Align hone
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
From: Langley, BC, Canada
Align hone
I have an old block from a 79 z28 i once owned. I dont have the bearing caps for it, so i put it up for sale in a local newsgroup for 50 bucks (30US). Some idiot comes in and says if the caps are missing and not marked for correct locations the block is useless. Well yeah its not a good idea to mix up cap locations. So my response what if some one wants to buy some after market caps, or have it drilled for splayed caps, besides it could always be align honeded. His response is, if its align honed, then the timing chains going to have slack in it, and it will make a sloppy rebuild. I'd never heard of such crap, i asked him how this is possible if proper oversized bearings are used, he didnt have an answer just that he sells hundreds of used engines to companies. Anyone heard of this? I've read of thousands of hi-po buildups involving align hones, decking and boring with no problems.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa ok
Re: Align hone (nsimmons)
It is possible if the block has to be "Align Bored" (where a greater amount of material is removed) not honed, that an undersized timing chain and gear set would be needed. These undersize kits are usally sold as .005 undersize. I have never seen a normal align honed engine need one of these kits, but they do exist.
Monte
Monte
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Align hone (nsimmons)
If the block bearing saddles are aligned with the axis of the boring machine, and some new caps bolted in place, then the block and bearing caps can be bored oversize, say.005 inch, then oversize bearing inserts can be installed and the centerline of the crank will be in the same place as original and all other accessories will also be correct (like the timing chain). ALWAYS keep the bearing caps with the engine!!!
