School me on machinists tools please

1. A bore gage to measure 4-5 inch cylinder bores.

2. Bore gage to measure 2-3 rod and main bearings

3. 2-3 inch micrometer for crankshaft checking

4. 4-5 micrometer for checking piston diameter

4. large sweep indicator and base for degreeing cams and measuring piston travel, crank and cam thrust, ect

Should be a good starting point for common v8s. Keep in mind 318's and other stuff uses smaller bores ect.

I like Starrett , but do have a central 6" dial caliper that gets used for everything from a measuring tool to a scribe for distances from edges and radii.
Craigslist is a great source.......guys getting out of the business , shops selling out etc.
I have NEVER seen a good deal at a pawn shop , though they do have nice stuff from time to time.
When buying a micrometer for crankshafts , one without the carbide faces is nice because it is less prone to scratching things.
You'll want standards or gauge blocks to set them and keep them accurate.

Your gonna have to learn the "FEEL" on all this stuff...
the mics arent a calibrated C-clamp.. so practice
getting the feel

And for the record alot of Starrett is chinese now.

Here's a picture I wanted to include in my HEMI book that the editor deleted trying to get 250 pages down to 144.

take a look here for ideas http://www.goodson.com/home.php?cat=64

Another option

www.mscdirect.com

I applaud your commitment to buy American. Maybe it's hopeless any more, but we have to try.

Like Tubtar said, you can find some nice collections of tools from retirments on CL. With machinist tools, I always figured I'd rather have top quality american tools that were used and well cared for than cheap, new tools.

In addition to some of the tools mentioned, I would for sure get a 0-1 micrometer, (get all your mic's and dial bore guages graduated to .0001), get a 1"- dial bore guage for checking lifter bores, get a 6"and a 12" dial caliper. (12" for checking deck height when you are anylizing a used block)
I really like the Flexibar 505-1851 flexible dial indicator stand at Enco, it is so handy and easy to set up compared to a stiff arm.

Most of my tools are 10 - 40+ years old, so I don't know what the new stuff is like, but the brands I like are Browne and Sharpe, Starret, Fowler.
Good luck, have fun shopping!

I have a 30 yr old enco mic that is a good piece. Smooth action and accurate.

I have old starrets.They are at least 50 yersa old and still work great.My brother sometimes finds old ones at garage sales.Mine were ny FILs when he retired.Rocky

These folks do repairs and have some opinions what holds up best as well as which are worth repairing.
I bought a dial indicator and stand from them a few years back to align my trans and engine. Small operation. Real people.
http://longislandindicator.com/

Must admit I use a vernier caliper a lot. Does require glasses or a magnifying nowadays. Didn't used to. Not sure what happened to it.

If you are only using them some of the time, get the mechanical versions because every time I go to use one of the electronic calipers, or indicators, the batteries are dead.
I don't have any brand advice because the really good quality stuff is pretty expensive and may be overkill unless you are machining parts. Usually if you just need to measure to 0.001" some of the lower priced tools will work fine, but you may want to get some standards to see how far off they are?

Look at the metrology section of the hobby machinist website. I have probably 1K in indicators and other misc items for measuring, not including 0-8" in mics and several Brown and Sharpe calipers. Good stuff is out there but you need to do your homework to know what is still good or repairable. Tim

keep in mind you need need an outside mic to set up a bore guage. So you would need corresponding outside mics to use. I have a Fowler bore guage. Seems decent for the price.

Try your local tool truck dealers, Snap On, Cornwell and so on I have bought Crafstmen years ago, Starrett, Fowler and others. I bought a used Sunnen dial bore gauge and setting gauge for there honing machines, it can be used for a lot of other jobs also A freind of mine ownes a Hi Po machine shop in SO CA, Pettis Performance, and he has bought several of those Sunnen set ups off of E bay so he can have them by each machine instead of walking around the shop to use it in different locations from the engine assmbly room to the machine shop They come in both .0005 as well as .0001 measuring gauges Mine is .0005. Check E bay for them as well as other good use measuring pieces I agree wth Rich pictures on what you really need to do engine assemblys on a regular basis I've bought a 0 to 1000 lb Rimac valve spring checker as well as a Dakoata 1000 sonic tester and other testers that are not needed a lot but there nice to have when you need them instead of paying another shop to do the little stuff you can't do Good luck, look(shop) a lot, buy once

My girlfriends husband passed away two years ago and I believe that his machinists tools could be bought and at a fair price. I will check with her and see if she is interested, can be seen in the Warren, Ohio area. HEMI JOE

Thanks joe. Pm me if anything comes up.
Thanks,
Rob

Hah! "my girlfriend's husband"
sort of caught my imagination.

I look at tools from time to time on ebay, there are deals to be had if you SHOP. Remember that this stuff is mass-produced and there is more than one of everything.

R.

Yes she would be interested. I don't believe that their would be and Chinese tools in the collection. Call me if you are interested in looking - 330-394-1411 .

Buy Mitutoyo.
They are pretty tough and best bang for your buck. I'm a machinist. I have quite a few Mitutoyo measuring tools. Out of all the Mitutoyo tools I've purchased, I've never had even one issue. Ever.
I've been doing this for over 20 years now.

Girlfriends husband- nothing like what you are thinking, both of our spouses passed from Cancer in the past two years! Sorry to disappoint your fantasy of what you were thinking of a soap opera affair. HEMI JOE

Didn't see it mentioned here yet, but for quick measuring, a pair of dial calipers. one 6", one 12". I use the long one to nail down pushrod lengths among other things.

I have Brown and Sharp micrometers.
Best test makes a good .0001 test indicator if you ever need one.
I have a few different brand calipers but use the craftsman as the set that gets beat up in everyday fabrication duty.
Enco 1,2,3 blocks and V blocks are good for the price and I really like the little boring head I picked up from them for my Bridgeport.

I started in plastic injection molds, then a tool maker for Dana.