Does anyone know where I can get a Torque plate for the DOHC

[sd_iconoclast]

I am taking an automotive machining class and I would like to use a torque plate when boring my cylinders. I have one local quote for $500 to make me one. Does anybody know where I can get one cheaper?

[GPXSS]

I only know of one place that has one, ASG in indiana. I asked my machinist about using them when boring my 3100, and although they are "best case" tools to use, you do not need one on a 60º V6.

Torque plates are basically 1 to 2" thick steel or aluminum plates shaped like a head gasket which is bolted and torqued to the block before the boring/honing process. What this does is simulate the stress of the head bolts pulling up around the cylinders which distorts the bore ever so slightly. When you bore using these, it gives you a truer bore with the head on the block, instead of having nothing at all.

Now, most of these are used on engines with siamesed cylinders, or where the head bolts / studs are very close to the cylinder. On a 60º V6 the head bolt holes are quite a distance away, and do not tie directly into material connected to the cylinder. Basically you could use them, but there isn't enough load put on the cylinder area for it to make any difference than if you didnt use them.

If you still want them you can do a websearch, or get them made at http://www.bhjinc.com/ but they are still hella expensive.