How bad do these pistons look?
How bad do these pistons look? I pulled the drivers side head tonight to chase down a head gasket leak and I found it... I also found the inside of one chamber beat up pretty good. Another piston has a decent eyebrow. Recently replaced the valve springs but the damage was done. All the cylnder wallls are looking good. Let me know if you think these pistons are ok to use. Looking at a 125 shot this summer but am now hesitant. Heads will be ported, re worked and milled. If not, replaced.
I'm not interested in pulling the motor if I don't have to.
I'm not interested in pulling the motor if I don't have to.
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Now that i see yours, I dont feel so bad about mine. I would run it til it quits. Thats what im gonna do. If you decide to replace you will probably end up buying rods $300, pistons and rings $750. While you got it out you will probably bore it with new cam, crank, and rod bearings. Or you could run it and it not cost you anything but head gaskets and bolts. But I would replace that valve while yo have the head off. My .02
Motor runs strong. Compression is 180-185 in all cylinders. Leakdown results were great. I'm thinking about de-burring the piston top somehow to help lessen hot spots. If I had to guess, I'd say an electode broke off at some point. I'll have the other head off soon. Hopefully I won't find anymore suprises.
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Tape everything off really good around the piston with detonation. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and look in the paint section for these thin plastic pieces that are made to go between baseboard and the carpet when you are painting. Bend that around the piston and slip it down until it contacts the top ringland. While the piston is at the top. Then clean it up. The plastic will make sure you don't damage the block. Just smooth out the top of the piston. Done that numerous time on Suzuki motorcycles when I was racing those. You also need to look at that cylinder on the cylinder head and smooth the head out as well. Again taping off the sealing surface that contacts the head gasket. I would run it.
I'd love to put forged parts in however this is a 98 budget car and I'm planning new heads, gaskets, bolts, valve covers, coil brackets, oil pump, AC compressor, lifters, trays, timing kit, and I'm thinking about replacing the TR224 cam as I see a lobe with faint score mark on it. All the lifters look perfect but they're getting swapped anyway. I'm thinking nitrous is a no go at this point. Just don't have the $$$ for a forged build.
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
I think Wiseco makes a Junkyard Dog series of forged pistons for stock rods. Probably not many people used them yet. They are very new according to Texas Speed. Check'em out http://www.wiseco.com/Catalogs/Automotive/Chevrolet.pdf
