Valve Piston Interference Pictures
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Valve Piston Interference Pictures
This is what a timing chain failure will do to your pistons...
This is probably the worst impact. After inspecting all of them closely with high resolution pictures I did not find any signs of cracks or other failures. I am considering getting a penetrant dye kit, but am not sure how much value that will add. Who has actually reused stock pistons that look like this?
Here are the before and after pictures of the cleaning. Shiny!
This is probably the worst impact. After inspecting all of them closely with high resolution pictures I did not find any signs of cracks or other failures. I am considering getting a penetrant dye kit, but am not sure how much value that will add. Who has actually reused stock pistons that look like this?
Here are the before and after pictures of the cleaning. Shiny!
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 887
Likes: 1
From: Dallas TX
If you use the dye kit to check for cracks and there are none, I suppose they would be fine to reuse but if you have the extra cash i would go for new and perferably forged pistons. What is your setup? In past motors yes I have rused pistons that have had contact with the valves after having them checked for cracks. Put this was also Forged pistons in a Old School Big Block Chevy not hypereutectic pistons in a new school small block.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 12
From: Alpharetta Georgia
Welcome to the party. Many of my pistons looked similar but I did have a couple with complete circles on them. FWIW, I am rolling the dice and re-using mine and I am even leaving the cam in the car. Guess we will get to see how they hold up to ~480whp(not sure how much the new setup will make since I am going back to the stock balancer....old setup made 483whp).
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
If you use the dye kit to check for cracks and there are none, I suppose they would be fine to reuse but if you have the extra cash i would go for new and perferably forged pistons. What is your setup? In past motors yes I have rused pistons that have had contact with the valves after having them checked for cracks. Put this was also Forged pistons in a Old School Big Block Chevy not hypereutectic pistons in a new school small block.
Does anyone have a dye kit that they have actually used and recommend?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Welcome to the party. Many of my pistons looked similar but I did have a couple with complete circles on them. FWIW, I am rolling the dice and re-using mine and I am even leaving the cam in the car. Guess we will get to see how they hold up to ~480whp(not sure how much the new setup will make since I am going back to the stock balancer....old setup made 483whp).
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 887
Likes: 1
From: Dallas TX
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 12
From: Alpharetta Georgia
Yes, things are already going back together. I did not dye check them as I feel confident enough *knocks on wood* that they are fine. I have already gotten the front part of the motor buttoned back up, the stock balancer back on, a/c and radiator back in. I get my heads back today or tomorrow at which point I will re-assemble them with the new valves and valvesprings and that is when the "real" work will begin. I have all of my parts, the heads are the only item I am waiting on.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,328
Likes: 405
Yes, things are already going back together. I did not dye check them as I feel confident enough *knocks on wood* that they are fine. I have already gotten the front part of the motor buttoned back up, the stock balancer back on, a/c and radiator back in. I get my heads back today or tomorrow at which point I will re-assemble them with the new valves and valvesprings and that is when the "real" work will begin. I have all of my parts, the heads are the only item I am waiting on.
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