In order to build the best, highest-performance engines, you’ve got to know what you’re doing and have the right tools on hand. At Regis Manufacturing, we’re passionate about auto performance and providing you the best equipment and parts you need to fine tune your favorite ride or build the beastly engine of your dreams. Read on to learn exactly what gear you need to achieve the best engine build possible.

Tapered Ring Compressor

Do you find it difficult to install piston and connecting rod assemblies? Tapered ring compressors are about to make your life a whole lot easier. These compressors lightly squeeze the piston rings to funnel the piston assembly directly into your cylinder bores without damaging or breaking any part of your assembly. When buying tapered ring compressors, it’s important to know that they are not universal! Each tapered ring compressor is designed to fit a certain size of cylinder bore. Some models are designed for extra grip, too. Choosing the best tapered ring compressor model for the specific needs of your engine build will make all the difference.

Piston Ring Squaring Tool

It’s crucial to your engine build that you get an accurate measurement of the ring end gaps in your cylinder bores. Piston ring squaring tools make this process easier by squaring the piston ring in the cylinder bore so you can get a precise measurement. Squaring tools evenly push piston rings a half-inch down the cylinder bore, allowing you to reach through the tool and pull up on the ring to square it to the deck. Piston ring squaring tools are available for a variety of cylinder bore sizes.

Piston Ring Filer

While many replacement piston ring sets are available with pre-gapped compression rings, most ring sets for high-performance engines are designed to be hand-fit. What that means for you is that the end gap is measured and has to be filed to fit its specific cylinder bore. Piston ring filing tools make the process much easier. Piston ring filers clamp to the end of a workbench and are cranked to file the piston ring. Most piston ring filers are made with carbide wheels, which quickly file any piston ring. Just be careful that you don’t crank too fast and over-file your piston ring!

Engine Brushes

Cleanliness is important, especially when assembling an engine, since dirt and other residue left behind can impact the performance of your engine. In fact, most professional engine builders will clean an engine block several times over the course of a build, and again when the build is complete to eliminate any trace of residue. Engine brushes come in a variety of sizes to help you reach into the tiniest, hard-to-reach places in your engine build. If you build engines regularly, you’ll want to replace your engine brushes as they wear down and become less effective.

Crank Socket

At some point during your engine build, you’re going to be turning your engine over. For instance, you'll have to do it at least once to degree the camshaft. One of the easiest ways to spin your crank and turn your engine is with a crank socket. Crank sockets fit on the end of the crankshaft and are easily rotated with a ratchet or breaker bar. Crank sockets are available for most models of high-performance engines.

Degree Wheel

You’ll need a degree wheel for one of the most essential tasks in building a high-performance engine: degreeing a camshaft. Degree wheels come in a variety of sizes and colors, and it’s important you pick one that is highly visible, adjustable, and properly sized for your engine build.

Harmonic Balancer Installation Tool

Installing harmonic dampeners is definitely one of the biggest chores in engine building, but harmonic balancer installation tools can make the process a little easier. Don’t think you can hammer the dampener in place — it has to be pressed on with this installation tool. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to use. You simply screw it into the threaded nose of a crank — its thrust bearing takes care of the rest as you screw, gently squeezing the harmonic dampener onto the crank snout without damaging the crank or dampener.

Pushrod Length Checker

If you’re working on an overhead valve engine, a pushrod length checker is essential to ensure your adjustments don’t disrupt the balance of particular parts. If you deck the engine block, mill the cylinder heads, or do anything else that changes the distance between the rocker arm cup and the lifter seat, you’ll need to check your pushrod length to ensure that everything is in order. Pushrod length checkers are easy to use. All you have to do is insert a checker in place of a pushrod and adjust it until the correct length is reached. Measure the length of the tool with a caliper to ensure you order pushrods of the right length for your build.

Dial Bore Gauge

To determine the size, straightness, and taper of the main bearings and cylinder bores in your engine build, you’ll need a dial bore gauge. Dial bore gauges are handier and more accurate than snap gauges, and aren’t too expensive. They should be in the collection of every engine builder.

Oil Pump Primer

It’s incredibly important that you prime the oil pump on an engine build before starting it. If you don’t, you are very likely to ignite your new engine without oil between the moving parts. This will damage your new engine build, perhaps critically. Oil pump primers can help you avoid these consequences. Primers have a drive tip that fits snugly into electric drills, and the bottom end fits into your oil pump’s drive tank. All you have to do is spin the oil pump using a drill until your oil pressure gauge shows that your engine has oil pressure. Only after doing this will your engine be ready to start.

Engine Storage Cradle

Engine stands are unreliable, even the highest-quality ones. With how heavy engine builds are, you can’t afford to rest your work on something that isn’t completely stable. If you’re not installing your engine build in a car once it’s complete, you should store it in on a dedicated storage cradle. These cradles have easy-to-access mounting points that provide a reliable grip on your engine block.

Valve Spring Height Micrometer

It’s imperative that you accurately determine the installation height of your valve springs so that they are matched to your camshaft to deliver maximum pressure without binding to the coil. The easiest way to get the most accurate measurement possible is with a valve spring height micrometer. Micrometers are installed just like valve springs, then expanded until they’ve seated the valve. The simulated pressure allows for pinpoint readings accurate to one one-thousandth of an inch.

Stud Removal Tool

Studs can be a pain to remove by hand. To save yourself time and elbow grease during your engine build, consider investing in a stud removal tool. These cheap tools can be used to remove or install threaded studs of most sizes, and all that’s needed to use them is a drive ratchet.

Valve-Checking Springs

Flowing testing your cylinder heads is critical during an engine build, because horsepower is directly correlated to engine airflow. To test engine airflow in your build, you’ll need low-tension valve-checking springs that can hold your valves open at increments of either 0.05- or 0.1 inch. Valve-checking springs allow for your engine valves to be opened slowly while you test the airflow of your engine build. These types of springs take the position of your engine valve springs during testing and work with most hardware and in most types of engine builds.

Tap and Die Kit

Poorly-aligned bolt threads can damage parts in your engine and significantly increase the timeline on your engine build project. Tap and die sets can help you avoid wasting time by giving you the tools you need to rethread and clean up your bolt threads. Most kits come with the tools capable of handling most sizes of bolt threads and bolt holes. These kinds of kits are cheap and are great to have on hand as a safeguard against annoying bolt thread issues.

Find What You Need for Your Engine Build With Regis Manufacturing

Now that you know what tools you need to build an engine, you can get to work upgrading your favorite car or restoring a treasured family vehicle. When you’re in need of tools or parts for your next engine build, be sure to visit the Regis Manufacturing shop for the most durable and reliable equipment on the market. Order what you need for your next engine build and get started on your next project today!