thread cleaners and other tool questions
 

I'm gonna go shopping for a few important tools that I need to rebuild an engine and just to add to my tool box for other car essentials. I need a tap and die set to clean my thread on my block. I've heard ARP thread cleaners are one of the best so they help keep the bolts torqued. I'm just wondering if a cheaper tap and die set like craftman would work just as well or if I should just spend the money and go with a set from ARP, or just buy the ones that I'm gonna use the most? What do you guys think? I also need a torque wrench. I suppose 1/2 inch would be the best, but I hardly have any 1/2 inch sockets. Would a 3/8 inch torque wrench be sufficient enough for torquing bolts on my engine or should I buy a good set of 1/2 inch sockets? What brands would be good to go with on this stuff?

Thanks for any advice

Re: thread cleaners and other tool questions
 

never use taps and dies to clean threads ... buy thread chasers. they look very similar but there is a difference.

taps and dies will always remove material when ran back over threads making for a weaker fastener.

Re: thread cleaners and other tool questions
 

Not only that but it dulls them.

I have some Craftsman thread chasers myself, not to spendy and the great sears/craftsman gaurantee. A 3/8 torque wrench should work but a 1/2 would make it easier. I have snap on torque wrenches but I am also a mechanic so they see more use. Craftsman stuff is great for the backyard wrencher and even some professionals use them. Its all personal preference and how deep your pocket book is but if I was you i would run to Fargo and go on a shopping spree! :)

Re: thread cleaners and other tool questions
 

Okay, so a craftsman thread cleaner would be good enough for using on engine blocks? I wish I had the money for Snap On! Where are you a mechanic at? Are you from fargo? Maybe for now I'll use a 3/8 torque wrench and if it seems to hard, I'll invest in a 1/2 inch.

What other important tools would be a good idea to invest in to make an engine rebuild much easier?

Re: thread cleaners and other tool questions
 

I am in western ND and work for a company that builds oil field locations. I went to college in Whap about 7 years ago so I bought a few things from sears in Fargo. I dont know why they wouldnt work for an engine block. Just clean them off after every hole you clean. Just your basic hand tools should do you other than a balancer installer/puller and torque wrench. If you will be doing some other work/jobs an impact would help as well as a die grinder with a buffer pad for cleaning up some gasket surfaces and preping things for paint.

Re: thread cleaners and other tool questions
 

Alrighty, I'll go there and check them out. Do you have any idea which ones I'd use the most of? Or maybe I should just by a set of them. That's a pretty good paying job!

Re: thread cleaners and other tool questions
 

It isnt bad pay, lol. I just have the whole kit, since you may find yourself using them in other applications.

Re: thread cleaners and other tool questions
 

thread clener set at Sears is cheap and worth every penny( under $100)!!! I bought one from Matco but I use them more often then a home mechanic. I will buy the Crftsman set for the house sometime also.Just a option you could use a 1/2 Torque wrench and a reducer from 1/2 to 3/8. I would go to www.tooltopia.com nd pick up a set of 1/2 Sunnex sockets there Great sockets for $$$$$$$$ and fast shipping.

Re: thread cleaners and other tool questions
 

I have always used a grade 8 bolt and cut slots in them works nicely for longer bolt needs.

Re: thread cleaners and other tool questions
 

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

is what i use at work for 113 dollars works great and have never had a problem with them

Re: thread cleaners and other tool questions
 

why a grade 8?

Re: thread cleaners and other tool questions
 

I have finally bought a set of thread chasers. It's a 40 pc set of craftsman rethreading kit from sears. After I opened the kit up and checked out the chasers, it seems like they are pretty small. I'm worried that they won't reach all the threads in an engine rebuild... I was thinking that the chasers were gonna be pretty long like ARP chasers are. Do these craftsman rethreading kits work for engine rebuilds to clean all the threads?

Thank you!

Re: thread cleaners and other tool questions
 

The bolts in a rebuild are not that long. The longest are in the heads and are maybe 3" (?)long. I think there is only 8 of them.