I don't mean to highjack the op thread, but is it a good idea to have a block bored and honed with torque plate's? I'm asking because a machine shop not to far from me doesn't use torque plate's for either honing and boring
I would not build an engine without them. That is how I would pick a machine shop. If you do not hone with a torque plate and the mains torqued there will be slight distortion of the cylinder walls when everything is torqued during assy. You are leaving power on the table, and for what price, $50? They are so important to me I have my own plates for almost every Mopar engine except a slant six, even early Hemis. Do you need to use them, no, a lot of people rebuild engines and they run fine without the extra work.