I’m getting ready to assemble my engine. I have some good sets of Starret mics, depth gauges, etc.
But everyone i talk to says to just use Plasti-Gauge, but i dont wanna trust my engine to a $3 piece of plastic.
I have read alot of people who use plasti-gage have a tough time removing it from the bearings.
I’m probably going to do both, mic-ing the clearances, and plasti-gaugeing them.
But which one would you do, if not both…
i do both,you cant be too careful
there are certain things you can’t measure with a micrometer/caliper/depth gauge. Plastigauge is a universally used engine building tool. If you are unsure, and where it is ieven possible, double check with another measuring device.
I trust plastigauge for bearing clearances. But if you got Mic’s and whatnot, use both IMO.
no need to mic everything, the machine shop should have done that. Just plasti-gauge it. if a clearance is off, then its back to the machine shop anyway.
IMO it’s easier to misuse a mic than it is plastigauge. That stuffs pretty accurate for what it’s worth.
X2
Who ever complained about plastiguage being hard to get off bearing is a pussy. use it. Don’t worry about the mics, unless you have your own machining equipment.
i’d use the mic’s. plasti-guage is good to an extent, but the mics if used properly wont lie.
The only time you basicly have to mic is if you are not rebuilding, but only checking clearances for a bearing swap when no other damage has occured in the motor.
I loose plastigauge all the time :doh:
I just let the machine shop worry about this stuff…If it blows up at least i am not the one to blame!