Come to think of it, I did use a hone on my '74 Cutlass with an Olds 350 rocket motor back in the mid '80's. It worked out fine. I guess it depends on what you have on hand. My preference between the two if I had both on hand would be the ball hone.
Hone a lifter bore?
- Thread starter Bonnewagon
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It's a normal process for an aftermarket block with inserts for the lifters. All of them get hones and perhaps bored for custom lifters.
.002-.003" clearance is what you're after.
.002-.003" clearance is what you're after.
Well I spoke with him today. This was a leftover engine that sat on the shelf at S&K for like 20 years and he bought it. Within a year he managed to break the camshaft. I don't know why he sent it back and for what but I'm guessing he wanted it "checked" and whatever. I don't think it was apart so why the tight lifter bores? Maybe the cam breaking damaged a lifter and it's bore? I don't know and he is not forthcoming. So I explained all about the tight clearances and how to chamfer the edges but he has no concept of measuring with a bore gauge or a micrometer. He held up his new Flex Hone and said that was all he needed. 
So now the question becomes- once he over-hones it and creates an oil leak- what sizes are available in over-size lifters?
So now the question becomes- once he over-hones it and creates an oil leak- what sizes are available in over-size lifters?
Did you tell him they come digital nowadays so you don't have to do the math or count turns of the dial.he has no concept of measuring with a bore gauge or a micrometer. He held up his new Flex Hone and said that was all he needed.
Stay out of SK
Ever since Bill left that machine shop is sh*t.
They farm out most of there work to Ace because they are clueless.
Check out LAB Machine in Lindenhurst Lee and Rich there are excellent
Ever since Bill left that machine shop is sh*t.
They farm out most of there work to Ace because they are clueless.
Check out LAB Machine in Lindenhurst Lee and Rich there are excellent
I always tell him to use ACE. But on top of everything else his is a cheapola. Yet he owns a repair shop- go figure.
| LAB is a good shop. I am many states away but I am buddies with Lee. He sometimes sends me the secret ingredient for his margarita recipe, that is not available in Michigan. | ||||||
Every race engine block to get freshened would go in the parts cleaner and get hit with a ball hone in the lifter bores to put a crosshatch back in them. Nothing wrong with hitting it with a hone.
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