building a piston vise

[Shady]

I was wondering if anyone here has ever built an automotive type piston vise. I need to build one ASAP to machine the valve reliefs on the boss's race car. It must be able to hold a piston that is 4.600 diameter and must be capable of compound angles. I know that gearhead tool sells a good one but I was hoping to find an exploded view or drawing of one to aide in making my own. Thanks to anyone willing to help.~~~~~Shady

 

[email protected]

[Fred @ Slate Industries]

Shady

Take a block Cut your bore

then Run slots almost all the way out to the Ends Down the center of the block (So you can collapse the Bore when you clamp on it in a vice)

 

We have a Wire so I used that to do the whole thing.

I could send you a file if you want.

(Total G job)

Tony

 

Edit: You can c'bore the back of the block for

the wrist pin to maintain location of each piston

[Keith Graydon]

bore through the side to locate off tne pin too.

 

It is not an oval sgaped piston , is it? /thinking out loud

 

-Keith

[Jeremy Grigsby Excelsior Marking]

"Take a block Cut your bore

then Run slots almost all the way out to the Ends Down the center of the block (So you can collapse the Bore when you clamp on it in a vice)

"

 

Why dont you clamp a small piece of sheetmetal or something thin in the jaws before you machine the bore instead of cutting slots afterwards?

[Fred @ Slate Industries]

All good advice.

So many ways to skin a cat

 

I am lazy and just wired the whole thing finished and tapped the piston down till I couldnt move the Parallel underneath it.

[Shady]

Tony, thanks for the file....it was much appreciated. Thanks for the advice everyone. Im not sure the type of vise that you are talking about will work for my particular application but it is a different approach from the one I was initially taking. I will give my brain time to kick in and see what kind of madness comes out. Thanks again for your time and trouble. ~~~~~Shady

[Shady]

Tony, thanks for the file....it was much appreciated. Thanks for the advice everyone. Im not sure the type of vise that you are talking about will work for my particular application but it is a different approach from the one I was initially taking. I will give my brain time to kick in and see what kind of madness comes out. Thanks again for your time and trouble. ~~~~~Shady

[TomHemphill]

We use a 3 jaw chuck on a homemade sine plate and machined a set of aluminum soft jaws to fit in the oil ring groove We then set one angle with the sine plate and spin the piston in the jaws to make the other angle flat ....very rigid,fast and fits any piston What kind of race car does your boss have? Could probably email pics of vise if needed

 

Tom

[Shady]

Tom, boss has a 53 corvette IHRA ProMod drag car. He just installed a new Fulton engine, preparing to run this weekend at Buds Creek Md. I would like to see pics of your vise if it isnt too much trouble. I think I may have something that will work with the help of Tony and the others. Thanks for your help, ~~~~~~~Shady

[Dan Schnars]

Same way as TSTom said... I've cut a LOT of pistons in all kinds of different vises and set-ups and my favorite was the chuck / sine plate set-up...

[Shady]

Dan, thanks for the advice...also....good luck to you guys in the chase for the championship. I hope Little E wins, but would like to see Sadler come in a close second.

I made a vise out of a steel plate with aluminum jaws similar to what Tony suggested. I had to be just a little creative (for me) with my programming, but it accomplished the job remarkably well. Thanks again for the input. ~~~~~~Shady

[Dan Schnars]

Thanks Shady... We Had 1st and 2nd yesterday... As long as we can own the top 4 in that chase, Little E can have #5... lol... Take care.

[TomHemphill]

Shady, I've seen your bosses car at the IHRA races We have a Top Sportsman 68 Barracuda I thought that's who he was when I saw the "Auxier" in the first post One of my engine customers is a friend of his I'll get on the pictures for you

 

Tom

[Shady]

I really appreciate it Tom. Hey..you may even see him qualify this week, we are really expecting alot out of that new 740 Fulton engine. If you run T/S then you probably know Kenny Rucker too then. Kenny is just right up the road from us...I have known him for years. Do you have any pics of your cuda? Thanks for your help ~~~~~~Shady

[TomHemphill]

Yea I know Kenny .....he whips me every time we come up against each other....Good Racer!and nice guy I will look your boss up at Budds Creek this weekend hope your Fulton does the job They're usually pretty stout

 

Tom

[TomHemphill]

Shady,

You probably thought I forgot about this but I could not get my camera to work finally borrowed my daughters (actually got her to do it) I tried to email pics to you but your address returns unsent Would be glad to post them here but don't know how

 

Tom

[Shady]

Tom, I dont know which email you tried...if you dont care you might try [email protected] or [email protected]. Thanks...talk to ya later ~~~~~~~~Shady

[Shady]

Tom, I got the pics, thanks alot for your time and trouble on this one. What I went with was more like your first suggestion but I may build a unit like you have for future use. If you ever happen down this way I hope you will take time to stop in and visit. Talk to ya later, ~~~~~~~~Shady

[TomHemphill]

Not a problem The nice thing about this type for our work it it will accomodate any piston and we can use the top jaws in the lathe as well.....How many more days til we can race again??

 

Tom