I am using Arias pistons and I just finished putting my car back together and started it for the first time in about 4 months..Sounded like I had tremendous valve tap so I pulled the valve cover back off, but the valves were still correctly adjusted, is this normal. Will it go away? How will I know if I really do have valve tap?

 

you probably got piston slap more than valve ipoo pooing anything. Thoe arias pistons are notorious for piston slap.

 

is that bad for the motor is just annoying?

 

hey man it is just the pistons moving backa nd forth in the cylinders until they swell from the heat. it will quiet down once it heats up. my car does it real bad on a cold moring start up.
arias= loud noise at first, but great quality, and durability

je= quiet, but i have heard of failure due to melt down.

 

Kewl thanks man!
I didn't drive the car today because I didn't know if that was normal!

 

Piston slap sounds like really bad valve clatter, but not exactly in time with the rpms and will get better as they heat up.

What was your piston to bore tolerance? What brand of rings did you use?

Randy

 

I've recorded the sound of my engine on a cold startup. Diesel! I can't put it up at the moment, work, but when I get home 2nite I'll post it.

 

It was already built when I bought it. So I couldn't tell you. It was built by KG and I think they are arias rings as well. I had to pull the block apart to replace the bearings, because I spun it dry! And wanted to make sure the block was put together correctly.

 

Dont let anyone tell you piston slap isnt bad for your motor. When the pistons were installed did you bore and hone the cylinder to match the pistons? Also the connecting rods might be mismatch or the rod bearings might be worn out.

 

Yes they were(pistons matched to the bore of the sleeve) and the bearings are brand new. That is why I took it apart in the first place!

 

No slap here. I have Arias 88mm custom pistons. The machine shop works to really tight tolerances. My builder was suprised it made less noise than his. It sounds stock.

Little do your ears know...

ps. I'd like to hear the recorded chatter sound.

----------------------------
XES
maxed out T3/T04E (450+ whp) on pump gas

 

It might be the rods or are those aftermarket too?

 

they are crower..so yes those are aftermarket, also ..they do slide side to side on the wrist pin when I had them out I could slide them back an forth not very far at all but I don't think they are even supposed to fit real snug or real loose either..just a little play so they can move


[Modified by BlwnBlue, 5:34 PM 2/4/2002]

 

did you break in the motor already, with the new build? it could just be that the rings didnt seat properly.

 

Here is what my Arias pistons sounded like.
http://rely.net/~dustin/jeremyengine.wav

It was described to me as "piston slap" by the person I bought the motor from. I had no idea how bad it really was until the motor was apart. The Darton sleeves were slightly smaller then stock bore, and whoever put this motor together didn't allow for the right clearences that Arias piston require. The sleeves held their own, too bad the same can't be said for the pistons.

 

i get it too in the cold, JE 9:1s. stops when car is warmed up

 

dayam! i just listened to that wav file...that is bad man....sorry bout the shady previous owner

 

yeah man that sounds like poo poo. sory dude. i have 7.5to1 wisecos and they sound stock but the exhaust is alittle deeper due to compression.

 

Nah..the motor has like 5 miles on it..I got off work late and only drove it up the street and back down not going past 3000 rpm's ...It seems to run, idle fine... no check engine lights either(always a good sign)..

Is it too early to do a compression check? or should I wait til after break in?

 

Mine sounds just like that..how long did it last you before you pulled it apart or did that much damage?

 

just remember if you have piston slap like that, and have a knock sensor, it's going berzerk during that time.

 

doesn't the stock knock sensor retard the timing? the car seems to be running fine..and I have no cel ...I haven't boosted it yet so I guess we will see..I am going to start building another motor so hopefully this one lasts at least 3 months..
I just want to make sure this motor will at least last 3 months..or more if possible!


[Modified by BlwnBlue, 1:38 PM 2/7/2002]

 

that sounds way too loud.. mine are 9-1 aries pistons, and they dont sound that loud... more like a little valve tapping until it warm....

do a compression test just to be sure..

i dont knwo if anyone agrees with me but you should have it dissassembled and have something done before it's the entire motor your fixing and not just a different set of rings..

 

well mine isn't that LOUD per say but it sounds the same..

I am going to do a whole new motor.. because I can't afford to keep renting a car..276 every 2 weeks and I've had it for a little over 4 months..Sounds dumb that I just didn't buy another car but I really think that this would take that long! and if I can drive my civic around for at least 3 months that will give me enough time to get another motor together and make it a weekend project instead of a 4 month project


can you do a compression test on a newly assembled motor? I mean it only has about 90 miles on it..is that safe to do right now?


[Modified by BlwnBlue, 3:36 PM 2/7/2002]