Step-by-step walkthroughs of the procedures every builder needs to get right.
How to Check Bearing Clearance — Using Plastigage to measure main and rod bearing clearances, with the torque procedure, iron and aluminum spec ranges, and what to do when it is out.
How to Set Piston Ring End Gap — Proper filing technique, stagger positioning and oil ring installation, plus target gaps for NA, turbo and nitrous and how to square a ring in the bore.
Engine Break-In Procedure — Complete flat-tappet and roller cam break-in. The ZDDP requirement explained, plus priming, the 20-minute run at 2,000 RPM and the 500-mile oil change.
How to Degree a Camshaft — Finding true TDC with a piston stop, degree wheel setup, reading intake centerline, and correcting a cam that is off the card with an offset bushing.
How to Evaluate Machine Shop Work — What to inspect when you get your block back: deck flatness, bore roundness, main bore alignment and valve seat work. Red flags and questions to ask.
Blueprinting an Engine — What blueprinting actually means and what gets blueprinted: balancing, chamber cc, port matching and individual bearing clearances. Plus what it costs.