PROFORM Tools Every Car Guy Should Have In The Toolbox (PART 2)

 

Electric Piston Ring Filer - P/N: 66758

The Proform electric filer has a body made from aluminum, with provisions to be mounted directly to a workbench via integral mounting holes. The surface of the filer has been machined flat, and two dowels are installed to help true up the ring as it’s being filed.

This easy to use electric ring filer makes quick and precise work of ring grinding. Square up your ring by simply pressing it against the dowel pins for a clean grind. Includes a standard 120 volt adapter that works well in North America, Central America, and some S. American. 220 volt adapter sold separately under P/N 66811.

 

Heavy-Duty Valve Spring Compressor - P/N: 66832

The heavy-duty model from Proform is a universal design that can handle valves up to 13 inches long and valvesprings with up to 700 pounds of pressure.

This heavy-duty, simple-to-use, manual valve spring compressor makes short work of even monstrous springs. The compressor arm slides for adjustment, employing a locking pin for rapid, easy operation. The length to the center of the adjustable arm with cup is 6.5".

 

Valve Checking Springs - P/N: 66793

Speaking of valvesprings, these checker springs are an absolute must-have for your toolbox. Lightweight, low-tension springs, these are meant to provide enough pressure to keep the valvetrain under tension, but be easily compressible by hand. This allows you to easily check all sorts of valvetrain specs without the pressure from an actual valvespring making life tough. Plus, they are really inexpensive.

 

Camshaft Installation Handle - P/N 66898

Screwdriving is so much easier to do when you have a rigid handle bolted to the end of the camshaft. Not only do you have positive control of the cam in every axis of movement, but you also gain some additional leverage.

The Proform Universal Camshaft Handle comes with a total of six different mounting heads to cover a wide variety of domestic V6 and V8 engines of both the single-bolt and three-bolt variety. 

 

Valve Spring Height Micrometer

Checking the installed height of your valvesprings is a crucial measurement. Since spring rates vary based on the amount of compression, if you have 16 valvesprings all with different installed heights, you will have 16 different seat pressures, and 16 different open pressures. The most accurate way to measure your installed height, just like with most other things, is with a micrometer.

Proform makes a micrometer specifically for valves, to measure installed height. In fact, they make multiple versions: For standard V8 valvesprings (1.600-2.100 inches) they make P/N: 66902, for beehive valvesprings they make P/N: 67390. And if you need to measure smaller valvesprings, they even make P/N: 66903 for 1.400-1.800-inch spring heights. The easy-to-read markings make it a snap to know exactly what your installed spring height is.

 

Valve Seal Installation Tool - P/N 67444

Similar to the screwdriver-in-the-cam, we’re sure there are plenty of folks out there who might scoff at a proper valve seal installation tool. However, using a socket — as we know many of you have — can sometimes lead to damaged valve seals. So it really only makes sense to use the proper tool, especially when it’s on the inexpensive side of the spectrum.

The Proform valve seal installation tool is made from CNC-machined aluminum with a red anodized finish and a knurled end for an improved grip. It’s designed to install .500-inch and .531-inch seals and will give you years of use.

 

Pushrod Length Checker - P/N: 67560

One thing that can bring a project to a screeching halt is realizing your guess at pushrod length was wrong. Proform makes a variety of sizes of adjustable pushrod, from 6.125 inches all the way up to 11.500 inches. The Proform Pushrod Length Checker adjusts from 6.125 inches to 7.500 inches, which will cover both our LS project as well as the SBF we have in storage.

Using it is simply a matter of unscrewing the adjustable end until you have reached the desired length, lock it down, and then check the geometry. Once you find the sweet spot, you pull the adjustable pushrod out and measure it. Now, you know for a fact that you are ordering the right length pushrod the first time.