I have read that using a torque plate during a rebuild
is prefered.
The local shops around here say I don't
really need to use one for a stock rebuild.

Any opinions?
Thanks

 

I'm just extrapolating here, but head bolts deliver an amazing amount of distortion to the engine block on small block gassers. And a Cummins has a lot more head bolts with more torque.
Now maybe they don't, and boring plates are expensive .....
I guess a Cummins engineer or one of the professional truck pullers would be the expert on that kind of thing

 

Egads, you would need a crane to lift the torque plate on one of these.

I wouldn't worry about it.

 

I would not expect to need one. Only engines I've ever heard of really needing them is aluminum blocks.

Cylinder head torque on a cast iron block really shouldn't cause any noticeable distortion unless it's a really weak block which these aren't. Plus with a wet sleeve the sleeves have some degree of float within the block, so block distortion is even less likely to effect the cylinder bores.

I know on my Ford idi diesel motor (6.9) we didn't use one and there's never been any issue. Not a 6BT true, but similar construction.

 

Their are no wet sleeves in a 5.9. Only time you would see a sleeve is a dry sleeve in one that's been repaired

 

Whoops, thought it was like the 8.3. I always thought that was one of the reasons everyone loved it. Goes to show how much I've worked with them....

 

If your at a reputable engine machine shop I would follow their advise. I have never seen one used on any engine I've had machine work done on.

 

You would be shocked at how much even a stout cast iron block moves around, especially any that have deck level threads.

Not enough to cause issues with a daily driver, but if you are truly blueprinting the thing for the last ounce of power, perfectly round bores are a necessity.

Many of the top builders now even bring the block to the desired operating temperature and circulate coolant while boring and honing.

All that is academic though for 99.9 percent of builds.

 

I used one and the thing never has run right since.
Maybe I should just take it off.

Niemand

 

I've heard of them being used but don't know how critical it is for an engine in the lower end of the now, huge horsepower range. I'm not even sure if one was used on my shortblock when it was bored and rebuilt recently. Maybe more of a concern if and when building and blueprinting a high horsepower or competition engine.