Dial Indicator and Magnetic Base Set

[4.6 litre]

Guys,

I need to purchase a dial indicator and a magnetic base set for my bell house run-out test. The transmission is a Tremac TKX with a .005 run out. Silver Sport Transmission had a set for about $100 but they were out of stock. Can anyone recommend a set in this price range.

Thanks,

Damien

[Kodiak]

J & L tools. Summit, Jegs , local tools shops shouldn’t be to hard to find .

[BRRT]

Check Amazon, Harbor Freight. Cheap Chinese stuff, but should get you in the park.
If you think you will ever use the indicator again go with Mitutoyo or Starrett. More money, more accurate, more repeatable, longer life.
Good tools are an invest that pays off over time.

[BradCraig]

I borrowed a Harbor Freight one, good enough to get the job done. This is in the same class as an engine hoist. If possible, borrow it.

[CraigS]

Jeff is correct about quality tools. But, I have had exactly what you are looking for 30+ years. The last time I used it was back in 2018. So I'd buy an HF one if I were you.

[Just 1 More]

I thought I needed something fancy and spent like $80 on a crazy adjustable, 100 way arm, and turns out that my Harbor freight basic base worked perfect.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51997511532_7e5347e042_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ndQQBw)20220411_193512 (https://flic.kr/p/2ndQQBw) by F G (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153250783@N04/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51997511567_e94e519a73_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ndQQC8)20220411_194433 (https://flic.kr/p/2ndQQC8) by F G (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153250783@N04/), on Flickr

[mladen]

Depending on how much you're willing and able to spend, I'd also recommend something of higher quality. A few years back I bought a mitutoyo with a magnetic base. It was about $300 for both. Used them for a few things, like checking runout on brake rotors on some of my other cars, etc

[Bill Elliott]

I thought I needed something fancy and spent like $80 on a crazy adjustable, 100 way arm, and turns out that my Harbor freight basic base worked perfect.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51997511532_7e5347e042_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ndQQBw)20220411_193512 (https://flic.kr/p/2ndQQBw) by F G (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153250783@N04/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51997511567_e94e519a73_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ndQQC8)20220411_194433 (https://flic.kr/p/2ndQQC8) by F G (https://www.flickr.com/photos/153250783@N04/), on Flickr

what is the plate on the back of the housing , i thought run out was checked at the bellhousing opening?

[MB750]

https://www.amazon.com/Indicator-Magnetic-Precision-Inspection-NAKAO/dp/B08L77HY82/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=dial+indicator+set&qid=1675641627&sr=8-10

My personal philosophy in these matters: If I'm gonna use it daily, buy quality. If not, buy cheap. It's worked well for me.

Even if I do have to replace something cheap I've still saved TONS over buying high quality of everything.

Also, it's like a set of golf clubs. Might as well go cheap since there's ZERO chance I can out-play their abilities. I always laugh at people with a full set of Pings barely braking 100.

[JohnK]

My experience was different. I bought the cheap set. They didn't work reliably for me and broke before I could even finish the job, and I ended up having to buy the nicer set that I should have bought to begin with. Buy it nice, or buy it twice (IMO).

[DanQ]

For dialing in a bellhousing, it does not need to show an exact measurement, rather how much variance there is, so the Harbor Freight dial indicator should work just fine. Similar to their purple spray gun, which have given me some of the nicest paint ever, at a throw away price. My last project was a CJ7 and I painted it with a HF gun in my garage and could not believe how nice it laid that paint down. A picture says a thousand words:
179342

[mladen]

My experience was different. I bought the cheap set. They didn't work reliably for me and broke before I could even finish the job, and I ended up having to buy the nicer set that I should have bought to begin with. Buy it nice, or buy it twice (IMO).

This has generally been my experience when it comes to tools :D I don't always buy the most expensive, or maybe ever, but I never buy the cheapest. Unless Project Farm did a test and it actually proved better :)

[MB750]

Unless Project Farm did a test and it actually proved better :)

I love that guy's channel!