Jim - Thanks. Hope you don't have nose and ear problems.

As for measuring pistons, they may want them in-hand. We shall see.

 

Annually at a minimum. All mine are due right now.

 

I worked side by side with some of the best old school machinists in the country. My personal fingerprints are inside a 427SOHC built for Carroll Shelby and hundreds of daily drivers, show, and race car engines.

 

Yeah, me too.

 

And that brings up a question I'd been meaning to ask - how often should a torque wrench be checked? Mine has never been checked. So, I'm thinking about buying the http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eastwood-Electronic-Digital-Torque-Adapter-for-3-8-or-1-2-Ratchet-/371001959962?_trksid=p2054897.l4275. It is accurate to within +/- 1%, so should let me dial all of my torque wrenches in.

 

Brute, that accumulator looks like the old Milodon (?) units. Easy enough to setup as an automatic oiler. Run a line from the oil pressure feed, split it into 2, the first one through a small orifice and check valve to the accumulator, the second through a continuous duty - normally closed (spring return) solenoid, then sum the lines back together at the accumulator. Power the solenoid off a momentary push button via the ignition feed.

That way you just turn the key on, push and hold the button and wait 5 seconds or so before cranking it, kind of like glowing a dieso. One she's running, release the button. The small orifice will allow the recharge of the accumulator without a noticeable effect on the oil flow to the engine. Just don't rev it too hard for a few minutes as the oil level in the sump will be slightly over full until recharge.

 

Gary, I dont know how often, but I think yours are due.

 

Gary - calibrate them now, then annually.

 

I do that with an electronic tester a lot like that one. They all test each other, I got 3 torque wrenches and the electric torque meter. If 3 say one thing and one says another, I know which one is off.

Before the digital one I used a dial type snap-on torque wrench and a female to female adapter I made.

The one I have was about $30 at harbor freight, I know it's hard to trust harbor freight on something like that but so far so good, been a little over a year with it now.

Digital Torque Adapter

 

The directions to my torque wrenches say they have to be exercised before you try to torque something with them. It makes sense if you think about it. Sort of like a rifle scope when adjusting them. A tap on the tube with a screwdriver handle makes sure the movement has settled in for the adjustment. Just loading a round and firing it before tapping will produce an inconsistent strike from the one following it in a lot of cases.

 

Sounds like it is time to calibrate before I build this 400. And, I'm thinking y'all agree that the Eastwood unit will do it. Right?

 

Here is an interesting read:http://www.cditorque.com/RepairManua...enchRepair.pdf

 

Well, it depends on what quality management system you are operating under Gary

Building jet turbines ours were sent out for full calibration every 6 months but we check torqued them on a load cell similar to what you showed before every use. On the airframes it was just the 6 month full calibration, or if dropped /damaged.

For general automotive 12 months would be more than sufficient. If that Eastwood unit comes calibrated then it sound a like a viable unit to use as a master for your self calibration.

 

I scanned it and it may help me understand how to test and calibrate my wrenches. Thanks!

 

Thanks, Brute. I have about 5 torque wrenches and would hate to have to pay for calibrating all of them. The Eastwood unit would be a lot less expensive. And, I assume that it would stay in reasonable calibration if it isn't used regularly?