78cutlass

I hear torque plate boring/honing is MANDATORY when rebuilding Olds V8s, especially SBO 350s & 403s. It makes sense, but has anyone skipped this procedure, and still produced a healthy engine that's held up over time without any significant issues that might be attributed to skipping torque plating? Your input is appreciated. Thank you.

Bobsw32

Yes I have skipped it but given the choice you should.....I have a torque plate that you can use if you or your machinist doesn't have one.

cutlassefi

And I have a Bor-Tru plate that will locate the bores correctly if you're taking enough out. A torque plate won't do that.

78cutlass

thank's guys, just trying to get into the meat/potatoes of diserable machine work for an Olds V8.

380 Racer

In my humble opinion you don't need to use a torque plate untill you get into the ultra high performance builds. I wound up buying one myself about 3 builds ago. Before that never used one. I would worry much more about a big block over a small block.

78cutlass

380Racer,
Yeah, that's what my engine guy said, and he's been building motors for 30-years or so. He basically said the same thing, that the torque plating is more for serious race build-ups. He built me a '69 Olds 355 with forged Speed Pros, 9.8:1 CR, which he claims will make about 350 HP/400 TQ all day long, and live forever without having been torque plated. However, the motor was treated to other diserable machine work. I'm still in the midst of having it installed in a '78 Cutlass.

78cutlass

380Racer,
By the way, that's a mean-*** SBO you put together...

380 Racer

Thanks!! I am very pleased with it so far .