You're absolutely right. Unless we invest our time and resources into machining a pair of these it will be business as usual and that's not all bad.  

64F100 57FAIRLANE500

It is highly unlikely that a shop will have Y-block torque plates. If you ask, they'll answer your question with a question: "Why do you think you need it honed with torque plates?" The torque plates are expensive. Like any business, they have to make a profit on their investment, if they want to remain open. Seldom, if ever, will a Y-block pass through their doors. Unfortunately, you'll not find a Ted Eaton, John Mummert, JDC, or Tim McMaster on every corner; I've looked. The average owner of a Sunday-driver/grocery-getter probably wouldn't even know about torque plates.   

Thanks Ted for the thorough explanation of the plate design and the photos put it in perspective. The difficult part would be obtaining steel slabs of that thickness and having a mill large enough for the task.  If I happen to rebuild another engine in the future, I will for sure ask the machine shop if they will use torque plates for final honing.   As always, excellent information from this site, thanks again................

64F100 57FAIRLANE500

Many of the cylinder honing torque plates I use are between 1¾” and 2” thick.  Some have counterbored holes for the head bolts to mimic the correct amount of head bolt penetration into the block.  Where the long bolts are being used, spacers are used on those longer bolts.  The hole size in the plate can be considerably larger than the actual cylinder bore size which helps with easing the hone itself into the bores without interference from the plate.  However, the cylinder bores in the plates cannot be so large that the head gasket sealing ring is not fully incapsulated or covered by the torque plate.  The head gasket is an integral part of the torque plate honing operation as it does need to duplicate the stresses being submitted by the actual gasket being used.  Likewise, it’s important that the same style of head bolts also be used along with the same torque values as is being used on the engine during its assembly.

Here’s a picture of two different torque plates.  The top plate is for the Ford FE engines while the lower plate is for the Ford Y-Block.
  

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

What would be involved in making a pair of torque plates? How thick does the steel need to be?  I assume besides the bore holes the bolt/stud holes would be the only other holes needed? Would one pair work for the usual Y-block machining or would the plates need to match a specific bore size? Ted, would you post a picture of these plates? Thanks................

64F100 57FAIRLANE500

Ya' know ...

Years ago (in a GALAXIE far far away) ...

The modulator (Germany domiciled) of the MEL FORUM came across a specialty plate, bought it and had it sent to me initially (US) and then would let MEL ENTHUSIASTS use it as needed by shipping it to/amongst  others.

Did they charge you machining/materials costs for the FYB PLATE and if so you didn't keep it?

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CAMS (Canton Auto Machine) in Canton OH made a torque plate for me when they machined my 312. So they have one if anybody in the area is looking for a Y Block savvy machine shop in NE Ohio. 

"FREE SAMPLE"

The hard part is finding someone with the skills and integrity to do it right. 

'Don't get me started on that thought process that says performance engines should be built to a higher standard than stock engines as I personally think they should all be built to a higher standard.'

I understand that fully. I know someone else like that ...

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Just depends upon the shop and what quality of work is dictated by the either the shop or the customer.  It’s definitely more expensive to torque plate hone the cylinders which originates from the perspective of buying the necessary plates, gaskets, and fasteners but also from the perspective that it takes more time to do cylinder honing with plates versus not.

I cringe when someone tells me “It’s good enough” as that suggests that some quality was left on the table.  Torque plate honing just adds another level of getting the machine work closer to perfect.  The same thing goes for balance work where 0.5 oz/in is considered acceptable but in reality, most performance work calls for 0.1 oz/in or better.  Don't get me started on that thought process that says performance engines should be built to a higher standard than stock engines as I personally think they should all be built to a higher standard.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)