Hey guys, have run into a grey area with removing my pistons(engine in car)
I have everything removed from the block(top and bottom) oil pan is off. Question is, do I remove the large bracket(10 Bolts) that sits up against the crank, or do I just remove the rod endcaps with this brace in...I am going to push the pistons up through the top of the engine, just don't want to break any seals on the Crank unless I have to...Hope someone can help me out, thanks.

 

By large bracket do you mean the windage tray? You should remove it, unless you can get to the rod bolts easily, then I guess you don't have to. Are you not taking the crank out? Why are taking out the pistons and leaving in the crank?

 

you're doing it with the engine still in the car?

that sounds like fun

 

Yea I would recommend removing the engine, it will make your life so much easier.

 

By Large Bracket I mean main bearing cap, can I take this off without the crank dropping out, or do I have to work around it to get at the rod end cap? Unfortunately taking the engine out is not an option for me...wish it was, just replacing pistons/rings and rod bearings...I know it can be done with the crank left in, just want to know if I take off the main bearing cap, will the crank drop? or any crank seals ruined?

Life isn't always easy...lol

 

You should be able to remove the pistons with the windage tray I also suggest cutting a section of hose to put over the rod bolts so you don't scratch up the cylinder walls.

 

thx 98Y8, will give it a go...If I do remove the windage will I have to replace any seals or bearings, in case things don't go so smooth...

 

No its just a couple of 10mm bolts

 

well yes, i certainly wouldn't pull the tray/crank and not replace the main bearings.

 

Perfect thanx, got the pistons out without removing the Main Bearing Bridge...wasn't that bad. Honed the cylinders last night, gotta drop off the piston/rods to have the new pistons pressed with the new bearings to the rods. Just gotta get that engine clean on the inside and lube it up, so I can start putting it back together. Thanks for the help, will probably be back asking more questions soon.

 

As long as you can reach the bearing cap bolts you dont HAVE to take the tray off. I would recommend taking it off though and getting new gaskets for the bottom end. Might as well since you took that much apart. Unless you are trying to keep it to a small budget.

 

Finally finished the pistons. It wasn't too much of a problem, left the crank in, honed the cylinders, washed them out, oiled the crap out of everything, then installed the new rod bearings and pistons. Hope my Z6 head goes on that easy...

 

you used warm soapy water to wash the cylinders right? solvent will keep grit in the newly honed cylinder walls.

 

ya warm soapy water in a spray bottle, took a while before I didn't get any grit on an oily rag...bottom end moves like butter now...

 

nice

 

sweet. learned something new.

 

Hey im kinda doin this project too, I burnt a valve in my honda so i have the head off going to get machined and it has 147k miles, do you guys know what the odds would be for blow by after i get everything reinstalled? I wanna just do the rings and pistons but i've never dipped my hands in that area before, after reading this post it sounds pretty easy my only question is and bear witih me here haha, why do you have to press the pistons? and how did you hone the cylinders yourself? is there no specific spec you have to hone them too

 

Honing the cylinder is done to break the polished surface so the new piston rings can seat and seal properly. The cylinder spec is to keep the piston moving freely without too much play. Before deciding to replace the pistons, you should measure the cylinder wear. At a certain point (check the specs for your engine) you will need to have the block machined and install oversized pistons. The cylinder wear can be measured without further disassembly by rotating the crank until about 2 inches of the cylinder are exposed. This is where the most wear will be.

 

The thread is from 2010. Your response is 9 years late.





eH.

 

I had this problem too, I used a crow bar wrapped in a shirt and tapped it with a rubber mallet. Eventually it broke loose.

 

LOL! Better late than never?!?!