Show us your home made tools
After another member posted a pic of a home made tool he made I thought to start a thread showing off our home made tools. You know the ones that are usually expensive and you only use once a year. I made a few so I'll start off with a few I made. They aren't necessarily pretty but do the job just fine.
First 2 pics is a clutch pack spring retainer compressor that I originally built when rebuilding a buddies turbo 400. It also works just fine on Torqueflites. Not pretty but works fine.
BTW: I use mine in my press but I'm sure you could drill a hole through it and use threaded rod through the middle with a plate on the bottom to pull it together if you don't have a press.
Second pic is a set of dial indicator extensions I made from 3/8" aluminum round rod. I just unscrew the tip off of the dial indicator and slip on what ever length I need. Allot cheaper than buying 3 different length dial indicators. Only trick was drilling straight into them but with a drill press it isn't hard.
Third pic is an adjustable pushrod length checker made from 2 old pushrods. I just wacked them in half close to the lifter and ran a thread tap on them and coupled them back together with a long nut I found at ACE hardware. You'll see it works on both ball/ball and ball/cup pushrods and adjusts from 7.2 to 7.8". Only problem is you have to have the intake off to do it cause they won't go through the pushrod opening in the head. Next one I do I think I'll tap the i.d. and use a #8 or #10 screw with lock nuts for the adjuster. I think that should clear the opening in the head.
Fourth pic is a roller lifter I took the guts out of and made it solid. I use it when degreeing in cams.
Last 3 pics are a valve spring compressor for changing springs with the engine assembled onto the engine. I mainly use it to install the inner springs after cam break-in. It's real easy to use. Just bolt it down to the rocker shaft bolt holes between the cylinder your going to do. Do one then slide it over and do the other cylinder.
So if you guys have some other neat tools you would like to share with us please do so. And don't forget the pictures. I think we can all benefit from saving a few bucks.
After another member posted a pic of a home made tool he made I thought to start a thread showing off our home made tools. You know the ones that are usually expensive and you only use once a year. I made a few so I'll start off with a few I made. They aren't necessarily pretty but do the job just fine.
First 2 pics is a clutch pack spring retainer compressor that I originally built when rebuilding a buddies turbo 400. It also works just fine on Torqueflites. Not pretty but works fine.
BTW: I use mine in my press but I'm sure you could drill a hole through it and use threaded rod through the middle with a plate on the bottom to pull it together if you don't have a press.
Second pic is a set of dial indicator extensions I made from 3/8" aluminum round rod. I just unscrew the tip off of the dial indicator and slip on what ever length I need. Allot cheaper than buying 3 different length dial indicators. Only trick was drilling straight into them but with a drill press it isn't hard.
Third pic is an adjustable pushrod length checker made from 2 old pushrods. I just wacked them in half close to the lifter and ran a thread tap on them and coupled them back together with a long nut I found at ACE hardware. You'll see it works on both ball/ball and ball/cup pushrods and adjusts from 7.2 to 7.8". Only problem is you have to have the intake off to do it cause they won't go through the pushrod opening in the head. Next one I do I think I'll tap the i.d. and use a #8 or #10 screw with lock nuts for the adjuster. I think that should clear the opening in the head.
Fourth pic is a roller lifter I took the guts out of and made it solid. I use it when degreeing in cams.
Last 3 pics are a valve spring compressor for changing springs with the engine assembled onto the engine. I mainly use it to install the inner springs after cam break-in. It's real easy to use. Just bolt it down to the rocker shaft bolt holes between the cylinder your going to do. Do one then slide it over and do the other cylinder.
So if you guys have some other neat tools you would like to share with us please do so. And don't forget the pictures. I think we can all benefit from saving a few bucks.
