mrennie
Cast Iron
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2004
Hello:
I am restoring a 1970 GTO Judge and sometime next year will start building the engine. There is only one automotive machine shop around and they likely don't have a torque plate that fits my engine. If they don't, buying one is out of the question, they are $700US, but I have several old heads and a Bridgeport mill that I haven't got to use enough yet....
....so, I was wondering how successful I would be in making my own torque plate from an extra head I don't need, that I could lend to the machine shop when they bore/hone my block. My plan would be to clamp the old head to the table with the head gasket side down, and machine down the valve cover side until I get close to the head bolt bosses, then flip it over and drill/bore the combustion chambers until I have an open hole the same size as the bore + .090", for each cylinder.
I checked the BHJ website (THE maker of torque plates), and the plate they sell for Pontiacs is 1 3/4" thick cast iron with extension sleeves for the head bolts. My homemade torque plate would be somewhat thicker than this, maybe 3"??
Is this a good beginner project for my mill or a complete waste of time?
Thanks
Michael
I am restoring a 1970 GTO Judge and sometime next year will start building the engine. There is only one automotive machine shop around and they likely don't have a torque plate that fits my engine. If they don't, buying one is out of the question, they are $700US, but I have several old heads and a Bridgeport mill that I haven't got to use enough yet....
....so, I was wondering how successful I would be in making my own torque plate from an extra head I don't need, that I could lend to the machine shop when they bore/hone my block. My plan would be to clamp the old head to the table with the head gasket side down, and machine down the valve cover side until I get close to the head bolt bosses, then flip it over and drill/bore the combustion chambers until I have an open hole the same size as the bore + .090", for each cylinder.
I checked the BHJ website (THE maker of torque plates), and the plate they sell for Pontiacs is 1 3/4" thick cast iron with extension sleeves for the head bolts. My homemade torque plate would be somewhat thicker than this, maybe 3"??
Is this a good beginner project for my mill or a complete waste of time?
Thanks
Michael