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How to check pistons for damage?

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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 12:39 PM
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Default How to check pistons for damage?

Got one of the heads off since I'm replacing the head gaskets, I wanted to check the pistons to see if there is a lot of life left in them. I was told to check the sides of them... well, whats the quickest way to check?

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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 01:15 PM
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Can this be moved to internal tech? thanks.
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 01:24 PM
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Disassemble the engine to check the piston skirts.
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 07:08 PM
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Originally Posted by 405HP_Z06
Disassemble the engine to check the piston skirts.
Any way to tell by not taking the entire thing apart?
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Epro
Any way to tell by not taking the entire thing apart?
Get some x-ray goggles?
Really, how do you plan to check the sides of the pistons with them in the bores?
Why ask twice.

You could cut the cylinders off, but I think it's a better idea to take the pistons out.
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 07:37 PM
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lol^^^^^^^
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 07:48 PM
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Ok well, how do I proceed to get there from here?
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 07:56 PM
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How much internal engine work have you done? From your posts it sounds like this is your first engine tear down. You might want to look into getting some help doing this so you dont have any problems getting it back together.

You need to flip the engine over and remove the oil pan. Then you have to remove the rod bolts and the caps. You need to keep the caps with the rod they go with and keep them in the correct orientation to the rod. Then you can push the rod and piston assembly out the top of the block.

You will need some more tools to get them back into the bores. You should check the crankshaft rod journals while you have them off. I would also replace the rod bolts with arp pieces while I had them apart.
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 08:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Epro
Ok well, how do I proceed to get there from here?
]
Thats awesome, no one ever replies like that.

Take all the pushrods out, remove the oil pressure sending unit, and the cam position sensor so none of it gets damaged.

Hopefully you drained the oil out already, if not find a way to get it out. Then roll the engine upside down.

Remove all the oil pan bolts, and the pan.

Remove the windage tray, if you don't know what that is, you'll find out when you see it, you'll know.

Then you will see all the rod ends with the bolts.

Make sure you mark them all real good with something that won't wipe off, preferably stamp them.
Make sure each cap goes on the rod it came off of most important.
and make sure each piston/rod goes back in the cylinder you took it out of.
There should be a mark on the piston that points to the front, make sure you find it, or make you own marks.

Then post more pics.
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by 99345hp
How much internal engine work have you done? From your posts it sounds like this is your first engine tear down. You might want to look into getting some help doing this so you dont have any problems getting it back together.

You need to flip the engine over and remove the oil pan. Then you have to remove the rod bolts and the caps. You need to keep the caps with the rod they go with and keep them in the correct orientation to the rod. Then you can push the rod and piston assembly out the top of the block.

You will need some more tools to get them back into the bores. You should check the crankshaft rod journals while you have them off. I would also replace the rod bolts with arp pieces while I had them apart.



Originally Posted by 9000th01ss
Thats awesome, no one ever replies like that.

Take all the pushrods out, remove the oil pressure sending unit, and the cam position sensor so none of it gets damaged.

Hopefully you drained the oil out already, if not find a way to get it out. Then roll the engine upside down.

Remove all the oil pan bolts, and the pan.

Remove the windage tray, if you don't know what that is, you'll find out when you see it, you'll know.

Then you will see all the rod ends with the bolts.

Make sure you mark them all real good with something that won't wipe off, preferably stamp them.
Make sure each cap goes on the rod it came off of most important.
and make sure each piston/rod goes back in the cylinder you took it out of.
There should be a mark on the piston that points to the front, make sure you find it, or make you own marks.

Then post more pics.
This would be so much easier with an engine stand I think I'll get a stand before I proceed. Thanks for the info.
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by 99345hp
How much internal engine work have you done? From your posts it sounds like this is your first engine tear down. You might want to look into getting some help doing this so you dont have any problems getting it back together.

You need to flip the engine over and remove the oil pan. Then you have to remove the rod bolts and the caps. You need to keep the caps with the rod they go with and keep them in the correct orientation to the rod. Then you can push the rod and piston assembly out the top of the block.

You will need some more tools to get them back into the bores. You should check the crankshaft rod journals while you have them off. I would also replace the rod bolts with arp pieces while I had them apart.
Absolutely none. My first time changing an alternator was a few weeks ago when the one in my Laser **** the bed, about as much experience as I have to be honest. But I have a will to learn. I might be reliant on this site for when I put it back together

There's no oil pan on the motor right now, which is a plus?

What are "crankshaft rod journals" and what are rod bolts?
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Epro
This would be so much easier with an engine stand I think I'll get a stand before I proceed. Thanks for the info.
Yea, they're cheap enough.
I did my first few engine rebuilds on the floor with cardboard.
Looks like you're off to a good start.
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 08:24 PM
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for some of those universal generic names for engine components you may be well off searching on wikepedia for information. Yes seriously...
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 11:15 PM
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^^ x2
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Old Jan 25, 2009 | 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Epro
This would be so much easier with an engine stand I think I'll get a stand before I proceed. Thanks for the info.
Get four 10mm-1.5 x 40 bolts and a handful of 3/8" flat washers too. You might get by with using 3/8 bolts to bolt the stand's brackets to the engine, but why chance it?

Russ
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Old Jan 25, 2009 | 01:54 PM
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Originally Posted by S10xGN
Get four 10mm-1.5 x 40 bolts and a handful of 3/8" flat washers too. You might get by with using 3/8 bolts to bolt the stand's brackets to the engine, but why chance it?

Russ
I think you mistyped something. I'm not understanding the 3/8 bolt part.
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Old Jan 25, 2009 | 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by 9000th01ss
I think you mistyped something. I'm not understanding the 3/8 bolt part.
Didn't mistype anything, Epro is an obvious newbie and (like many other newbies) might be tempted to ruin his block by bolting it to his new engine stand with 3/8" US bolts instead of the required METRIC fasteners.

Just a heads-up for ALL the newbies out there. You might use the US bolts once and get by with it, but when the threads pull out of your block, it's Helicoil time!

Russ
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Old Jan 25, 2009 | 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by S10xGN
Didn't mistype anything, Epro is an obvious newbie and (like many other newbies) might be tempted to ruin his block by bolting it to his new engine stand with 3/8" US bolts instead of the required METRIC fasteners.

Just a heads-up for ALL the newbies out there. You might use the US bolts once and get by with it, but when the threads pull out of your block, it's Helicoil time!

Russ
Well yea, makes no sense to those of us who know the bolts need to be metric.
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Old Jan 25, 2009 | 04:59 PM
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Epro where you located?
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Old Jan 25, 2009 | 05:06 PM
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Originally Posted by S10xGN
Get four 10mm-1.5 x 40 bolts and a handful of 3/8" flat washers too. You might get by with using 3/8 bolts to bolt the stand's brackets to the engine, but why chance it?

Russ
I figured to use all metric since since all the head bolts were all metric.

Originally Posted by chevyz2801
Epro where you located?
Nova Scotia, Canada.
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