thread cleaners and other tool questions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

ryans69chevy · 11-21-2010, 04:59 PM

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

*Shane* · 11-21-2010, 07:22 PM

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.

Maxxd07 · 11-21-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane

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.

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!

ryans69chevy · 11-21-2010, 08:17 PM

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?

Maxxd07 · 11-21-2010, 09:35 PM

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.

ryans69chevy · 11-21-2010, 09:40 PM

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!

Maxxd07 · 11-21-2010, 09:55 PM

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

brans72 · 11-22-2010, 07:39 AM

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.

dwcsr · 11-22-2010, 03:10 PM

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

**truckdude239** · 11-23-2010, 03:22 PM

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

*Shane* · 11-23-2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwcsr

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

why a grade 8?

ryans69chevy · 01-30-2011, 11:53 PM

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!

79gmcc15 · 01-31-2011, 07:24 AM

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.

11-21-2010, 04:59 PM	#1
ryans69chevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Casselton, North Dakota 58012 Posts: 1,082	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

11-21-2010, 07:22 PM	#2
Shane Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: over yonder Posts: 14,270	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.

11-21-2010, 08:17 PM	#4
ryans69chevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Casselton, North Dakota 58012 Posts: 1,082	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?

11-21-2010, 09:35 PM	#5
Maxxd07 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: ND Posts: 520	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. __________________ Name: Les ---------------------- Couple 80s Couple 70s One 68

11-21-2010, 09:40 PM	#6
ryans69chevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Casselton, North Dakota 58012 Posts: 1,082	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!

11-21-2010, 09:55 PM	#7
Maxxd07 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: ND Posts: 520	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. __________________ Name: Les ---------------------- Couple 80s Couple 70s One 68

11-22-2010, 07:39 AM	#8
brans72 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Durham,NC Posts: 636	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. Last edited by brans72; 11-22-2010 at 07:42 AM.

11-22-2010, 03:10 PM	#9
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,131	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.

11-23-2010, 03:22 PM	#10
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,238	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 __________________ David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube

01-30-2011, 11:53 PM	#12
ryans69chevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Casselton, North Dakota 58012 Posts: 1,082	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!

01-31-2011, 07:24 AM	#13
79gmcc15 Gettin It One Pice At A Time Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: everett, washington Posts: 2,688	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. __________________ RIP ELJAY Work In Progress 1979 GMC C1500 Trailering Special. Getting the truck done, one piece at a time. “You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans.”Ronald Reagan “I don’t know the key to success but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” Bill Cosby



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