So for starters, I didn't buy these. They were used in a build with less than 2K and I was given these as a gift from a buddy of mine in my old neighborhood when I moved away. I've had them on the shelf in my garage for over 2yrs now but wanted to get opinions on if they could be used with a little touching up around the wrist pin reliefs or if I shouldn't even consider using these.

The resolution isn't that great on my phone but some of the wrist pin reliefs have nicks or gouges in them from when the previous owner hammered the wrist pins out in a backwoods fashion from what it looks like.....

I know the nicks could be smoothed over with a die grinder but how bad would this impact my cylinder walls ive wondered?

Details>
Wiseco 81.5
Comp. Ht: 1.1765
P/N: K542M815

Piston1 (left)


Piston1 (right)


Piston2 (left)


Piston2 (right)


Piston3 (left)


Piston3 (right)



Piston4 (left)



Piston4 (right)

 

hmmm idk that's a hard call. Is the grove were the c clip goes in even there anymore where the gouge is? If it isn't I would take them to a machine shop and see what they can do.

Post pics of the skirts that's the most important part.

 

Yeah I need a better camera to show the grooves in the skirts. The groove for the C clip is there in every piston.



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Here's more on the side shirts

 

well i can only give you my experiences, but I have used "used" pistons several times on different types of engines as well as honda. As long as they dont have any damage, scoring or burrs sticking out that contact the cylinder wall and are nice and smooth they should be fine. I have used pistons I bought off ebay in my B16 right now but they were low mileage clean condition, and I bought brand new rings and they have been working fine for 6K miles with 17psi boost. If they ever scored a cylinder wall or had any problems at all then I wouldnt run them. I would always recommend new ones on a newly bored/honed block if you can afford it, but used ones have got me by when budget is extremely tight. A little bit of marking around the wrist pin area wont matter as long as the pins slide in nicely and functions as it should. Lots of people hone and ring/bearing engines all the time and put used pistons back in.

 

A small fine file for some de-burring and they're good to go. I only see one potential issue...

what is THIS?:

 

I just looked at that piston and.....that would be one of two nicks on top lands

Here's the other nick, also on the very top land. All the other pistons are free of nicks on the top lands though


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Glad to hear you've had decent experiences so far with used pistons,
honestly I was expecting many to say that they shouldn't even be considered. Deburring and fresh rings will absolutely be in order if used.

 

If the pistons are not warped, and the skirts look good in my opinion, i'd run em, new rings and have em cleaned up a bit.. most piston companies will "re-condition" their pistons if you ask.

 

Whats up Derrick? Yeah sending them to Wiseco for reconditioning is a thought too, but if I can get a machine shop to clean them up locally I'll probably go that route.

 

How ya been brother? ..

I'd have them each measured, every piston has a spec they tend to remind within, if its within that spec, no reason to really "NOT" run them. You can also contact supertech or other companies that do "coating" they can be coated as well which requires them to be cleaned up.

 

Good to know, might go that route if the cost is right. I'll have my machinist spec them out when i get the block bored to 81.5.

Otherwise I've been good lol.....I've been Honda-less for a couple years since the LSV dropped a valve late 2011 which (on top of moving) prompted me to salvage what was left of the DC I had.

I kept the block but the PR3 head was junk since it incurred a broken valve seat. I kept the old block I have more than a couple LS heads I've collected over the years that my fiance keeps bitching at me to do something with (or scrape'em), so lately I've gotten the "honda itch" and am contemplating an LST build with tax season just a few months down the road....figured if the pistons were usable I'd have a decent start

 

They look great. Id use em!
The circlips wont be an issue once they snap into the groove.

 

Good deal

The wrist pins already feel like a tapered fit wrist pin without the circlips

 

file the edges and gouges and use that ****. they dont even look like they got used that much honestly

 

Yeah with the Wiseco stamp still on the skirts for the most part, I believe they weren't used more then 2K. Thanks for the feedback, I'm feeling more content on using them now...

 

that big nick, make sure you focus on smoothing that out a lot, because that is a very potential hotspot. besides that, I'd run em for sure after some cleanup

 

2 left and 3 right look to ME like they got REALLY hot. it maybe your lighting but they looked a little blued. i would worry about out of round due to excessive heat.

 

Yeah Detonation was my concern when you pointed that out, for sure going to have it smoothed as best can be done.

I plan to have them checked by my machinist and if their within spec I'll have him bore all the cylinders per each piston tolerance. The lighting wasn't the best at my bedroom dresser but their is a bit of carbon staining on them that isn't cleaning off so its possible that they got a little hotter then they should, prob from an improper tune by the original owner.

 

ive re used pistons on several occasions with no issues. clean them up with some scotchbrite grey or white. green is pretty abrasive for aluminum it might take off too much.

 

Also have them all balanced between each other when all lthe filing is done.

 

Will do, never usage Scotchbrite for much but I'll give that I try..

Ah, good reminder, its been yrs since I pieced my old motor together but I made sure everything was balanced as this is something to keep in mind.

 

scotchbrite has its uses, i always keep a stash. helpful for cleaning up a head or block deck surface too if it doesnt need milling just a quick clean.

again i think the green and red are too abrasive for aluminum, grey or white are what i use.
here is a pic of my cp pistons that i cleaned with the scotchbrite. currently in my motor making 500hp.

 

WOW thats CLEAN!! I could prob spend the good part of a day just cleaning up parts with that stuff.

 

i heard scotchbrite pad leaves aluminum dust that ***** the motor up is that true or not.