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Piston removal..........

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Old Jul 9, 2012 | 12:08 PM
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Default Piston removal..........

Can they be pulled out of each cylinder through the bottom of the cylinders?

I'm tearing my engine down little by little by myself. Gonna have the heads off today but was wanting to leave them on if possible.

edit: not concerned about saving any of the pistons or rods. So I can damage them getting them out.

.

Last edited by LS6427; Jul 9, 2012 at 12:40 PM.
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Old Jul 9, 2012 | 12:19 PM
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well yes you can as usually the get pulled rom the bottom anyway. however its easier to have the head off so you can inspect them and also lightly tap on the piston top to help it go out. why do you want to leave the heads on? they need to come of eventually anyway.
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Old Jul 9, 2012 | 12:25 PM
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Normally they are removed from the top. Think you have to reinstall them from the top because the ring compressor is designed that way. To take them out from the bottom the crankshaft has to be removed of course.
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Old Jul 9, 2012 | 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by redbird555
well yes you can as usually the get pulled rom the bottom anyway. however its easier to have the head off so you can inspect them and also lightly tap on the piston top to help it go out. why do you want to leave the heads on? they need to come of eventually anyway.
I opened it up, main caps are off, crank pulley is coming off today, front and rear covers. Have to remove the timing chain and take the rod end caps off each journal, then I think the crank will lift out.

I've never done this before and I wanted to do the least possible to just get the pistons, rods and crank out.

I don't care about the parts anymore, they are all being tossed in the garbage. One rod is broken and disintegrated, pistons and other rods have 173,000 miles.

Crank is ok though....gonna sell to someone.

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Old Jul 9, 2012 | 12:35 PM
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But look at how the bottom of this sleeve got chewed up.....bent up. Thats the broken rod sitting there in the cylinder still attached to the piston. I wonder if the piston will pass that bent up sleeve as I bang it out.

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Attached Thumbnails Piston removal..........-photo-55-.gif  
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Old Jul 9, 2012 | 12:39 PM
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ouch ya i usually remove the crank and then tap the pistons out and have someone catch them to i don't nick the wall with the rod pushing them up. however in your case seeing that sleeve the piston will probably come out the top. the heads really aren't bad to take off if the motors already bare of accessories.


where are you at in south fl specifically by the way?
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Old Jul 9, 2012 | 12:42 PM
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Well damn, I guess I'll take the heads off then..........

.
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Old Jul 9, 2012 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by redbird555
ouch ya i usually remove the crank and then tap the pistons out and have someone catch them to i don't nick the wall with the rod pushing them up. however in your case seeing that sleeve the piston will probably come out the top. the heads really aren't bad to take off if the motors already bare of accessories.


where are you at in south fl specifically by the way?
Ft. Lauderdale. Griffin Road inbetween 441 and I95......engine is at a friends house. My mechanic friend did a lot of the tearing down, it just needs to get finished today.

Actually, my builder is in Pompano. He builds the craziest, most powerful LSx stuff I've ever seen. He's been there for 30+ years. He's a total guru.....

.
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Old Jul 9, 2012 | 06:06 PM
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Originally Posted by LS6427
But look at how the bottom of this sleeve got chewed up.....bent up. Thats the broken rod sitting there in the cylinder still attached to the piston. I wonder if the piston will pass that bent up sleeve as I bang it out.

.
From the looks of the carnage, the block is probably not going to be worth saving either.
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Old Jul 9, 2012 | 06:20 PM
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I've never tried it, but from this angle, it does not look like the pistons will clear the main's if you try to take them out from the bottom.

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Old Jul 9, 2012 | 09:34 PM
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The pistons will not come out from the bottom. Even in a perfect engine. I.e, not scattered like yours.
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Old Jul 9, 2012 | 09:41 PM
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Originally Posted by bww3588
The pistons will not come out from the bottom. Even in a perfect engine. I.e, not scattered like yours.
I disagree. Obviously you don't own a sawzall. Lol.
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Old Jul 10, 2012 | 12:02 AM
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touche salesman...I will buy your volcano insurance.
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Old Jul 10, 2012 | 06:32 AM
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Originally Posted by LS6427
Ft. Lauderdale. Griffin Road inbetween 441 and I95......engine is at a friends house. My mechanic friend did a lot of the tearing down, it just needs to get finished today.

Actually, my builder is in Pompano. He builds the craziest, most powerful LSx stuff I've ever seen. He's been there for 30+ years. He's a total guru.....

.
who is he i know quite a few builders around here lol
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Old Jul 18, 2012 | 12:21 AM
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Originally Posted by redbird555
who is he i know quite a few builders around here lol
Yea....no possible way any of the pistons can come out the bottom.....mains are 100% in the way.

Air-Flo Technology. Barry is the owner/builder. He's insane with knowledge, its scary. Builds the highest RWHP LSx stuff in the country...BAR NONE. And they all drive nice with good idles, thats his specialty.

Off Cypress Creek Rd. Just past Dixie going East, quick right turn onto a side street. Bunch of industrial buildings. He's down that road. If you talk to him or go by his shop and see what he builds....you'll only want to use him. He also warranties all of his max effort badass builds, N/A only, for 2 yrs/24,000 miles. Street/strip stuff. Not total drag cars running 6's and 7's or Road Race cars though........

I've known him 10 years.....maybe a hundred people with his badass engines.......NOT a single failure as far as I know of.

My build starts after the 25th of this month when I get back home from a trip I'm on right now.
Might build my girlfriend a radical 600+ RWHP 454ci for her 2011 Grand Sport Vette too.

.
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