Dropped a piston, damage assesment
File the damaged area down with a fine file and some 3 in 1 oil. Then check the ring groove for consistency with a caliper, and measure around the ringland with a micrometer to make sure it's perfectly round.
If you want to be sure it's right follow these steps -
1. Find out what width the top ring groove is from your spec sheet.
2. Find someone who has pin gages this size and slightly smaller/slightly larger than said ring groove width.
3. Measure the ring groove width 360 degrees with the pin gages and see if the area where the bump's located is within .0002"-.0003" of the rest of the groove.
4. If the groove made it through unscathed (unlikely) then just file and scotchbrite the bump.
5. If not I would bite the bullet and get 4 more.
Good Luck
1. Find out what width the top ring groove is from your spec sheet.
2. Find someone who has pin gages this size and slightly smaller/slightly larger than said ring groove width.
3. Measure the ring groove width 360 degrees with the pin gages and see if the area where the bump's located is within .0002"-.0003" of the rest of the groove.
4. If the groove made it through unscathed (unlikely) then just file and scotchbrite the bump.
5. If not I would bite the bullet and get 4 more.
Good Luck
The damage is actually very small. it does not come anywhere near the rings. It is not out of round at all, other than the little bump. Here is a look downward at the same thing:
is it really worth risking a new motor? Like the majority of the people on here..your much better off spending another few hundres dollars(I know it sucks) but better to spend 6 or 7 now then whatever youd have to spend later to re do the motor..not to mention time/labor involved in taking the motor BACK out of the car.
I definitely hear you. I will have the speed shop guys take a look on Saturday, they do very good work. I have found these pistons for about $860, that is definitely steep. I'll look for something that will stand up to the job at hand but might be a little less expensive. Maybe Diamond......
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You can buy 1 new piston..... even if there cutom.
it is a risk to run it imo...
I would be worried about detonation and any internal flaws the fall may have caused as well as the piston being slightly out of round and ring gap colapse (defiantly have a machine shop check it out 110%). see what they say.
but hey, it aint my motor.
you will probably be fine... just.. if you do run it.. be very aware of it.. and if something happens dont be "OMG WTF" lol
it is a risk to run it imo...
I would be worried about detonation and any internal flaws the fall may have caused as well as the piston being slightly out of round and ring gap colapse (defiantly have a machine shop check it out 110%). see what they say.
but hey, it aint my motor.
you will probably be fine... just.. if you do run it.. be very aware of it.. and if something happens dont be "OMG WTF" lol
It is really not that bad. Single-cut file the OD in just that area to remove any high material, take the sharp edges off the top and outer edge, and use it. I would reuse that piston even if it was stock and I could easily replace it - for sure since you can't easily get a replacement.
Steve
Steve 