Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Blueprinting (Read 557 times) previous topic - next topic

Blueprinting

Bret,

I have seen referencing to blueprinting the steering box on several occasions.  I tried to look up what that term means in relation to refurbishing mechanical parts and came up empty.  Could you explain, in layman's terms, what actually happens during blueprinting?

Thanks 
Jan & Richard Witt
1999 U-320  36ft WTFE
Build Number: 5478 Motorcade: 16599
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited w/Air Force One
Jan: NO5U, Richard:KA5RIW
The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Blueprinting

Reply #1 –
Basically rebuilding the box to closer specs than what it was originally built with. Any mass produced mechanical product is built within a range of "acceptable" tolerances. Those tolerances are seldom as tight as what the original "blueprint" for that part called for.

Len
Len and Deb Speiser
1999 U270 36'
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus!--Ken Kesey
If you're lucky enough to live in a bus, you're lucky enough!

Re: Blueprinting

Reply #2 –
X2 what Len said.  I think this is a kinda slang usage of the word "blueprint", because the normal online dictionary sources don't seem to cover it.  I found this example of the term used in a post on a Corvette forum, where they were discussing rebuilding the steering box:

"Here is the IMPORTANT part: He blueprints the box by assemblying the gears and other components so that there is virtually zero play in the box, including shaft end play. When the box was new from GM these steps were not done and are certainly not done with rebuilt standard boxes."
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Blueprinting

Reply #3 –
Years ago I read a book about how Rolls Royces were built "back when". There were a lot of things they did, and one was building the transmission, filling it with oil containing a dye, spinning it up to speed, then disassembling it to reshim the gear lash.
When they were finished, the transmission (and other mechanicals) would run so smoothly it was amazing.

Their ads read that the car was so quiet, "the loudest thing is the clock".

Len
Len and Deb Speiser
1999 U270 36'
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus!--Ken Kesey
If you're lucky enough to live in a bus, you're lucky enough!

Re: Blueprinting

Reply #4 –
That comment is fact and continued till the big ownership change a few years ago. I have been in a few and even outside one the engine is barely noticable (noise). I worked man years ago actually cutting gears of all kinds for aircraft and helicopter engines as well as the Napier Deltic and we allways "blued the mesh" to make sure the contact point was correct and size of it too. You need clearance between them or no oil will sit on the face and you get noise and wear.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Blueprinting

Reply #5 –
Interesting,

I always thought blueprinting meant machining the parts to closer tolerances, matching the original blueprint.

But the RR description also makes sense, using blue dye to let touching parts leave blue footprints.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Blueprinting

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Tom Lang –
Interesting,

I always thought blueprinting meant machining the parts to closer tolerances, matching the original blueprint.

But the RR description also makes sense, using blue dye to let touching parts leave blue footprints.

You were right about closer tolerances. When you blueprint an engine, all combustion chambers have matching cc's and all pistons reach the same height in the cylinder by line boring. Too many other things to list them all.
  I still use white lead on rear end gears.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Blueprinting

Reply #7 –
Blueprinting means different things to different people.  There is no engineering standard called blueprinting.  Closer tolerances also is not always a better thing.  Engineering tolerances take in consideration of the operating environment.  Items expected to operate in extreme cold as well as extreme heat can fail if you reduce the clearances.  I always flinch when someone claims they have blueprinted an overhaul.  Seldom can they show you the engineering behind their decision to change tolerances from factory publish standards other than they reduced clearances.  They don't test to failure to determine if what they did actually was better.
Steve DeLange
2005 U320T 40'
Pearland, Texas

Re: Blueprinting

Reply #8 –
Tolerances and clearances are two different things. On a stock engine the crank journals are not perfectly parallel to the head surface and combustion chambers are not the same on all cylinders. A "blueprinted" engine actually has more clearance on rods and mains than a stock one. Nothing to do with the steering box but just a different explanation of blueprinting.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean