Please help me
i took the heads off to take a look at the cylinder walls and pistons. (see photo to see how they look). i am about to ask many questions to please bear with me.
How do the cylinder walls look ? should i be worried ?
unfortunately it looks like a valve knicked the top of the piston. Can i still use this piston ? why does this happen ? I have heard this can happen due to VVT but can anybody confirm ? engine has vvt and afm.
After spraying top of piston with brake cleaner and wiping with blue shop towels, carbon is still stuck on there. Is it important to get it off ?
Also the top of the pistons seem to have small lint on them(assuming from the towels), do i use a tac cloth to get that out ?
How do i clean the block head gasket surface ? i’ve seen so many conflicting statements about using red scotchbrite or green roloc bristle disc or a razor blade.
Lastly, the rest of my engine parts will come in within a few weeks. with one side of the heads being off, how do i properly store it to where rust will not form and contaminants won’t go into the engine. same with storing the heads ?
I'd get a ball hone in there, hopefully clean that up and install new rings.
Maybe fresh OIL pump too ?
.
.
..
edit: I am NOT an experienced builder, so you may defer to the pro(s), but I have torn down engines at 144,000 miles that still had FACTORY cross-hatch, zero scuffing, and NO perceptible cylinder ridge. You photos do NOT show an engine that I consider " Ready to Assemble "
Last edited by Full Power; Apr 6, 2024 at 10:43 PM. Reason: yes
Aluminum ls blocks are notorious for excessively uneven decks - not good for head gasket sealing.
The valve that hit the piston is probably bent.
Should be disassembled to check bearings and rods.
There is no sense trying to clean the head gasket surface - as you should have the blocks decked.
The bores probably have too much taper in them - so next size up pistons are probably in order - so no sense in trying to clean them.
Simple answers to your first 2 questions are 'Yes' and 'Bad'.







