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  • Greg L.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • March 1, 2006
    • 2291

    bore gage

    I was wondering if someone could recommend a quality cylinder bore gage for checking the cylinders on a SB or BB. I'm thinking that I should have mine checked for out of round and tend to like to do as much myself as I can so if I can pick up a good bore gage for under a hundred bucks or so, I'll probably do that and just check them myself.

    Any good recommendations?

    Thanks

    Greg Linton
    #45455
  • Wayne P.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • August 31, 1975
    • 1025

    #2
    Re: bore gage

    A quality bore gauge is an expensive item. Have your local auto machine shop handle this job.

    Comment

    • Greg L.
      Extremely Frequent Poster
      • March 1, 2006
      • 2291

      #3
      Re: bore gage

      Just "ballpark" what is expensive for a bore gage?

      I see several on ebay for $100 and less which I'm thinking would be fine for occasional use. The Starrett and Mitutoyo would be the way to go for a production shop but I just want to make sure that the "cheaper" ones will be accurate enough for occasional use.

      I have compared Mitutoyo digital calipers against "Made in China" ones and always have come to within about a half thou so I'd say that the Chineese ones work just fine. They don't look to be built as well so I wouldn't expect them to last as long as the Mitutoyo or Starrett ones but for occasional use they seem fine so I'm just wondering if cylinder bore gages can be compared in the same way?

      Has anyone ever used the cheaper ones and what did you think of them?

      Comment

      • David B.
        Very Frequent User
        • July 31, 2004
        • 330

        #4
        Re: bore gage

        Greg,

        I had the same experience as you did. I purchased a Chinese made cylinder gauge and used it to check for pre and post machine shop work. It measured up very accurately against the readings of the machine shop. It was rather inexpensive for peace of mind for checking bore when building an engine, and for checking taper and roundness as well. It's also nice for checking for roundness of the connecting rod journals, which I had resized.

        It's not that I don't trust the machine shop - they are excellent. But, anyone can make an honest mistake and I tend to take a belt and suspenders approach on those things when a lot of money and effort are involved. Very happy with the Chinese instrument for the amount of use I intend.

        Dave B.
        Dave, 1969 427, 1957
        Previous: 1968 427, 1973 454

        Comment

        • Joe C.
          Expired
          • August 31, 1999
          • 4598

          #5
          Re: bore gage

          Do you have a torque plate to simulate deformation due to head bolts?

          Joe

          Comment

          • Clem Z.
            Expired
            • January 1, 2006
            • 9427

            #6
            the bore gauge can also be used to check

            bearing clearances. much more accurate than plastic gage. also as long as the indicator reads in tenths of a thousand you should be fine. to use it as a bearing clearance check you mic the crank journal,lock the mic spindle,put the dial bore gauge into the bearing installed in the rods or mains,set the dial at zero,put the locked mic over the dial bore gauge and read your bearing clearance directly on the dial bore gauge

            Comment

            • Greg L.
              Extremely Frequent Poster
              • March 1, 2006
              • 2291

              #7
              Re: the bore gauge can also be used to check

              Thanks guys. I don't have a torque plate and yes I know that it makes it more accurate but it wasn't used back in 69 (at least it isn't in the 1969 Chassis O/H Manual) so I wasn't going to worry about it...maybe I should though...

              David where did you pick yours up and what did you pay for it?

              Comment

              • Greg L.
                Extremely Frequent Poster
                • March 1, 2006
                • 2291

                #8
                Re: the bore gauge can also be used to check

                Clem, would you think that a .0005" bore gage be accurate enough for cylinders? I would think that the internals of the .0001" and .0005" indicators are the same with the only difference being in how many graduations are marked on the indicator...not a 100% sure of that though.

                Comment

                • Clem Z.
                  Expired
                  • January 1, 2006
                  • 9427

                  #9
                  for cylinders it would be fine but for bearings

                  i would go for one that reads in .0001

                  Comment

                  • David B.
                    Very Frequent User
                    • July 31, 2004
                    • 330

                    #10
                    Re: the bore gauge can also be used to check

                    Greg,

                    I bought mine off EBay, new, as an auction item. It has a range of 2" to 6" and can read to an accuracy of .0005". I tested it using my Starrett gauge blocks and micrometer and it is very accurate. The cost was $36.50, plus shipping and insurance from (EBay ID=800watt) Hardpoint Industries (around $46 total).

                    If you get one, make sure it has lots of varying extension lengths. This set has 11 different extensions. Also, I suggest some reading about using it properly, which helped me. There is some technique to using it to get consistent readings. Once you get that down, its a snap to get excellent results.

                    David B.
                    Dave, 1969 427, 1957
                    Previous: 1968 427, 1973 454

                    Comment

                    • Greg L.
                      Extremely Frequent Poster
                      • March 1, 2006
                      • 2291

                      #11
                      Re: the bore gauge can also be used to check

                      Thanks David,

                      Would this be it?



                      It looks decent but the price is quite cheap so it makes me wonder...

                      Comment

                      • David B.
                        Very Frequent User
                        • July 31, 2004
                        • 330

                        #12
                        Re: the bore gauge can also be used to check

                        Greg,

                        Yes, that's the one I bought. I know mine is very accurate from comparison testing with gage blocks, but I don't know if that's representative of the product in general. I can add that they do include a quality test check form with each instrument and the tool looks well made. But, for that price, I was wondering myself as well.

                        I'm pretty sure a $200 gauge would be better quality. Since I happen to have a variety of machinists tools, I bought a nice set of precision calibration blocks, so I can be sure that they are, and remain, accurately calibrated. You may want to do the same if you want to be sure of your precision. Even a $200 dollar gauge can easily become uncalibrated over time, or due to rough handling or wear, and be less accurate than a properly maintained $30.00 gage. Remember also, that when you are measuring in these small tolerances, that the temperature of the instrument and the item measured must be the same and stable.

                        I guess I am saying that it depends on how far you want to wade into the water, as to what you spend and what you want to achieve. I enjoy precision tools and probably tend to gather way too many. Some are very expensive, and some are not. If you feel better getting a more expensive tool, it might be a better quality tool, but that in itself does not necessarily guarantee better results. Whereas, in the right hands, even a moderate tool can achieve great results. (My 86 year old Dad still puts me to shame in that category, lol.)

                        If you do decide to get that instrument, I would be interested in hearing your opinion after using it. Hopefully, you would be happy with it.

                        Dave

                        : )
                        Dave, 1969 427, 1957
                        Previous: 1968 427, 1973 454

                        Comment

                        • Greg L.
                          Extremely Frequent Poster
                          • March 1, 2006
                          • 2291

                          #13
                          Thanks Dave! *NM*

                          Comment

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