The Flex-Hone® for Alfa Romeo Engines

Alfa Romeo automobiles are Italian sports cars known for their power, performance, and expense. Since 1911, when two 24-hp Alfas entered the Targa Florio competition, the Italian carmaker has been a part of international motorsport. Today, Alfa aficionados known as “Alfistas” regularly gather on-line to discuss engine maintenance and repair. The Alfa Bulletin Board, an automotive website with news and technical forums, is where a user named xray explained how he used the Flex-Hone® from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) to restore an Alfa Romeo engine.

Flexible Honing for Automotive Hobbyists

Like Alfa Romeo S.p.A, Brush Research has a long and distinguished history of building high-quality products. Since 1953, our American-made honing tools and industrial brushes have helped solved difficult finishing problems in a variety of applications, including automotive. Built with a stiff metal stem, flexible nylon filaments, and abrasive globules, our Flex-Hone® tool is a favorite of automotive hobbyists. As xray explained on the Alfa Bulletin Board, BRM offers the Flex-Hone® in a variety of sizes and abrasive grits, and backs its products with a technical staff that is “very nice to deal with”.

Engine Teardown and Cylinder Reconditioning

After tearing down his 1986 GTV6 Alfa Romeo engine, xray honed the runners to about 37-mm and matched the heads to the gaskets. Next, he clamped the mandrel of a slightly oversized 38-mm Flex-Hone® into the chuck of a variable-speed Dewalt electric drill.  Self-aligning and self-centering to the bore, the Flex-Hone® maintains a constant pressure against worn cylinder walls. The tool is also self-compensating for wear, meaning that its abrasive globules provide a consistent low-temperature, soft-cutting action for optimum lubrication and plateau finishing.

Engine Hones – Abrasive Grits and Proper Use

After finishing the cylinder walls with a 60-grit Flex-Hone®, xray switched to a 380-grit tool to achieve a “super smooth, almost shiny” surface. Although some applications involve starting with a coarser grit Flex-Hone® before moving to a finer grit one, BRM caution users against overhoning. The ideal surface-finish for cylinder walls is the uniform cross-hatch pattern of peaks and valleys that the Flex-Hone® imparts – not one that is overhoned. BRM also reminds users that the Flex-Hone® is a low RPM tool, and not to “set the drill on high speed” as xray suggests.

By manufacturing high-quality brush tools and providing top-notch technical support, BRM has solved difficult surface finishing problems for over 60 years. So whether you’re a diehard “Alfista” or a fan of another automotive nameplate or brand, choose the Flex-Hone® for cylinder reconditioning.