I have never used it, but this rebuild on the 460 I thought I'd use it. Is there any real reason to use it?
 |
-
2008 Mercury Grand Marquis GS Bone Stock
The modern definition of "racist" is "someone who is arguing with a Liberal".--updated Peter Brimelow quote. -
Its used to check for proper bearing clearances. Its pretty easy to use, just cut a small piece and lay it on the bearing. Torque the bearing down to spec, then remove the cap again. Measure how wide the plastigage is on the little scale that comes with it. The width of the crushed plastigage will have a number printed next to it to indicate the clearance. Its mostly to make sure your rod and main bearings aren't too tight or loose on the crankshaft.86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley
91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry
1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal
Originally posted by phayzer5
I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousers -
Oh...2008 Mercury Grand Marquis GS Bone Stock
The modern definition of "racist" is "someone who is arguing with a Liberal".--updated Peter Brimelow quote.Comment
-
Yep, what he said.
Here's a pic of what it looks like when you check it. That's a bearing clearance on my 521 Stroker.
1966 Ford Fairlane 500XL - 521 Stroker/4-speed
1997 Ford F250XLT Heavy Duty - 460/E4OD
2008 Ford Crown Victoria LX
Comment
-
I remember my auto tech teacher showing me how to do that. I don't really remember how to do it from memory though, guess i'll have to do it some more.88 Town Car (wrecked, for sale)
Walker OEM duals with muffler deletesComment
-
Hey, if you have a set of micrometers, throw that plastigauge away! Many, many builders despise plastigauge. Especially if youre building that engine for longevity and not just performance, Measure your bearing thickness and crank journals and do the math. Im not saying im whiping out Busch series engines in the garage, but you'll save bearing life getting that .0010th closer. I've seen the evidence of the damage plastigauge can cause. Don't forget it's pretty easy to measure a ball bearing, then set it on the bearing surface and measure the thickness of the two, and then finally subtract the ball bearing. Whala!Comment
-
How do you get a ball bearing onto your main or rod journal?
Plastigage is used to double check the work of your machinist. For example, Verifying that the crank is really .10 under when you have .10 under bearings and that you have the clearances that they told you would be there.
Explain how plastigage is going to cause damage unless you fill up a journal with it.......Comment
-
plastigauge is an oil soluble wax anyway, not gonna cause dammage.
2009 Ford F-350 6.4 powerstroke diesel. 1977 Ford F-150 built 300 six, 5 speed trans. 1976 MG MGB roadster, 359w, t5 5 speed. 1996 Kawasaki ninja ZX6R.
My rod is glowing, my bead is clean, my middle name is acetyleneComment
-
the ball bearing was pretty rich too... lol
2009 Ford F-350 6.4 powerstroke diesel. 1977 Ford F-150 built 300 six, 5 speed trans. 1976 MG MGB roadster, 359w, t5 5 speed. 1996 Kawasaki ninja ZX6R.
My rod is glowing, my bead is clean, my middle name is acetyleneComment
-
-
When I did mine, I simply scraped it off with the edge of a credit card. No harm done.86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley
91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry
1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal
Originally posted by phayzer5
I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousersComment
-
I was reffering to the damage caused by its inaccuracy, I realize the wax dissolves in your oil. Take a count of how many top fuel or formula engines you see getting put together with plastigauge. Granted, youre not building one, but wouldnt you want to be just as precise if youre building an engine for a car you loves as much as a member of your own family? Also, considering the BALL BEARING mincrometers that are BUILT with one installed and compensated in calibration for this exact task, I'm confused why one would find it "rich" to use one to obtain an exacting measurment without spending a couple hundred dollars on the specialty tool.Comment
-
Also, you dont need a ball bearing on your rod or main journal, you can take the measurment flat out with your mic since its convex. You need the ball bearing for your bearing surface because its concave and the micrometer will damage the babbit and ruin the bearing before you got it flat enough to take an accurate measurementComment
-
The way you worded it I almost thought you mean the crank and rod journals had a ball bearing...I guess I should read more and try to figure out what u meant.
2009 Ford F-350 6.4 powerstroke diesel. 1977 Ford F-150 built 300 six, 5 speed trans. 1976 MG MGB roadster, 359w, t5 5 speed. 1996 Kawasaki ninja ZX6R.
My rod is glowing, my bead is clean, my middle name is acetyleneComment
Comment