Review on 📏 Sealed Power SPG1 Gauge: Ultra-precise Measurement and Reliability by Mar Pacora

Plastigage was first used 50 years ago. Engine repair on my first car (I was able to drive it a year ago). The old mechanic felt sorry for the poor kid with no mechanical experience. My father was not a mechanic, to say the least. Anyway, in 1972 I bought a 1961 Ford Falcon. Perfect body and interior but the engine has not been started for many years - only 60,000 miles. 170 ci inline six with three on the tree. I started by pulling my head, tying it to my bike and riding the 2 miles to the store. I had a lesson in patience. Instead of using that nice new Sioux valve and seat grinding gear. I was taught to use clover paste and grind all twelve valves to tolerance. It took me several years to fully realize what it taught me. He suggested going through the whole engine. He only had daughters and I think his regret was that he never passed on his skills to anyone else. He would be grumpy to say it, but it was his idea. Soon the engine died and I started disassembling it. The secrets of all tolerances and landings were revealed to me. I was amazed at how smart the plastic pressure gauge was. He had me measure the journals and use a telescopic gauge to measure the bearings. Time consuming and error prone for my clumsy hands. Then he showed me a small strip of paper and demonstrated it to me. Then I checked all the nets and rods. Maybe just an hour or two, even for a 15-year-old newbie. Contrary to my measurements, the results when grinding journals and new bearing shells were clear. Those green "spots" looked like "peas in a pod". Hot guy, it's time to pack. But no, I had to remeasure until I got it right and "proved" that the plastigage was telling the truth. I got there and developed some skills again. But having trained and repaired engines (petrol and diesel) for most of my life, I always went to Plastigage to check the work clearance - both before and after machining. It's fast and accurate. In my experience, the measurement is great, but if you don't have sufficient skills, you'll get questionable results. If time and/or skill is an issue, all you need to do is purchase and use this material. This is how you get to your destination quickly and with the right fit. I see others complaining about the cost. Yes, it seems expensive for what's in a paper tube. But you're not buying physical material, you're buying the data gained through its use. There is no cheaper or faster way to get this information. Plastigage was developed in England and first used in the USA in 1948. Search for suitable landings. One of those good, simple, obvious ideas that's still the best method after 75 years.