Engine Machining Completed In-House at Oztrack
LS Engine Machining Services in Penrith, Sydney
Comec CNC, Sunnen Honing, Hotwash & Precision Tooling
In-house engine machining in Penrith
In-House LS Engine Machining at Oztrack
Oztrack provides engine machining for LS street, performance and race-engine builds from our Penrith workshop.
We complete CNC cylinder boring, torque-plate honing, block and cylinder-head surfacing, engine sleeving and other machining work in-house.
Each block is measured to suit the supplied pistons, rings, intended power level and engine use.
Machining completed in-house
Our Engine Machining Services
Machining requirements vary between a standard rebuild, a cammed street engine and a high-power race or supercharged combination.
CNC Cylinder Boring
Cylinders are bored close to the required finished size using our Comec CNC machine.
Final bore size is produced during honing to suit the supplied pistons and required clearance.
Torque-Plate Honing
A torque plate simulates the load placed on the block when the cylinder heads are fitted.
This helps us produce a more accurate bore shape under operating conditions.
Block and Cylinder-Head Surfacing
Blocks and cylinder heads are surfaced to provide the required flatness and gasket finish.
The required surface depends on the head-gasket type and engine use.
LS Engine Sleeving
Damaged or worn LS blocks can often be repaired using replacement cylinder sleeves.
Sleeving can also support selected larger-bore or higher-power builds.
Crankshaft Linishing
Crankshaft journals can be inspected and linished where their condition and measurements make this suitable.
Bearing clearances are then checked during the engine-build process.
Cam-Bearing Installation
New cam bearings can be supplied and installed as part of the machining or rebuild process.
Correct installation and alignment help the camshaft rotate freely.
Ring Gapping
Piston rings are measured and gapped to suit the bore size, piston type, fuel and intended engine use.
Boosted and high-output engines may require different ring gaps from standard street engines.
Hotwashing and Parts Cleaning
Blocks and suitable engine parts are cleaned before inspection, measurement and machining.
Clean parts make damage, wear and previous repairs easier to assess.
Measured, not guessed
How We Measure Cylinder Finish and Bore Size
Correct bore size is only part of the job. Cylinder shape, clearance and surface finish also affect ring seal, oil control and engine life.
Mitutoyo Profilometer
We use a Mitutoyo profilometer to measure the cylinder-wall surface.
This gives us data about the finished surface rather than relying only on its appearance.
- Checks cylinder surface texture
- Helps match the finish to the piston rings
- Provides repeatable measurement
Sunnen Bore-Gauge Measurement
Bore size is checked at several heights and directions using precision measuring equipment.
This helps us assess finished diameter, taper and out-of-round.
- Multiple measurements in each cylinder
- Taper and bore shape checked
- Results matched to the supplied pistons
Piston-to-Bore Clearance
The correct clearance depends on the piston material, piston design, intended power and engine use.
We measure the supplied pistons before finishing the bores.
- Street and race use considered
- Boost and operating temperature considered
- Clearance set for the actual piston
Correct parts and clearances
Machining must match the engine combination
The piston, rings, bearings, fasteners and intended rpm range all affect the required machining and clearances.
We recommend supplying the pistons before cylinder boring and honing begins. This lets us measure the actual parts rather than working from a catalogue figure alone.
Our workshop equipment
Our Engine Machining Equipment
Our machining equipment allows the block to remain under Oztrack's control from initial inspection through to the completed engine build.
Comec CNC Machine
Our Comec CNC equipment is used for engine-block boring, surfacing and selected sleeving work.
CNC control helps produce consistent machining across the block.
Dial Bore Gauge Measurement
Every cylinder is measured with a precision dial bore gauge after machining. We check the finished bore size, taper and out-of-round before the engine is assembled.
These measurements help us achieve the correct piston-to-bore clearance for the supplied pistons and the engine's intended use, whether it is a street, performance or supercharged combination.
Mitutoyo Profilometer
We use a Mitutoyo profilometer to measure the cylinder wall surface after honing. This allows us to check the actual surface finish rather than relying on appearance alone.
The correct surface finish helps modern piston rings bed in properly, improves oil control and contributes to long engine life. Different piston rings and engine combinations can require different cylinder finishes, so measurement is an important part of our machining process.
Machining for different applications
Who We Provide Machining For
Vehicle Owners
We can help owners who need a damaged, worn or performance LS engine machined and rebuilt.
- Street engine rebuilds
- Cammed performance engines
- Supercharged LS engines
- Damaged engine blocks
Workshops and Mechanics
Workshops can supply stripped blocks, cylinder heads and engine parts for agreed machining work.
- Cylinder boring and honing
- Block and head surfacing
- Sleeving and block repairs
- Measurement and inspection
Performance and Race Engines
Higher-output engines may need different clearances, cylinder finishes and parts from a standard street rebuild.
- High-compression engines
- Supercharged and turbocharged builds
- High-rpm race combinations
- Large-bore and sleeved blocks
From inspection to final measurement
Our Engine Machining Process
Every job starts with inspection and measurement. The exact machining depends on the block condition, supplied parts and intended engine use.
Initial Inspection
We inspect the block, bores, decks, main tunnel and visible damage. We also confirm the engine type and intended use.
Cleaning
The block and suitable parts are cleaned so wear, damage and previous repairs can be assessed properly.
Measure the Block
We measure bore size, taper and out-of-round. Supplied pistons are also measured before final machining starts.
CNC Boring
Cylinders are CNC bored close to the required finished size where boring is needed.
Torque-Plate Honing
The cylinders are honed to final size and finish. A torque plate is used where required to better simulate the fitted cylinder head.
Surface-Finish Check
We use a profilometer to check the cylinder-wall finish and confirm it suits the piston rings and engine application.
Final Measurements
Bore size, piston-to-bore clearance and other required measurements are checked before the block moves to assembly.
Ready for Assembly
The machined block is prepared for the next stage of the engine build or returned for assembly by the customer or workshop.
Common machining combinations
Typical LS Machining Packages
Every engine is inspected before machining starts. These examples show common combinations of work for standard, performance and high-power LS engine builds.
Standard LS Block Preparation
Best suited to a standard or mild street-engine rebuild.
- Block cleaning and initial inspection
- Cylinder bore measurement
- CNC boring where required
- Final cylinder honing
- Deck and main tunnel inspection
- Final bore measurements recorded
Performance LS Block Preparation
Best suited to cammed, high-compression and naturally aspirated performance engines.
- Detailed block inspection and measurement
- CNC cylinder boring
- Torque-plate honing
- Block surfacing where required
- Cam-bearing installation
- Piston-ring gapping available
- Profilometer surface-finish checks
Sleeved or High-Power LS Block
Best suited to damaged blocks, larger bores and boosted or high-output engine combinations.
- Detailed block inspection
- Replacement sleeves where required
- CNC boring and block machining
- Torque-plate honing
- Deck machining
- Clearances matched to the engine build
- Final bore and surface-finish measurement
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to supply the pistons before the block is bored?
Yes, where possible. We prefer to measure the actual pistons before finishing the cylinders. This lets us set the piston-to-bore clearance for the supplied parts.
What is torque-plate honing?
A torque plate is bolted to the block during honing. It simulates some of the load created when the cylinder heads are installed and helps produce a more accurate finished bore shape.
Can Oztrack machine an engine for another workshop?
Yes. Workshops and mechanics can supply stripped blocks and parts for agreed machining work. Contact us first so we can confirm what must be supplied.
Can a damaged LS cylinder be sleeved?
Many damaged LS blocks can be repaired with a replacement sleeve. The block must be inspected before we can confirm whether repair is suitable.
Does every LS block need to be bored oversize?
No. The cylinders must be cleaned and measured first. Some blocks may only need honing, while worn or damaged cylinders may need boring or sleeving.
Can you machine both the block and cylinder heads?
Yes. Oztrack provides block and cylinder-head machining. The work required depends on the parts, condition and intended engine build.
How much does LS engine machining cost?
Cost depends on the inspection results and the machining required. View our machining-service options or contact Oztrack for a quote based on your engine and supplied parts.
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Request an Engine Machining Quote
Send us the engine type, block condition, piston size, intended use and the machining work you believe is required.
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