I've got a B18A motor with somewhat low mileage, compression check is 185 psi on all 4 cylinders. Cylinder walls are in good shape(no cross-hatch left, but walls are smooth, no lines or scratches).. Can I transfer the piston rings from old pistons to the new ones, indexing the gaps in the same orientation on the new pistons? And as such, avoid a new cylinder hone? (which entails removing the crank, washing out the block, etc...)

 

You could get away with it but that's just not the way I would do it... It's all up to you, there's nothing entirely wrong with reusing ring and not atleast rehoning your block but if something fails (or just plain getting low compression numbers, you will probably have a good idea what caused it)... If it were me I would buy a new set of rings, pull the block, and have it honed... Then atleast you will have nice, clean, HONED (what you want for rings to seat) cylinder walls... Just my $0.02 but in the end it's up to you... Latez

 

Don't be a cheap-***. You are actually thinking of completly tearing down you motor and reusing one of the most vital parts of the engine. I don't understand some people. Just trying to save $100

 

Just trying to get opinions.

Right now, my engine is sitting on an engine stand with the top end off.

I have a set of P30 pistons sitting on the bench.

But its not $100.

I do remember the prices, but I was looking at, what $150 for 4 sets of rings, then another $100 for crank bearings and another $100 for rod bearings, plus honing work, maybe rod bolts, and all the work.

Since folks here say never to re-use anything.

Thats $500, not $100.

So most likely, the pistons will stay on the bench, not worth putting them in, I'll probably mill the head a little.

 

oops, I meant to say I "don't"remember the prices..but when I totalled up all the bearings, rings, and hone work, it was like $500.

Maybe I'm doing this wrong.. why don't you list exactly what you think needs to be changed in this scenario. I'd like to see how a ring job with new rings is only $100. List where to get the parts, please. If its only $100, I'll do it, but $500, I'll pass.

 

You can get acl rods and main and thrust package for $99 shippd from camp 1320. Then hondasaver quoted me $89 for piston rings for p30's shipped. Honing is like $10 a cylinder at like any machine shop(well in town at least) And arp rod bolts are $34 shipped from lightning in the sponsor section in the marketplace. So thats like half of what you estimated a lil more Around $280 id guess

 

thanks for the info

 

I recommend getting new rings and all, but if you want save a few bucks like me, this is what I did when I swap out for pr3 pistons.

Take one piston out of time and try to mark all of the positions of the ring's end gap. When putting pack the p30, try to put the rings back to their original positions so it will not upset the wear pattern.

I did a compression test afterward, and they're much higher with small variances of each other. I did a light break in, and it's still strong after 1000mi, no burning oil.

 

deffinaly get new rings.........you will be sorry if you dont........

 

i reuse piston rings all the time, sofar i havnt had a problem with them. the pistons i have replaced with used rings have higher compression numbers than the others. just be selective when using the rings, if they look tore up, get new ones. and make sure you dont put the rings in upside down.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hybridb18 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i reuse piston rings all the time, sofar i havnt had a problem with them. the pistons i have replaced with used rings have higher compression numbers than the others. just be selective when using the rings, if they look tore up, get new ones. and make sure you dont put the rings in upside down. </TD></TR></TABLE>
I mean I could be jumping on the Obvious Train, But WHY would you spend all the time and money to tear down and rebuild an engine and even ASK about re-using old parts. Yes, IT CAN BE DONE. But why would you? You can drive a car with your bare feet on the steering wheel, but that doesn't mean that it's a good idea to try it. LOL

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4crx4me &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I mean I could be jumping on the Obvious Train, But WHY would you spend all the time and money to tear down and rebuild an engine and even ASK about re-using old parts. Yes, IT CAN BE DONE. But why would you? You can drive a car with your bare feet on the steering wheel, but that doesn't mean that it's a good idea to try it. LOL</TD></TR></TABLE>
the reason i reuse the rings, is because i blow up my motor all the time, and i dont feel like paying all kinds of money each time i blow it up. i would rather just spend $40 on a new headgasket, and just slap a new piston in there, with used rings. It does the job till next time.
Yes it is not the smartest thing to do, it can be done though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hybridb18 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
the reason i reuse the rings, is because i blow up my motor all the time, and i dont feel like paying all kinds of money each time i blow it up. i would rather just spend $40 on a new headgasket, and just slap a new piston in there, with used rings. It does the job till next time.
Yes it is not the smartest thing to do, it can be done though.</TD></TR></TABLE>
To each his own. That's what makes America great.

 

dude didnt you ask this same ? like a 3 weeks ago you should know that its not wise to reuse a crusial part of youre motor. just do the right thing and get some new ones.so do you need a headgasket..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 91tegrals &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">dude didnt you ask this same ? like a 3 weeks ago you should know that its not wise to reuse a crusial part of youre motor. just do the right thing and get some new ones. so do you need a headgasket..</TD></TR></TABLE>
Nah just re-use it.

 

hmm, not sure where the headgasket comment came from.. Got a new one of those.

Anyway, yeah, I asked 3 weeks ago. At that time I figured I'd wait, and see what the motor looked like inside.

Well, now I got it opened up, because I'm swapping to a later head with some port work done. internally, the engine is in excellent shape. Which, is why I revisted the question. I like to see what people have to say, beside the usual comments that people throw around on this board.

If I was looking at a worn-out engine, no question, I'd be replacing stuff without worrying about it. But, since I'm looking at an engine without any appreciable wear. I'm weighing my options.

If you had a engine with say 10,000 miles, and maybe dropped a valve, damaging the head and 1 piston, would you strip the engine down to a bare block, rehone it, replace all the bearings, rod bolts, head bolts, and piston rings? Thats the advice most people on this board like to give.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by haggar &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">dropped a valve, damaging the head and 1 piston. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Hey, that's exactly what happenned to me after I had done the piston swap. NOT that this is due to reusing old piston rings though. I had really good compression with the pr3.

 

My new head has all new springs and valves :-)

Bought it that way.. otherwise probably would have reused the old parts..