Amarillo3

I am going to get a set of new pistons from Shaun "valvegod" which come with rings and rods. the block I am using has 100,000 miles on it but there seems to be very little wear in the piston skirts. Can I hone the skirts .005 (?) and still use the stock pistons and rings? I thought I read that this could be done but will I need to use oversized rings?
Thanks,
Eric

Trevor @ Texas Speed & Perf.

iTrader: (3)

Eric,

I think you're referring to honing the cylinders, not the piston skirts. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Yes, you can get away w/ a 3.90" piston in a 3.905" bore, but I'd file-fit the rings.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

My 2000 346ci just had the cylinders deglazed and we went with 3.900 bore JE pistons.

Amarillo2

I'm getting the $275 stock pistons/rods/rings from valvegod and just want to hone the bores enough so everything will still run. If I was going to get new pistons then I wouldn't mind but I'm trying to save as much money as possible.

Trevor, Thanks for the correction - It was late when I posted. That's what I was wanting to hear.

PSJ - I'm trying to keep from having to buy new pistons. The 3.900 JE pistons are the same size as stock, right? Do you think reglazing is the way to go with a 100,000 mile engine or should I hone them a little?

I'm open to suggestions.

Eric

BADZ

iTrader: (5)

Might as well go with a decent set of pistons (JE)since you have the motor out....I would think...

<small>[ May 02, 2002, 04:18 PM: Message edited by: BADZ ]</small>

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Can you still see the cross hatching in the cylinder bores? Are the bores oblonged? Walls scuffed up?

Amarillo2

Badz,
I'm not planning on keeping the car - I have other LS1's to drive - this car has a lot of hipo parts just a bad motor. I bought it to fix and sell and give the extra money to my wife and increase our love life. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

$275 from valvegod verses $800 is over $500 profit that I do not think I could recoup.

PSJ,
you cannot see the cross hatching, they are not oblonged, no scuffs.
When you run your finger up and down the walls there is parely a hint of where the piston stopped its travel on the topside. You no how when you feel your disc brake for signs of wear you start to feel an edge from where it's gripping. It's not as bad as that. There is just barely an edge. There is a little discoloration from the water being in the bores but that should clean up i assume.

Do you think it's safe to just line-hone it .005 and use stock pistons and rings but just file cut them like T. said?
I can have them vatted for free? will it hurt aluminum - I wouldn't think so. with them clean I could see any damage better. The engine hydrolocked but I can't tell what caused it. Everything looks fine except a lot of wear on the bearings. No hard part damage.
Eric

TimZ28

Another 0.005" is going to create alot of piston/bore clearance. Hyper pistons don't expand like forged pieces. I would either get the stock oversized units or hone as little as is necessary.

BADZ

iTrader: (5)

Badz,
I'm not planning on keeping the car - I have other LS1's to drive - this car has a lot of hipo parts just a bad motor. I bought it to fix and sell and give the extra money to my wife and increase our love life.

This is good!!!!

BudH

iTrader: (3)

Man, these engines are already known to have piston slap (excessive skirt to cylinder clearance) problems. Additional honing will only make it worse. Get the oversize pistons.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

.005 and stock bore pistons = noisy *** motor. If you are fixing and them dumping the car you should still go for a quality rebuild.

What about a .002 overbore?

SStrokerAce

iTrader: (2)

I would do the first overbore and get pistons for that. While your at it the new 2002 pistons are coated, that would help with the piston slap. You might as well get the new ring design too, then piston slap and oil consumption will be cured. The overbore is .01 larger, or 3.898 to 3.908. (99mm to 99.25mm) To get that much more you need to hone with a 100 grit stone and final hone it with a 240grit stone.

Bret

<small>[ May 06, 2002, 04:33 PM: Message edited by: SStrokerAce ]</small>

Amarillo3

How much is it to resleeve it back to stock specs?

Valvegod has such good prices on stock pistons and rings that it's hard to pass up. Will .002 be enough to get my block back to like a new engine?

I'm not wanting to spend the time and money of rebuilding this engine just to have it make noise and be a sloppy job. The reason I told everyone that I'm going to sell the car is to explain why I'm not going with forged internals, stroker, etc.

Eric