Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeK
I got all hung up on this torque-plate or no torque-plate thing many years ago.
Measuring the distortion on an A block is easy. After honing (no plate) put the studs in, add a gasket (necessary, as the deck distorts into it) and torque down a head. Flip the block over and use your bore gauge to measure.
After finding the distortion less than -0.0002 only in the top inch on 1 & 4, and -0.00025 only in the top inch on 2&3 it became obvious to me that a torque-plate on a solid deck thick wall casting like an A block is a waste of time. You'll get way more distortion than that thermally when the running engine has cold water on one side only from the radiator return.
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Interesting contrast to the statements made by K.R. Wilson, renown toolmaker for Model A's back in the day.
K.R. Wilson explained that everything is a "jelly fish," and the apparently heavy, cast iron block of the Model A Ford is no exception. Wilson said this is easily proven by placing an inside mic in one of the cylinders, lightly touching the walls, and parallel to the crankshaft. Now squeeze the block between your own two little hands. What happens? The inside mic drops down, demonstrating that the cylinder bore has been forced slightly, very slightly out of round.