this might be a newbie question, but can someone tell me how to install pistons? is there important details I should know?

 

This sounds like a cliche but get a Helms manual. It will be the start of a beautiful relationship.

You'll need a piston ring compressor and space the ring gaps according to the manual. Also rods go one way. They fit the other way but that's not good.

 

check here:

http://www.c-speedracing.com/howto/b.../b20vtec2.html

 

Its a pretty involved process. You need to completely disassemble the engine because with new pistons you need new rings, and new rings need a freshly honed block. So once you got them out of your engine, you need a shop to press out the wrist pin from the old rod/piston and press it through the new piston and your rod. Then its rebuild the engine from there. So, yeah the helms is a really good idea.

 

if you dont know what your doing get a helms
if you KNOW what your doing get a helms.
follow it STEP BY STEP!
http://www.helminc.com