Building engines is one of those tasks that is made much easier with the right tools. If you plan to spend a lot of time assembling engines, it’s worth the money to invest in the right tools. But for the once-every-10-years engine builder, it doesn’t make sense to purchase a toolbox full of specialized tools that you’ll never use.
The benefit of specialized tools, especially measuring tools like micrometers, dial indicators and dial bore gauges, is that you have an ultra-accurate knowledge of the clearances built into your engine. From personal experience, the Hot Rod staff has plenty of horror stories about what happens when the clearances that are supposed to be machined into your engine aren’t what they’re supposed to be. The bottom line is that if you can’t justify the cost of all those trick precision tools, make friends with someone who will either measure your stuff for you or allow you to use the tools to measure the stuff yourself. It’s the only way to do it right. The accompanying photos illustrate the ultimate low-buck way, and they offer some ideas on the tools necessary to do it the right way.
If you’re interested in assembling a set of precision engine-measurement and assembly tools, we’ve also listed a few companies that offer these tools at a fair price. Make up a birthday/Christmas list to give to your family and friends that they can use for the next 20 years!
