Not sure if its been done or if it would work correctly, but I have the thought of turning a spare head into a torque plate. This would be very cheap to do since I have a spare head and the machining could be done at work. I am thinking about milling the head level to the tops of the head bolt holes and bore the holes for the cylinders. In theory it seems as if it would work. I could ship the block out to a machine shop that has a torque plate for our engines, but thats not cheap. Is there a better low cost option?

What's a torque plate?

Originally posted by WickedESi
What's a torque plate?

I've heard of one, but I also forgot/don't know.

you guys are joking right?

A torque plate is a stainless steel or Billet Aluminum 1"+ thick piece of metal cut exactly like your head gasket. It is torqued onto your block before it gets bored. This is to make sure the cylinders are bored to a true size. For many engines this is a requirement and yes they will not bore correctly without a torque plate.

Your head is cast and cannot be used as a torque plate. At least not accurately no matter how much machining you do.

Terry

Thanks star. I may have found an alternative. FWDperformance has a torque plate that they would rent out for $75.00 a month (max) with a $350.00 deposit. Sounds like a deal in my book.

Originally posted by Star Turbo Talon
you guys are joking right? A torque plate is a stainless steel or Billet Aluminum 1"+ thick piece of metal cut exactly like your head gasket. It is torqued onto your block before it gets bored. This is to make sure the cylinders are bored to a true size. For many engines this is a requirement and yes they will not bore correctly without a torque plate. Your head is cast and cannot be used as a torque plate. At least not accurately no matter how much machining you do. Terry

Has anyone ever done this machining a 420a block before?

Some blocks are effected by this more than others. The block can distort by as much as .003" when the head is bolted to the block. Those nice and round freshly bored and honed cylinders turn into nice and OVAL shaped cylinders! Those piston rings that you spent so much time filing to exact specs to seal up real nice....now you get a little blow by from the oval cylinders. Slowboy racing states that they use a torque plate in their blocks.

Just seems like quite an expensive part to produce for something other than someone who specializes in building a particular engine setup for resale.