Engine building is all about making the job easier. If you're having fun and the job is going well, assembling an engine can be a very enjoyable experience. A big part of this is having the right tools. Knight Racing Products recently sent us a couple of tools that make engine building easier and more fun.
Our favorite is the Ultimate Head Stand, which uses a pair of plates that bolt to the ends of one head that insert into a pair of bases that allow you to rotate the head and then lock it down in that position. Knight offers several sets of plates depending upon the application, including small- and big-block Chevy, Pontiac, big-block Mopar, small-block Ford, and even plates for Cleveland heads. We tried the Ultimate Head Stand on an aluminum small-block Chevy head and it worked great. This allows you to port, measure installed height, install valves, and do any number of different head-related operations. Knight also makes a 9.5-inch cam handle that is longer than most tools and is powdercoated a beautiful translucent blue. It was almost too nice to put in our toolbox. Another tool is a simple stand for checking pushrod straightness using a standard dial indicator. Knight's little spring-loaded wristpin tool called the Stroker centers the connecting rod in the bore for clearancing blocks so you don't have to use your expensive pistons during block grinding.
We thought these tools were both well engineered and properly executed and could be just the ticket for your toolbox. Check 'em out.
Parts List Component Price Camshaft tool, SBC-BBC $23 A-engine Mopar cam tool 19 Ultimate Head Stand, std. set plates 60 Stroker Tool, SBC 30 Engine Lift Plate 30 Pushrod Straightness Tool 46