Fuel pin usefulness.

[Tacoclaw]

I see your point, Ellis, but you'd have to almost be trying to screw up to break your cone while grinding it. I don't think theres a lot of pressure exerted on it when it's in the pump, so about the only way you're gonna break it is while grinding it.

If you're worried about getting your ramp profile wrong or something, that's a whole other story.

Just go slow and don't let the cone get hot and blue up.

[ellis93]

Na man,I know its not going to break. Ramp profile is my issue.

[Richie O]

Is your 93 a manual or auto. When I called M&H he told me the m3 was great for economy and performance for an auto. He said the m4 would be fun but not as good on fuel economy. It seems a lot of manual guys went with an m2.

My 89 smokes a good puff at no boost with the stock pin. I really need to get grinding. I like my M2 pin in the 93. It really allows alot of fine tuning with the afc that you don't get with a stock cone.

My 93 is a stick. I wanted less fuel down low, and then max fuel with full boost.

[KTA]

Take a 5cent stick of 7018 welding rod and build up a stock cone to the profile you desire then grind it smooth!! If you are worried about wear you can use hardface rod.

[Richie O]

I thought of that, but was worried it would warp. I don't have a lathe to turn it back true.

[IrishChamp]

Hmmm, decisions decisions.....
I'd like to make my own pin but I just don't think I have the recourses. What specifically does everyone use to grind their stock pins?
I'd be a little worried about screwing up the ramp or breaking the pin by catching the grinding wheel or something.
I think with a couple detailed pictures, some explanation of the ramp design ground and a list of suggested tools I could get a nice pin ground.

Thanks everyone for making a good conversation out of this thread.

[Remps]

There's nothing to it really. I clamped a vicegrips on the pin, marked the deepest part of the pin, above where I wanted to grind, and used a sidegrinder with a new cutting wheel in the other hand, and smoothly ground the top half of the profile. You can always add more mid fuel later. Try to stay straight with the deep part when grinding to get the most out of your pin. Both of mine are ground thinner than1/16th of an inch. It takes very little pressure, so take your time. Lube it with motor oil, slap it in, and enjoy! 2nd one I did took me 10 minutes.. Oh, and I've seen the dyno video too, and the "ground"stock pin had more meat left in it yet.

[IrishChamp]

Do you smooth it after you grind it down?

There's nothing to it really. I clamped a vicegrips on the pin, marked the deepest part of the pin, above where I wanted to grind, and used a sidegrinder with a new cutting wheel in the other hand, and smoothly ground the top half of the profile. You can always add more mid fuel later. Try to stay straight with the deep part when grinding to get the most out of your pin. Both of mine are ground thinner than1/16th of an inch. It takes very little pressure, so take your time. Lube it with motor oil, slap it in, and enjoy! 2nd one I did took me 10 minutes.. Oh, and I've seen the dyno video too, and the "ground"stock pin had more meat left in it yet.

[Tacoclaw]

I just ground mine on a bench grinder. Catching it shouldn't be a problem, since you should be taking your time and not putting a lot of pressure against the wheel. Just go slow dunk it in water every 20 seconds or so to keep it from getting hot and annealing.

On mine I just ground out the very top of the ramp and left the bottom half alone. It's pretty much factory then as it gets to the top there's a nice drop for it.

I also went over mine with 200-ish grit sandpaper after I ground it to really smooth it out. I just sanded on it until I couldn't catch my fingernail on any of the visible marks.

[IrishChamp]

Cool, well I'm definitely going to grind my pin. I like the idea of close to a stock ramp at part throttle. I'll probably follow the stock design and try to find some pictures to work off of.

I just ground mine on a bench grinder. Catching it shouldn't be a problem, since you should be taking your time and not putting a lot of pressure against the wheel. Just go slow dunk it in water every 20 seconds or so to keep it from getting hot and annealing.

On mine I just ground out the very top of the ramp and left the bottom half alone. It's pretty much factory then as it gets to the top there's a nice drop for it.

I also went over mine with 200-ish grit sandpaper after I ground it to really smooth it out. I just sanded on it until I couldn't catch my fingernail on any of the visible marks.

[MMeier]

Anyone running the BD pin ?

[PToombs]

I used a 4" grinder to grind mine, then "borrowed" moms dremel tool to smooth it off. I cut the whole ramp more, and have just a thread at the thin part.

[IrishChamp]

Does anyone have a picture of their pin ground to the max?

[921stgen]

These pics are from wannadiesels' dtr gallery.

[IrishChamp]

Very nice, thank you. So when people grind their pin is it common to go past the stock end point? That pin looks like it still has lots of meat left on it.