Billet alumin(i)um torque plates sbc

[kimosabi]

Are anyone using them or are the steel BHJ types the ones to prefer. I'm thinking distortion.

[Cubic_Cleveland]

Are anyone using them or are the steel BHJ types the ones to prefer. I'm thinking distortion.

We use a few of them, mostly import engines, not SBC. Are you thinking bore distortion or torque plate distortion?

[kimosabi]

Torque plate distortion. Are they as rigid as a aluminum cylinder head? Well, most would probably say "duh" but there's so much stuff on the market now and obviously the goal would be that it simulates a cylinder head but the aluminum plates don't look as rigid as a cylinder head.

[GOSFAST]

Been using aluminum plates for years now, found no issues between the cast pieces and the aluminums.

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. To the best of my knowledge we MAY be the only shop in the country with a plate for the old Flathead Ford, measures 1.500" thick. Gets used regularly here! Actually serves a dual purpose (block/head/gasket pinning) on these builds! Have 4 ongoing builds as of today.

Flathead Pinning Tooling.JPG

[Cubic_Cleveland]

Same here Gary, we can measure no difference in bore distortion between the aluminium torque plate and the head on the block when using the same hardware, and that’s all that matters.

As for the plate deforming, on our Nissan RB plate we’ve had for 10 years the bores are still round and still works the same as when we got it, you just have to use decent washers to stop biting into the aluminium...

[engineguyBill]

Aluminum works fine for torque plate. The important thing, as cubic_cleveland has pointed out, is the use of the same fasteners to attach the torque plate to the block as will be used to attach the heads to the block. Sturdy, thick-wall spacers will need to be fabricated in order to use these fasteners with the torque plate . . . . . . . .

[stealth]

Been using aluminum plates for years now, found no issues between the cast pieces and the aluminums.

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. To the best of my knowledge we MAY be the only shop in the country with a plate for the old Flathead Ford, measures 1.500" thick. Gets used regularly here! Actually serves a dual purpose (block/head/gasket pinning) on these builds! Have 4 ongoing builds as of today.

Flathead Pinning Tooling.JPG

That’s pretty cool for the old flatty... do you notice much difference with and without? I heard the old ford flathead blocks were like bricks...way heavy and very ridged...