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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Paul" data-source="post: 553377" data-attributes="member: 9404">Fancy CNC machines are not necessary to blueprint and engine, nor to machine to exact tolerances. Even in 2500 horsepower monster motors. A CNC machin is only as good the engineer who programmed it, the program that is run, the rigidity and sharpness of the tool, and the rigidity and appropriateness of the fixture.Keep in mind, even "old school" engine machining centers are pretty expensive. With a good experienced machinist, and careful attention to detail, very exacting tolerances can be achieved. I've seen rotating assemblies balanced to less than 1/10th of a gram by hand on an "old school" balancing machine. In fact, the machine shop owner bought a new machine, but didn't like the results with it, and continued to use his old machine on high-end race motors.Further, blueprinting can also involve machining the engines tolerances specifically to the application that is being run and the components being used. For example, a naturally aspirated motor turning high-rpm with hypereutectic pistons can run much tighter piston-to-wall tolerances than a boosted motor with forged pistons. This is due to the metallurgical properties of the metal. Hypereutectic pistons have higher silicon content than a forged piston, and will expand less when heated than the forged will.This thread has good info.Paul.</blockquote>