Well, looks like I'm on my way to the swap meet at Englishtown's Raceway Park this Sunday. I'm hoping to dig up some engine rebuilding tools... in particular, a telescoping gauge set, and a set of outside micrometers.

Are there any other tools for engine rebuilding? I already have dial calipers, a one inch dial indicator, and a magnetic stand (for the dial indicator). What else am I missing, besides the common stuff (like engine cleaning brushes, sockets, etc..)?


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Ah- just thought of one- a machinists' straight edge. Any other engine building tools that I missed?

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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Well, my hopes got trashed. The swap meet was a ton of junk- unless you wanted rims, a hood, intake manifold, holley carb, valve covers, or headers. I barely saw any 82-92 F-body parts! If I was restoring a realllly old car, I would've had a blast- but even then, the parts I saw needed a lot of work.

I found none of the "special" rebuilding tools I hoped for.. the only mic's I saw were no-name guys, I didn't see any telescoping gauges or machinist's straight edges. I did see a few ring compressors, but I forgot to look up the diameter of our pistons. All I got was some tan arms, exercise, and a plastic "Pontiac Racing" license plate for the garage. At least I didn't spend any money. I wonder if it's because I showed up Sunday... maybe all the good stuff was sold on Friday.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Another tool you need for engine rebuilding is a GOOD torque wrench.
I know what you mean about swap meets though I usually go to Carlisle (when they have a meet) on Saturdays and always wonder what good deals I missed by not going a day sooner.

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Dale Earnhardt was a scholar of the race track that drove with the spirit of a warrior.

My Camaro: http://home.earthlink.net/~singleton052095

 

We have a few; we have two beam-type (ounce/inch and pound/foot) and one micrometer-type... what's the kind usually used for rebuilding? I think all three are Craftsman; is that good enough?


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Sounds like you have the torque wrenchs covered.

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Dale Earnhardt was a scholar of the race track that drove with the spirit of a warrior.

My Camaro: http://home.earthlink.net/~singleton052095

 

Cool! Thanks! What about that "torque-turn" method.. should that be used at all? The torque wrenches are old.. they might've fallen out of alignment... or should I just overtorque by 5 ft/lbs and call it even?


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

No I wouldn't do that. I would take them to a machinist or someone that can calibrate it for you.

 

We have a tool that looks like a double ended socket that you can put 2 torque wrenchs together to help reset the settings.