When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I recently noticed that, after having my block bored, there are scratches on the bearing saddles of my number one and five main caps (which would have been used to fixture the block to have it bored)
There are also some slight scratches on the block at the rearmost main saddle.
The machine shop says this is nothing to worry about, and that they can just be sanded down. However, these scratches on the main caps are directly in line with the cylinders. In other words, they are the spots that will receive the blunt of the blow when the cylinders fire. This is probably not the best place to have a low spot (ie a void) under your mains. Should I take my block to a different shop and have it align bored to correct this (which would also allow me to run ARP main studs!)?
I would lightly wet sand those with fine emery or 600 wet dry using WD40 or similar snd see what you think.
If not happy, a very light line hone would not hurt.
I’ve noted that shops are not careful enough with alum blocks. It’s very easy to scratch the machined surfaces.
I can't agree more about the mishandling of aluminum blocks, or heads! I cut my teeth on Japanese motorcycle engines, which were all aluminum, except crankshafts, rods, cams, etc. So we had to handle things a bit more carefully. Too many guys have been around nothing but iron everything, which is much harder and doesn't scratch nearly as easily. It still makes me cringe when I see someone slide an aluminum head across a steel workbench!!! But I've seen it happen more often than it should!
On this same block, the deck plate mating surface is rather banged up from the shop replacing the cam bearings. You would think it wouldn’t be THAT hard to lay down something like a towel or piece of cardboard to prevent this sort of thing from happening. I can understand you or me making a rookie mistake like this from not knowing any better. But come on! These guys have done enough of this stuff that they should know better. Let’s just say that all of this encouraged me to buy a cam bearing tool. It was totally worth it to buy one if it means my block will be beaten up THAT much less.
On this same block, the deck plate mating surface is rather banged up from the shop replacing the cam bearings. You would think it wouldn’t be THAT hard to lay down something like a towel or piece of cardboard to prevent this sort of thing from happening. I can understand you or me making a rookie mistake like this from not knowing any better. But come on! These guys have done enough of this stuff that they should know better. Let’s just say that all of this encouraged me to buy a cam bearing tool. It was totally worth it to buy one if it means my block will be beaten up THAT much less.
Do they know better? Sure they do. Do they care?
Most machine shop guys get payed by what the book says the job pays. If the cam bearings pay the guy, say $30 for labor, and it takes him 10 minutes…if the bore and hone pays the guy, say $80, and it takes him 3 hours…
The faster he woks, the more he makes. This is why you try to find quality shops, not cheaper shops. I’d gladly pay $300-$500 more at a quality shop that always turns out nice stuff, than having my stuff beat to crap and half way right. It’s always worth it in the end. There are still quality shops out there, ran by the original owners that still care and are very reasonably priced, but it’s hard to find. If the shop tells you that they are 3-5 months behind…there’s a very good reason that they are, and it’s likely because they do fantastic work at a fair price.
Do they know better? Sure they do. Do they care?
Most machine shop guys get payed by what the book says the job pays. If the cam bearings pay the guy, say $30 for labor, and it takes him 10 minutes…if the bore and hone pays the guy, say $80, and it takes him 3 hours…
The faster he woks, the more he makes. This is why you try to find quality shops, not cheaper shops. I’d gladly pay $300-$500 more at a quality shop that always turns out nice stuff, than having my stuff beat to crap and half way right. It’s always worth it in the end. There are still quality shops out there, ran by the original owners that still care and are very reasonably priced, but it’s hard to find. If the shop tells you that they are 3-5 months behind…there’s a very good reason that they are, and it’s likely because they do fantastic work at a fair price.
ABSOLUTE TRUTH, and couldn't be said any better by anyone!! The old saying "Cheap work isn't good, and good work isn't cheap", is absolutely true.......
ABSOLUTE TRUTH, and couldn't be said any better by anyone!! The old saying "Cheap work isn't good, and good work isn't cheap", is absolutely true.......
The problem with going by price is that expensive work isn’t necessarily good work.
All that makes me cringe,, If I pay for a Al block and head to be machined I expect it to be right..
You will still need to make sure those main bores are round.. ..
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.
To line bore or not to line bore 
