Anybody know where I can rent/borrow 6.5L torque plates?

[restoguy]

I dropped my project engine off at the machine shop and I'm sure they're going to have to bore it. The owner told me they don't have torque plates for these engines so I'm trying to find some I can rent or borrow to get my block done. If anyone knows of a shop that has them I would greatly appreciate the lead.

There was a set that sold on ebay a year or so ago, but I though I'd never need them.....should have known better!

 

[racer55]

A torque plate is a nice luxury to have but for everyday engine building is not that necessary.

The factory didn't use them and some folks get upwards of 1/2 million miles-not too bad.

I know that's not what you asked but you should be just fine with a regular overbore and power hone.

Nice piece of mind having a shop that recognizes the benefits of a torque plate though.

 

[Acesneights1]

Torque Plate ?/ New one on me...Explain ??

 

[bison]

I never heard of them either?
Must be in the same category as "muffler bearings"

 

[turbonator]

I never heard of them either?
Must be in the same category as "muffler bearings"

i believe torque plates are bolted onto the decks of the block similar to heads, but there are 4 holes per plate to access the bores..... it is supposed to keep the block rigid during machining, there are plates as well that bolt down in place of the main caps to keep the crank bores solid when align-boring....

 

[Acesneights1]

Ahhh. Never seen that.

 

[ak diesel driver]

they're also supposed to simulate the heads being bolted on (the stress on the block from the bolts being torqued down) Usually done on higher end machine jobs

 

[bison]

Makes sence,i never seen it done though

 

[racer55]

i believe torque plates are bolted onto the decks of the block similar to heads, but there are 4 holes per plate to access the bores..... it is supposed to keep the block rigid during machining, there are plates as well that bolt down in place of the main caps to keep the crank bores solid when align-boring....

The main bearing line hone/bore won't work very well without the main caps in place,I don't know of a way to make a straight hole when you only have 1/2 a hole to work with.

On a side note only one torque plate is needed since you only hone 1 bank at a time,you can just swap the plate to the other side when needed.Also the plate has to be fastened to the block with the same fasteners you intend to use for final assembly eg:bolts or studs as well as a pre-crushed(used) head gasket has to be used between the plate and the block.