Lapping Aluminum (For potentially blocks and heads) - A Short Video

[@toomanytoys]

Correction: The average Ra was 21, not 25 microinch.

[@gabewall7381]

Always look forward to your videos, thanks for yet another informative one

[@toomanytoys]

Thanks Gabe.

[@Seeeeyaaaa]

Great Vid thankyou mate! i appreciate your knowledge and time, music 10/10 :)

[@toomanytoys]

Glad to test it. I figured the 180 would be kicked up high on aluminum, the abrasive not getting rounded. If you wanted higher for the Cometic gaskets, 150 would get you there. I finally found a place to use that song!

[@Seeeeyaaaa]

@@toomanytoys I think 180 is perfect? Cometic only specifies an RA of 50 or "finer" so it looks like 180 should get the job done if i am understanding correctly. I've shared this to a few of my favourite engine building groups on FB hope you don't mind! thanks again :)

[@toomanytoys]

@Aido Wilson, I don't mind at all. This is kind of "out there"; the subject of stoning is often not discussed very well either. Stoning with the grits that are available polish too much. But over and over, I found it's a great way to ensure a surface finish you are trying to achieve. It doesn't take the place of machining heads that do need machining. And if you are going to use an abrase to clean the surfaces, using a flat plate has significant advantages.

[@Seeeeyaaaa]

@@toomanytoys Totally agree, my main area of interest in this subject is to slightly refinish the deck on an aluminium block. If a head needs machining i will always send to a head specialist and I've got one here that's been in the same location since the late 60s. I've been sending my things to him since my very first engine build, I grew up in the same town and have been here around 40 years. I don't have a flat plate tool like yours but i was planning on using a specially cut thick sheet of glass with suction cups to attempt the same job. The deck is quite good it just needs a slight refinish to be perfect, just a little hotrod engine i'm home building :)

[@jamesabraham7948]

Love the information and the music ….. keep on keeping on …..

[@toomanytoys]

Thanks, will do!

[@Adrenacyde]

Still waiting for the Grilled Cheese video. 🙃 Enjoy your Holidays!

[@toomanytoys]

I knew that was coming.....

[@niceguy4928]

Is your 6.0 back on the road ? Thanks for the video

[@toomanytoys]

That would take the mystery out of it. How about I just say the videos are far behind.

[@terryscott8893]

Would you explain the tool you used after lapping the plate please if you ever use again in video for some that are green to it unless you alredy may have ,,,but thanks love your videos they help us out so much ,,👍👍

[@toomanytoys]

Thanks for your comment, Terry. I did the video in response to a question from someone who viewed my earlier videos. That is a profilometer - an expensive tool. It measures the roughness of a surface using a diamond on a stylus, similar to a vinyl record player. I show it being used in the earlier heads and block surface videos, explaining what the measurements are and what the gasket industry says is the best range for the different types of gaskets. A common question that comes up is what grade of paper should be used because having a profilometer is not going to be an easily acquired tool. It turns out that 180 grit will get you in a good range, but with aluminum, a final light pass with 220grit may be ideal if you are using MLS gaskets.

[@terryscott8893]

@@toomanytoys thanks so much for your reply , grate info helps so much.

[@over9000pontiacs]

Hey Jack do you still have your rotating assembly apart? could you teach us on measuring and checking connecting rods? I just bought my 4th 6.0 and it seems hydro locked and I would like to check the rods when I rebuild it but i dont know how. Also where can i find the manual on the tolerances for the lower end? been looking everywhere merry xmas btw

[@toomanytoys]

Merry Christmas, and hope you have a great new year. I did not pull the rods. I had this thing in my head due to what I paid for this motor, and doing the cylinders was just one of those lines in the sand. If someone asked me should it be re-ringed, I would tell them yes. For me, it was something I could not get over, which I may regret later. Someone else has asked me about the rod bushings, so I know I can get my hands on a rod; let me see what I can do in a video. But be aware I am soooo backed up. I tell everyone to go on Powerstroke.org and look at the pinned files in the 6.0 General section. Also, you can download the pdfs of the International service manual for the '05+, which is written more as a service manual than the Ford manual, which is very basic. Be aware to check the dimensions as I found the conversions between metric and imperial have errors. Just double-check when you view them.

[@over9000pontiacs]

@@toomanytoys thanks you're a legend man!

[@toomanytoys]

Just a retired guy with a two car garage.