Grinding The Crankshaft Rod Journals - Spun Rod Bearing - '68 Firebird 350 Engine Rebuild - Pt 6
Sometimes you have to work with what you have! This is often the case in rebuilding some of these engines that are getting to be a bit older!
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Today’s video is a LONGER video, and I made the decision to break this process into multiple videos in an effort to make it a bit easier on myself as far as the editing and a bit easier on the viewers as far as length (as opposed to one video over an hour long). Let me know what you think! I will get the next part up as soon as I can! -Nicolaus at JAMSI
Breaking it into parts will make it easier to watch. Great video you have and really appreciate your efforts in uploading videos on what you guys are doing on the shop. It’s very resourceful video! Keep it up!
Great video as always. Love your dad's glance at the camera when talking about the weight of cast iron 🤣
Very cool and informative. Interesting how from a machinist stand point how that machine functions now. The index was something i had never thought of on a crank but makes perfect sense if the firing is slightly out especially when making ignition timing changes where it changes the tdc position. Easy part but it will make or break an engine in competition when pushed to the edge
Another great video, and I agree with Dad . Everything gets heavier as you get older.
Hey Nicolaus, cool too see the in process calipers being used! You might not realize, but we're still around, give us a call or an email if you ever need any spare parts or refurbishment!
Truly an honor and a privilege to watch a Craftsman with precision equipment perform an amazing job
Well said, you beat me to it :)
Truer words have never been spoken🤗
I have massive amounts of respect for your dad. Patient, knowledgeable, incredible work ethic, and has a little bit of humour even when you're poking the camera in his face. He is a great teacher. Cheers
LOL - "If I try to get that last tenth, I will screw something up!" - so true for all of us!!! Loved this video!!!!
Best advice from the Master: quit when you are ahead!
It is because of people like him that I feel proud to have been born in this beautiful land . God bless America and our hard workers
This man is a wealth of knowledge. Soak up everything you can young man. You have a master of their trade at your fingertips.
What he said! Its crazy to see these videos after growing up in my dads machine shop, oddly enough his name is Jim and his shop was Jims Automotive Machine until he moved to Alaska and changed the name to Fixits Precision Machine. I worked for him for awhile to help him get to a point where he could retire. That man has forgotten more about machining than he has taught me, and he taught me a lot of stuff. We didnt do crankshafts the ROI just wasnt there, the majority of our jobs were small block chevys and new cranks were a dime a dozen. Camshafts got shipped to seattle and either reground to factory specs or got a custom grind for less than a new crank. Wish i would have taken over the business when he retired but i couldnt stay in Alaska. Most satisfying job was resurfacing aluminum heads. I was amazed at how cheap small block chevys were built by GM. You could throw a brand new cast iron 350 head on the milling machine and have to take in some cases .010 off to get rid of the factory machining marks. We always cut out the exhaust seats on sbc's and installed hardened seats, they are notorious for cracking around the exhaust seats. They also got new brass valve guides in every head, being on the coast in Southeast Alaska and a lot of the engines were marine it was a necessity.
63jeepj20 did you notice on all 4BM chevys, the center 3 were always tight, necessitating line boring ??!! That was my experience. Pull oil pan off, centers were discolored from oil cook, that wouldn’t come off using the pre banned hot tank solution !
@@63jeepj20 Wow, what a decent man this Jim guy seems to be.
Master, Indeed Yes.
That was the first time I have actually seen the process of precision grinding a crankshaft. What a neat video! True craftmanship right there.
These guys were the “real” machinist’s. The amount of finesse this takes is extraordinary! To be in tune with a machine to that level is just a testament to the skill this guys has.
Exactly. He's working the machine as he grinds the shaft. Not just set it and forget it process.
I owned an automotive machine shop in the 80's. I could machine anything but a crank. This video was awesome to see what I was missing. Although I have seen lots of videos of cranks being ground, this man does an awesome job of explaining what he was doing. Thanks, I subbed!!!
To see such work almost brings tears to the eyes of an elderly ship’s Engineer. That man knows a thing or two that most of us can only dream about! Thank you!❤
I love how clean you and your dad keep all the machines and the floor. Shows customers your serious about what you do
A wonderful video, and a wonderful machinist! This is a real tribute to your dad, a wonderful teacher.
I wish i could have someone like him close to me so i could learn from him . This man is a master .
I love machining videos, the math, the skill, the finesse, and the enormous amount of knowledge to have is so cool.
It was really nice watching your dad grind this crankshaft, he is a master at his craft! Thanks for sharing
I love watching professionals such as your dad work. It's obvious he has many years of experience and knows his job & machinery inside and out and backwards, which is exactly the type of machinist you want working on vital engine components. The clear and concise way he's explaining everything he's doing and why makes him an excellent teacher. Which makes it easier for an apprentice to learn the trade
When I was too many years ago to state, I watched a gentleman come my dad's shop and grind a crank and machine/hone a cylinder in an old Chrysler flat head with engine in the car. These guys are right up there! Great videos, keep them coming.
Tell your dad he is a natural KZheadr! Great work from both you Men. Hope to see many more videos from you guys! Thanks.......
Retired carpenter here. Not just iron but building materials have gotten heavier too. Thanks for the tutorials on your trade. I love looking over your shoulder.
yep me too retired Oilfield Worker and Carpenter as well. steel and wood has gotten way heavier. i can remember picking up 2 solid core doors or throwing 8. 2x4s on your shoulder and walking up a flight stairs to the second story and never think twice about it. But i will say this, we sold our farm because i couldn't find any help putting up hay in the summers because you can't find a kid to work no mater what or how much you pay them. Putting up 2k bales by yourself in your 60s got a little much.
I’ve even gotten heavier
Most kids these days are lazy! The have been programmed ( or De-programmed) by computers. The food/fuel is terrible.
Always a pleasure to watch a craftsman work and explain his process. I started my machining career in 1985 at an automotive machine shop. The last 23 years of my machining career has been in the Aerospace and Defense shops. My foundation was built in that small automotive shop and I still build engines to this day for myself and customers as a side hobby. Thank you for sharing, was a pleasure watching.
"""First class workmanship , a wonderful video ,I gave 44 years as a motor mechanic , and we had great machine shops available to us also, best wishes to you Jim from Dublin Irelsnd.😉👍
Wow, an outstanding and impressive technical information that very few out there are willing to provide, I am a 70 years old man that was born and raised in the gasoline and diesel mechanical field, also worked in research and development in the troubleshooting area for 30 years, for the first time in my life someone gave me the time and complete technical information about grinding a crankshaft, to each and everyone that one way or another made it possible my most expensive thanks, blessings to you guys, from the endless summer paradise Puerto Rico, Jesus Torres.
It's a pleasure to watch a true machinist work his magic
Just marveling at the precision of that machine and the smoothness of the bearings on that stone rotation shaft and the chucks. 100% precision going on there, in the right hands, so beautiful to watch.
I’ll be honest. As a CNC machinist, this work is way cooler and more interesting then what I do. Kudos for getting the chance to work alongside pops, who seems to have a wealth and lifetimes worth of knowledge. Love the content, look forward to seeing more in the future.
Oh man thanks for bringing back old memories, I LOVED working in the Automotive machine shop in the 90's. Crank grinding was one of the last I learned before making the mistake of getting out of the low paying shop and chasing the dollar. great video
This is art. Way beyond good work; like watching a pair of master gunsmiths.
It's skill and experience, not art...
Stunning care and knowledge of this master engineer. For 50 years I had always wondered how big-end journals can be re-ground to a smaller size. Now I know. However, I cannot believe that many (if any) engineering shops ever work to this man's care and accuracy. Just one very tiny thing. I wish the video showed the final polishing with tape to get a mirror finish. Many thanks.
I use to be a manual machinist but now I’m a button pusher and I miss this so much! Great video,I really miss grinding and the skill this guy has is something I wish I was around him to soak up the knowledge
"Absolutely luv watching a Master Machinist at work" Cheers!
Many years ago I worked with an older fella that was a master on a crank and camshaft grinder. Old school Cincinnati cam operated crank grinder. Glenn Turner, worked twenty plus years at Ford Aircraft engine plant in Chicago and after that worked almost thirty at Union Special Corporation in Huntley Illinois. This guy wasn’t happy until he was able to split a tenth. Haven’t seen him in thirty five years. What an honor to workaround Glenn!
I always wondered how that was done. Fascinating. Like all professionals, you made it LOOK easy.
Exceptional craftsmanship. Respect!
This is a great and through machine shop lecture for grinding Crank shafts. Lots of wisdom on the best ways to do this which may involve compromises.
I’m glad there are people as patient and intelligent as your dad. It amazes me to watch this process. Next time I take a crank to the machine shop, I won’t mumble under my breath at what they charge for such a service as this. It’s a tedious process.
Best "proper" crank grinding video I have seen. Great skill and Patience.
I worked in machine shops as a teenager. I’m in my 50’s and still remember my time in them. The drill press, bridgeport, surface grinder, CNC .. Machine tools are as close to perfection as you can get.
Cast iron getting heavier. That’s awesome. I’ll have to remember that! Thanks.
Machinist for 25 years, and I'm still fascinated by crankshaft grinding.
So amazing. I always wondered how they did this. What a Craftsman! Such precision is truly a work of art. Thanks so much for sharing this! It's great to see that in a "throw it away" world there are still men like this.
Could watch this man work all day...
This man really knows and understands what he is doing here. All my working life of over 49 years now I have been a hard chrome plater, and have seen many a crank come in for repair that a grinder has "messed up". And a fair few times they have then messed up the crank again after whe have put on 040" deposit of hard chrome. Its amazing the amount of grinders that forget the diffrence between "diameter and radius". David in the U.K.
@@gags730 Yes, only the worn journal gets hard chrome plated. Firstly the crank is attached to a big copper jig so it hangs vertically, then after being degreased the whole crank is suspended in a hot wax tank. When it has reached the same tempreature as the wax it is lifted up and left to drain. Over the next few hours it gets more quick dips to build up a coating of wax that completly seals the crank everywhere, inside and out. After it cools to a certain point the wax is cut off from just the areas that need to be hard chrome plated. When the whole job has cooled, the plating areas are cleaned thoroughly before the job is lowered into a plating vat. Plating speeds can vary due to many factors. Typically l usually obtain a deposit rate of about one thousands of an inch per hour. So if a crank is say - 030" undersize before plating it will deposit that amount on the diameter in 15 hours, but it will normally get more and be plated oversize to allow an extra grinding allowance. After the job is finished plating the wax coating is melted off in hot water. When that water has later cooled, the wax is cut off the top and when bone dry can be recycled back into the wax tank. Grinders are great at removing metal, but in 50 years in the hard chrome plating trade, i have never yet met one that can put metal back on! Just type hard chrome plating into youtube, there are several good sites to follow.
Beautiful work and what a blessing to have a father to show you and teach you his craft like that.
Facinating! It’s like watching a master violinist. I hope the next generations are learning these trades. 👏🏼👏🏼🇺🇸
Wow, great video. I don't think there is a better video on you tube about grinding a crankshaft. I know your Dad is old school and doesn't like to give away all his secrets but I appreciate you guys sharing this. True machinists are rare as hens teeth these days.
Im really happy to see this trade cont.. with the son. Right now im watching 2 different machine shop closing down due to the fact there is no one to replace our 30 plus year experience tradesmen. These are the guys you take out for a beer when they retire to show a small appreciating of everything they done..
Great video. It is great to see the two of you working together. That was a bright spot when I worked with my father. Your dad is an excellent instructor.
It's great watching a Master at his craft. Watched the whole 28 minutes! Bravo, Bravo.
My dad did this for 40+ years. Good job Jim.
Nice to see a machine shop in action and be able to keep all processes under one roof . A lot of times things like crank grinding would need to be sent out . Better quality control this way .
I will be so Happy to have you guys close to me.! You guys seems Soo proud of what you guys
I’m a Hobby machinist and amazed at the set-up time. No wonder it costs so much. Time is everything!👍
Wonder what all this setup and machining time if you can find a new crank cheaper?
Great video, I could've watched another hour of this operation, looking over your pop's shoulder. These videos have helped me understand WHY I found it so hard in the past to find a good machine shop in my area - a man really has to know what he's doing to deliver a good crank, block, etc. to his customer. A good machine shop is worth its weight in gold.
My Dad was a machinist for over 40 years in the tolerances that they have to go through make things right is amazing the patience you must have . it was hard working with him when he wasn't doing machinist work because everything had to be perfect and that's what a machinist do make it perfect.
Here is a HEART SURGEON of motor vehicle engines at work - - BRILLIANT and fascinating to watch -- Thank you ! ! !
This gentleman is gold!! And what a wealth of knowledge!! Thank u for sharing
Thank You so much Jim for showing us your Magic . Best Wishes from Central Florida, Paul
I never realized You could chuck up a three jaw chuck! Of course. Now journals can be done, in my head. I smile.
That is such a good example of years of experience and Art In Motion
This makes me think about, and truly miss my father... ❤
There are probably many that find this as exciting as watching grass grow. I, however find it fascinating!!! Thank you "parts cleaning guy"!!!
I really enjoy watching an artist at work.
Thanks. It's a pleasure watching a true craftsman.
Fascinating to watch! It's amazing to think we were able to grind crankshafts & camshafts to such tolerances 70 & 80 years ago.
Dad is a rock star! Spending all of that time to correct someone else's "mistake" on parts of a crankshaft that most folks (myself included) would never even think about. 100% respect!
I built my first engine, when I was 18. I am now, 50. People, get what they pay for, at your shop! Great upload!
Thanks for posting the content. I have always wondered what kind of lathe was used to grind crankshafts. Wonderful work to “recycle” a 54 year old crank from a classic vehicle.
Wow, the confidence this master machinist has with these careful adjustments needed to get the piece "almost perfect". Also noted the rather immaculate surfaces on that precision grinder. I don't believe I have ever seen a machine tool in such clean condition. Thanks for teaching us dummies the workmanship involved on these engine parts.
I didn’t expect this to be a simple process, but I’m surprised at how complex it really is. Of course every grinding job doesn’t involve repairing a journal damaged by a spun bearing. It doesn’t take much to make the grinder’s day a lot longer, does it?
By far, this is my favorite video. Your dad is super smart! He explained his work perfectly!!
The engine is looking really good. Although it isn't Rocket Science it sure is a far cry from turning a Brake Drum. Really nice work!
Love every second of this video. I love hearing about all the knowledge and math it takes doing this stuff. Wish I could take a seat there and veg out. Keep it up man love hearing about bottom end work in this much detail.
hi been grinding for forty years. started watching my uncle crankshaft grind. had one of the first nc mig crank welders. Glad to see so many interested. Seems like we are always looking for tenth, one way or the other great video
In my 20 years of grinding crankshafts I had very few crankshafts from the factory that I didn't have to chase the stroke from journal to journal.
Which make had the worst as far as being out of tolerance.
People wondering why it cost so much to rebuild engines until they see the time it takes and cost of all those machines.And the knowledge Thanks for posting enjoyed watching thanks.
Jim's Automotive Machine Shop just came across your channel you now have a new SUBSCRIBER.I have been in the Automotive field ( Diag. and Repair) for many years.You are a weath of knowledge.Keep up the great videos and take care.
If your dad is as good of a father as he is a craftsman you are truly blessed.
Wow ! So cool how you are able to resurface the crankshaft journals . I always wondered how this was done and now I know . Thanks for sharing this outstanding video for others to learn from on KZhead.
That crank machine is absolute mechanivcal voodoo. Great video!
as a backyard mechanic this is pure art to watch thanks for sharing
Virtually nothing has changed from when I used to grind shafts in a speed shop back in Philly in the late sixties and early seventies. But engine rebuilding has become a lost art and to support a family, had to switch over from automotive machinist to heavy truck tech.
Man, I could see me toasting a perfectly good crank shaft with that equipment. I enjoy watching you guys work. Cheers from Louisiana.
Learn all you can from Florida so he won’t be around forever and you’ll always remember what you I have learned from your dad wish mine was around to teach me when I didn’t learn from him he taught me a lot and I remember those were good times God bless
Just retired from a diesel shop after 35 years of general machine and engine repair, grinding crankshafts was one of my favorite jobs. And tool making.
Top notch Sir, God bless him. How he carries him self is scintillating.
It was a great eye opener watching this absolute craftsman do his thing to get this crank as near to spec as was possible. I've never watched a crank being ground and have only on three occasions had to have this done to an engine I was building and on all three it was on a Ford Kent engine here in the UK funnily enough. It's a fascinating process and thank you for bringing it to us.
Hello fellow Ford Kent owner friend!
you are right about the cast iron getting heavier,but i find the aluminiumn is to after 50 odd years.
Fascinating! I never understood how the rod journals could be ground. Now, watching this makes it very clear to me.
I've always wondered how this was done. I wish I would have had the opportunity to do machining before I was 50. But I can say watching this guy he's almost working off all muscle memory. The Experience & confidence is truly where Science meets art. Thank You so much for this Video .
What a wonderful gift to have your fathers know how, and have a son willing to take it all in.
Man does that take me back! I used to grind cranks back in the late 70's. I loved the challenge of putting a part back to what it was supposed to be. Whoever ground that crank before probably just followed what was there originally. Small block Chevy used to be the worst for index and stroke. The factory remanufactured were bad for different size journals. If one main was bad they would only grind that main. You really had to be aware. The best cranks I ever ground were from Mack diesel engines. They were spot on every time. I only had one crank break while grinding. That is bad news for you and the machine. I was roughing in a large air compressor crank that had been built up with weld by me. I was a few seconds away from stopping and checking it for cracks when it broke. It shattered the 36 inch grinding wheel and broke the guard. It made an absolute mess of my 19 year old nerves. The guy that trained me ran a Van Norman 111 grinder. It could grind up to a D-8 Cat crank. It had a 48 inch rock on it. He had a brand new rock come apart on his machine. We had just ring tested and balanced the rock and installed it on the spindle. We brought the speed up slowly and dressed the faces. We both commented that we didn't like how the rock sounded and turned the spindle off. At that moment the rock exploded into about ten pieces. One piece hit my friend and broke his collar bone several ribs and put a gash in his cheek. He was in the hospital for several weeks. I got hit in my left safety glass lens and blacked my eye plus a slight concussion. The machine faired worse. It bent the spindle, shattered the guard and dressing station. It also broke one of the chuck jaws and knocked the chuck off center. Other damage was done to the controls and coolant system. Norton made the rock and was there the next day. They determined that the rock was defective and repaired the machine and paid both my and my friend's medical bills. Of all the years he and I ground cranks that is the only mishaps we ever had. Mostly we would chatter back and forth just watching those sparks fly and the coolant sizzle. I loved doing automotive machine work but at that time you just didn't make much money at it. The local Cat dealer seduced me into grinding their cranks for them after having a falling out with the new management of the shop. Hey, it was a 3 dollar pay raise. Thanks for taking us along for the ride. It was a trip down memory lane for me! Terry from South Carolina
A very interesting post Terry, I've had a normal 10" pedestal grinder wheel break up and that was frightening enough, but to have a bloody four foot diameter wheel burst the thought is absolutely fucking terrifying ! Glad you both were finally ok
Was that three dollars an hour or week?
@@samrodian919 three dollars an hour. Minimum was $2.30 and I was making $6.00.
@@samrodian919 shortly after that we had a hostile takeover by a competitor. They gave the operation of my grinder to one of their employees while I was recovering. I was bumped down to washing parts and delivery. I was delivering an engine to the Cat dealer when they told me they were getting their own grinder and wanted me to run it. Pretty good for a scruffy, rough looking hippie type 19 year old. I was skittish of grinding wheels for a long time after that one came apart. I got to know the Norton rep pretty good, grateful they were such a class act. Terry from South Carolina
I rarely do engine build anymore but if I needed a crank ground I want this guy to do it. Setting all stroke lengths the same plus having the index accurate is way more important than just 'getting a size' Engine will be much smoother running and last longer plus have less 'parasitic losses' Impressed!
I love the information on engineering he provides.
It is so awesome to see the crank grinding process. Salute.
What a cool process to be able to follow along with. Thank you for sharing valuable and intriguing information for those of us gear heads that just drop the parts of at the machine shop and expect them back pretty. Very cool!
I have never done any machining in my life. But I am addicted to machining videos.
Many thanks for posting the video. Now I understand why a quality regrind cost what it does, time, equipment and know how.
Outstanding work . You are in the best place to Learn as much as you can from your father while he’s around I only wish my father help me out more like yours has another great video keep them coming
A true artisan and craftsman! Thank you for sharing.
Awesome video. Not only do you need an incredible machine but you need an incredible operator