Epro

iTrader: (1)

Is this going to give me problems? I'm not even sure if it's a ridge or just stubborn carbon buildup.

5.3LJimmy

iTrader: (10)

Every gen3 engine I've ever had the heads off of still had the hone marks in the cylinders. If that is an actual ridge and not just carbon, then it's the first time I've seen it. Is that an LQ4 6.0? What are your plans for this engine? There is a tool called a ridge reamer that will allow you to cut the ridge out of the top, but it wouldn't be my first choice to resolve the issue.

Epro

iTrader: (1)

It's a 5.3, I'm building it for my 95 Camaro.

So what's the difference between hone marks and a ridge?

Cost of boring it out vs ridge reamer?

5.3LJimmy

iTrader: (10)

What I'm saying is if you can see the hone marks then the cylinder can't have a ridge because there is no wear. If you bore it it's gonna cost you whatever the machine shop charges plus the cost of oversized pistons. But if you can still see the hone marks you don't have to worry about doing either one.

Epro

iTrader: (1)

What are hone marks?

stroker_SS

Hone marks.

Epro

iTrader: (1)

that thing at the top? that looks like what I have on mine.

stroker_SS

no, down in the cylinder, the crosshatch marks that are created from finish honing the cylinder, that thing at the top is the ridge.

Epro

iTrader: (1)

I really hope a ridge reamer will get rid of that I can't afford to bore my 5.3 out.

stroker_SS

If you cant afford to bore it, then just leave the cylinders alone provided they do decent on a compression test. If one or more of the cylinders don't do well on a compression test(all within 20% of eachother) then you will be wasting your time putting it into your car and should wait until you can afford to properly rebuild the engine before installing it.

5.3LJimmy

iTrader: (10)

The ridge line is not going to affect anything because the rings do not go that high in the cylinder. I would leave it alone. If you can't afford to bore it, then install it as is.

JUICED96Z

iTrader: (2)

Every higher milage motor I have ever seen has had the ridge, its because the rings wear down the cylinder, its normal.

A lot of the built motors never get a ridge because they get torn down before the ridge can develope.

Epro

iTrader: (1)

I forgot to mention that I am installing new rings, will this have any impact? motor has 145k on it.

JUICED96Z

iTrader: (2)

If you are installing new rings the pistons have to come out and so will that ridge. No the ridge bieng gone will do nothing bad.

joker machine

The Ridge is normal. What he said. ^

TJ

iTrader: (10)

if you are doing rings, give it a good hone. needs one anyway to help ring seal.
that will get rid of the ridge.
no need to bore unless the cylinder is out of round or you got a crack,etc.....