Hey I'm looking into purchasing engine building tools. Do you guys have a preference on manufacture who makes these?

 

The .0005 Mitutoyos are probably the nicest set of calipers for the money.

Battery lasts forever unlike the cheap $20 calipers from harbor freight or wherever and they feel way more rigid.

To do bearing clearances like an actual engine building shop, you'll need a set of outside micrometers and a dial bore gauge or 3-point inside micrometer.

Micrometers are going to get you the .0001 accuracy you need when dealing with bearing clearances.

 

Thanks for the heads up.

 

For Dial Bore Gauges (the real expense), I can't quite remember the brand most shops tend to use. I will keep searching and add it to the list here. Be careful with Chinese knock offs. This tool in the .0001" range will cost a bit more for a decent one.

I think Sunnen is the shop preference but I don't remember off the top of my head. Shops like the extra wall thickness as it doesn't obsorb heat as fast from the honing process when doing measurments. Expect to be in the 500 dollar range.

Dyer's is over the top NASA space shuttle caliber bore gauges and are priced like it. Close to a grand for only part of the gauge, then you still have to buy the dial indicator.

Starrett is pretty good quality and priced as such. 300-500 range.

Fowler is a decent starter gauge from what I've been told and Shars seems to be another decent starter. 200+ range

And Mitutoyo is the premium Japanese bore gauge and priced in the top Fowler or lower Starrett range. The concern with Mitutoyo is the name is so established, I suspect there are many knockoffs out there being presented as Mitutoyo and at price but fake. If you go for Mitutoyo, be sure to buy it from a reputable tool supplier (for us it is KMS tools). 300 range.

There are other options for measuring bore like inside micrometers but they are even more expensive and you have to buy for your specific application.

Then if you want to do it right, you also should buy a set of standards and a bore gauge setup tool (forget the proper name) which will run you another 150-300 bucks. Most home garages don't and use a micrometer measured off the cleaned piston to do setup from what I've seen and will be doing myself once I get back to blue printing my block(s).

Hopefully this info is helpful. Cheers.

PS. The calipers is only for rough estimate from what I've seen, micrometers and dial bore gauges is where it's at for engine building.

 

Good info here, sub'd

 

It def is worth knowing what others are using, whether backyard mechanic or someone who wants to do it right and why the recommended tool.

 

I use mostly mitutoyo and fowler.

I just realised that I don't do engine building anymore and don't plan on doing it in the future. Interested in taking some of the sets off my hands?