Cylinder Hone Size & Grit

[RobertK]

About to deglaze the cylinders in a M54B30 (84mm bore).

My understanding so far is that I need an 89mm Flex-Hone (ball hone) at 240 grit?

Can anyone else confirm?

[RobertK]

Surely someone on here has had experience honeing a M20 or M50 block?

[Bearmw]

Apparently you are a pioneer. I would like to know as well.

[Hey_You]

I just used a hone on my cylinder walls, I don't have a super sweet 6-cylinder, but I used the kind with sanding stones. I used medium grit stones, turned out pretty good as I could adjust the tension on the stones and not take away too much material.

[jrdeamicis]

I use a 320 ball hone on my stuff. Mine specified a size range.

[jlevie]

Honing cylinders isn't something I would DIY. The block goes to a machine shop for cleaning and cross hatching honing. To do it right you need a machine that controls both rotational speed and rate of advance so as to wind up with uniform 60 deg cross hatch.

[b*saint]

I agree. Are you sure the M5x doesnt have cylinder liners or plated cylinders?

[RobertK]

M54 has iron sleeves.

Went with 89mm 240 grit Flex Hone. Appropriate for deglazing iron cylinder walls.

This is not for a performance tear down and rebuild. Just simple piston ring and rod bearing replacement so everything I've found points to a 240 grit ball hone.

[TobyB]

deglazing

Yup, that will work. Don't use synthetic oil for the first change or 2

t

[thebutterson]

I disagree on the requirement for a machine. Metric Mechanic does all of their's by hand using the stones. They are really good at it, and the accuracy to which they can do it is amazing. I will tell you though that the ones they use are far more expensive and higher quality than the common one's I see sold everywhere.

[rjteeter]

I'm curious how this turned out. I am in the same boat.

M54 has iron sleeves.

Went with 89mm 240 grit Flex Hone. Appropriate for deglazing iron cylinder walls.

This is not for a performance tear down and rebuild. Just simple piston ring and rod bearing replacement so everything I've found points to a 240 grit ball hone.

[RobertK]

I've used my Flex Hone 3 times so far and it worked great.

So far I've used it to rebuild a M54B30, M50 stroker, and just last week used it when rebuilding the S50 for my swap.

[rjteeter]

Would you point me in the direction of which hone you bought and where you bought it from?

[RobertK]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XUL1EE/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

Its messy and whatever drill you use will get oily so I recommend buying a cheap $18 variable speed drill from Harbor Freight just for honeing. Mine is soaked in 20w-50

[rjteeter]

Just placed my order. Thank you.