BC

And I can't find one in the San Diego area. This is crazy. Have we gotten to the point where its no longer a good idea to keep ANYTHING like this on shelves? Everything has to be ordered?

I guess I will have to order one, but I just can't see why after calling 7 places I can't get someone to tell me where I can find a location that actually has real tools available. Weird.

I wanted to measure the mains on the block this weekend, but I will just have to find plastigauge and wait for the bore gauge to play with the rod bearings.

Oh well.

Mike Simard

It would be unusual to find a proper dial bore gage locally. MSC is a big supply house and probably where I've bought my Mitutoyo gages. Enco is another, the Harbor Freight of machine shop supply.
Why not take everything to a local automotive machine shop and have them measure it for you? They'll have better quality gages than you'll be willing to buy.

RyanPerrella

What does a Sunnen dial bore gauge cost? Are they in the $300 range?

I got into a phase of buying a bunch of engine assembly tools but thats one i skipped. I actually never needed it, but just borrow one.

I guess you can always buy one, use it then resell it for close to what you paid. (Good tools never seem to loose value)

Did those valve condoms get to you yet?

Ole

If in the future you may do another engine, buy a set , use-enco.com has every dial gauge you would need for an engine rebuild. Fast service, good selection of brands.

6.0-928S

Brendan, I have a Starrett. I could have sent it to you with the dowel. If you want to buy one how much do you want to spend?
Hammer

BC

I was only planning on spending about 300 or less. The ones on the web and on ebay are all kinds of brands, and are usually 2-6". Do I need more range than that (lower) for the rod journals? I think they are 2.2 or around there right?

Mike - The block is cleaned and prepped, and I would probably have to pay a place more than 300 for the time down here. Everyone has to "pay thier bills" around here, and things like this are not usually cheap or free. I have more engines to build, so this is an important tool for me to have.

Ryan - I got them - thanks so much - I never expected to get them this quickly.


Ole - I will check out enco.

Hammer - I didn't think that would be something you would want to be bothered about. I already got you to send me the dowel for free.
I got it by the way, and the check - I will send the tensioner.

6.0-928S

If you're trying to be precise, & it seems you usually are, I don't have much confidence in bore gauges in that price range. Ask Mike what he thinks, he may know of one for that price.

Hammer

BC

Damn. I ordered several sets of rod bearings directly, and will compare them to the glycos to see if the clearances are different. I have seen several different "types" of ID gauges.

Some were 200, but only had a range for, say, mains, and another for the rods, and another for the bores. I have plans for at least 3 engines in the next few years, so maybe I should pause and do some more thinking.... My S2000 engine is losing power like its in need of a rebuild, and I need to do a BBC for the truck so I can tow the race car that will need a motor. Its all piling up now.

6.0-928S

I build engines enough that I needed good measuring tools & decided to invest the money for good stuff years ago. Some of my mics are 30 years old & as good as new. Some of my friends bought cheaper stuff years ago & try to borrow mine because theirs have gone off calibration. Speed costs money....how fast do you want to go?

Hammer

BC

Am I being unrealistic in thinking this would work for my usage?

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...&PARTPG=INSRHI

Or better yet this one:

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...PARTPG=INLMK32

6.0-928S

No, you're not being unrealistic.

Hammer

BC

Check out the second one. Mike, or hammer, or Zeus, if you are there - what is your opinion on digital compared to analog? I like analog watches, but I like my digital micrometer from Mitutoyo.

6.0-928S

Personally I like analog. Good ones have jewelled movements & never wear out. Electronics can fail, (moisture, magnetism). I had an electronic one sitting in my toolbox for a long time next to a magnetic angle finder & it was never the same.

Hammer

BC

Well, then for interests of time and value/performance/budget, I think I will get the one that is on sale.

Mike Simard

[QUOTE=BrendanC;5083275]what is your opinion on digital compared to analog?

I don't have any digital measuring gages except for a high precision one in inspection.
In general dial gages are superior to digital. Not just in the shop. A dial gives you an immediate sense of change whereas your brain has to translate digital readings. I also like full sweep gages in the dash. In the driver's seat you can instantly tell a reading by the dial orientation without taking time to read a number and compare it inside your head to an ideal.
When measuring a bore in the shop you want to be able to move the gage about to sense variations. you just cant do that with a digital gage.