharp corners are weaker than more gradual, rounded ones.
Not sure about the rest, or even if the first ones are correct.
Induction Harden;
Mill;
Surface grind;
Flute;
Ream;
Lap;
Extrude Hone;
How many did I get right?
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From: Warner Robins, Ga
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Mill is to cut the surface down. Used many times on heads to reduce the cc of the head. It's placed on a mill hence the name.
Extrude hone is when an abrasive is pushed through an item until the abrasive eats away at the inside. Bascially porting it, even what you can't reach with a die grinder and usually doing it very evenly. Also very expensive.
Extrude hone is when an abrasive is pushed through an item until the abrasive eats away at the inside. Bascially porting it, even what you can't reach with a die grinder and usually doing it very evenly. Also very expensive.
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Joined: Apr 2001
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From: USA
Car: yy wife, crazy.
Engine: 350, Vortecs, 650DP
Transmission: TH-350
Axle/Gears: 8.5", 3.42
Surface grind is just that...
Ream is to remove a ridge of, say, the top of a cylinder
I don't know what Flute means, other than "this one time, at band camp....." :sillylol:
Lap means to lap the valves. Even though they may have just done a valve job, they have to remove all the slight imperfections that may cause a leak. They do this by putting "lapping compound" on valve, then slowly turn it against the face of the seat.
Ream is to remove a ridge of, say, the top of a cylinder
I don't know what Flute means, other than "this one time, at band camp....." :sillylol:
Lap means to lap the valves. Even though they may have just done a valve job, they have to remove all the slight imperfections that may cause a leak. They do this by putting "lapping compound" on valve, then slowly turn it against the face of the seat.
Ed! It's a lot of work pushing that big, heavy mouse all the way over to that highlighted link, then having to push the mouse button, too? I mean - c'mon... 
By the way, I forgot
"Radius", "Chamfer", and "Fillet".

By the way, I forgot
"Radius", "Chamfer", and "Fillet".
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 543
Likes: 2
From: So Cal
Car: 1989 IROC-Z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R-4
Umm, I did look actually but I was finding automotive terms in general, not engine building procedures. Why don't YOU take the time to look over there. Thanks anyways guys.
Originally posted by Irocster
Umm, I did look actually but I was finding automotive terms in general, not engine building procedures. Why don't YOU take the time to look over there. Thanks anyways guys.
Umm, I did look actually but I was finding automotive terms in general, not engine building procedures. Why don't YOU take the time to look over there. Thanks anyways guys.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,991
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From: Cheyenne, Wyoming
Car: 1992 B4C 1LE
Engine: Proaction 412, Accel singleplane
Transmission: built 700R4 w/custom converter
Axle/Gears: stock w/later 4th gen torsen pos
Induction Harden; is the process of using a massive amount of current to harden an object, the heat generated will harden it also the current flow causes a grain structure to lineate or line up molecularly somewhat. The frequency used and time of cycle will decide the depth of the hardening process. it is regularly used on axles, input, and output shafts and can sometimes be combined with some chemical hardening processes. To a laymen like myself the process basically makes the item glow like a under powered light bulb element.
Normalize/Stress Relieve;
I have heard of a "Normalize/Stress Relieve" process called "metalax" but I am unfamilair with this proceedure. I am aware of a proceedure which uses crygenec cooling to lower the temperature of an item to the absolute lowest achievable molecule vibration (which is what temperature is) to allow a "settling" of the molecules into gaps and such the process is expensive but I guess it does wonders but sometimes can result in a change in critical dimension.
Normalize/Stress Relieve;
I have heard of a "Normalize/Stress Relieve" process called "metalax" but I am unfamilair with this proceedure. I am aware of a proceedure which uses crygenec cooling to lower the temperature of an item to the absolute lowest achievable molecule vibration (which is what temperature is) to allow a "settling" of the molecules into gaps and such the process is expensive but I guess it does wonders but sometimes can result in a change in critical dimension.
Last edited by B4Ctom1; Aug 27, 2003 at 10:49 AM.
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