Taper bore compressors are the only way to go - if the pistons loads up in the loader everything is right, if it won't load (pushing by hand) you have a ring problem. They are only about $30.00 and worth every penny.
Precision Measuring Tools
- Thread starter Opie Knievel
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Lilbowtie is spot on with the piston installer, but you need one for every size bore. If you were working .030 SBC's only, then great.
Ring compressor : http://mobiledistributorsupply.com/...xO70gSNpzNA4lkCrIlKZd1DyU_6B-agngRoC9BLw_wcB#
my review - works for everything from 2" to 5" bore - never had an issue using it, unlike others that I've bought and thrown out.
Magnetic base dial indicator : http://mobiledistributorsupply.com/...xO70gSNpzNA4lkCrIlKZd1DyU_6B-agngRoC9BLw_wcB#
my review - I've used to setup more than 15 rear ends, measured deck height, cam lift, valve recession, valve tip protrusion, measure crank and cam end play and more - works great. Accurate to .0005" which is close enough for what I do.
Micrometer : http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-digital-caliper-47257.html
my review - 5 yrs old and never changed the battery, accurate within .0005" still
Degree wheel : http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS-Performance-Products/JEGS-Precision-Cam-Degree-Wheel/937108/10002/-1
my review - me and all of my freinds have used this more than 30 times - very durable
Valve spring ht mic : https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pro-66902/overview/
works great
Valve spring compressor : https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...W94VCBQ4NwEFLI4gVu_HWfYV5ZYIQQhcTSBoCq2Dw_wcB
Broke down and bought one these - worked well twice, but I have numerous homemade ones out of 9/16" wrenches
If you couldn't tell, I can carry on for a bit. I have low budget valve seal installer, piston stop, compression gauge, vacuum gauge,etc. Along with a mess of homemade stuff.
Buy what you need as you need it. Summit and Jegs are great places to grab specialty tools from because of their return policy if it doesn't work and the volume of this stuff they have. I don't hesitate to buy Summit or Jegs brand tools because all of their tools are designed to do what you are doing.
Forgot to add that I'm diabolically opposed to buying Chinesium, but for the weekend warrior, these tools function and are reasonably priced. I could easlly have $2K invested in this stuff, but instead I have less than $300 of specialty tools and fix most anything on a motor or rear (not too many trans tools - lol.)
Ring compressor : http://mobiledistributorsupply.com/...xO70gSNpzNA4lkCrIlKZd1DyU_6B-agngRoC9BLw_wcB#
my review - works for everything from 2" to 5" bore - never had an issue using it, unlike others that I've bought and thrown out.
Magnetic base dial indicator : http://mobiledistributorsupply.com/...xO70gSNpzNA4lkCrIlKZd1DyU_6B-agngRoC9BLw_wcB#
my review - I've used to setup more than 15 rear ends, measured deck height, cam lift, valve recession, valve tip protrusion, measure crank and cam end play and more - works great. Accurate to .0005" which is close enough for what I do.
Micrometer : http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-digital-caliper-47257.html
my review - 5 yrs old and never changed the battery, accurate within .0005" still
Degree wheel : http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS-Performance-Products/JEGS-Precision-Cam-Degree-Wheel/937108/10002/-1
my review - me and all of my freinds have used this more than 30 times - very durable
Valve spring ht mic : https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pro-66902/overview/
works great
Valve spring compressor : https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...W94VCBQ4NwEFLI4gVu_HWfYV5ZYIQQhcTSBoCq2Dw_wcB
Broke down and bought one these - worked well twice, but I have numerous homemade ones out of 9/16" wrenches
If you couldn't tell, I can carry on for a bit. I have low budget valve seal installer, piston stop, compression gauge, vacuum gauge,etc. Along with a mess of homemade stuff.
Buy what you need as you need it. Summit and Jegs are great places to grab specialty tools from because of their return policy if it doesn't work and the volume of this stuff they have. I don't hesitate to buy Summit or Jegs brand tools because all of their tools are designed to do what you are doing.
Forgot to add that I'm diabolically opposed to buying Chinesium, but for the weekend warrior, these tools function and are reasonably priced. I could easlly have $2K invested in this stuff, but instead I have less than $300 of specialty tools and fix most anything on a motor or rear (not too many trans tools - lol.)
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I agree that with a tapered bore ring compressor you will need the specific bore size for anything you work on which can add to the cost when doing different bore sizes but typically you accumulate them over time with other builds but I feel the smooth transition pushing the piston into the bore more than justifies the cost over a universal one size fits all tool in my opinion.
When it comes to measuring tools Starrett or Mitutoyo are the two top as far as quality.
Fowler, brown and sharpe, are good too.
Cruise ebay for pre 80's vintage american or European stuff. The cheap harbor freight stuff is okay if you are measuring +- .005 but the repeatability is just not there. You want something that can measure a digit past what you need to. A rear end backlash (lets say .007 to .013) needs something to at least .0005. A decent tool will do that, harbor fraught wont.
The valve spring compressors and stuff are fine to be cheap since its a physical part. Measuring needs precision so the cheap stuff doesn't deliver there.
Fowler, brown and sharpe, are good too.
Cruise ebay for pre 80's vintage american or European stuff. The cheap harbor freight stuff is okay if you are measuring +- .005 but the repeatability is just not there. You want something that can measure a digit past what you need to. A rear end backlash (lets say .007 to .013) needs something to at least .0005. A decent tool will do that, harbor fraught wont.
The valve spring compressors and stuff are fine to be cheap since its a physical part. Measuring needs precision so the cheap stuff doesn't deliver there.
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