Engine Tear Down Pictures and Questions

[DirtyBirdRacing]

Hi,

A couple of weeks ago I was taking off the valve cover of this engine that I am dropping into my talon and I found that a couple of the rocker arms had been "spit" out. I broke the head down and found that this was most likely due to a bent/warped intake cam. It would not spin freely in the camshaft journals like the exhaust cam and all the "spit" out rocker arms were on the intake side.

I took the head off last week and took these pictures of the pistons, what do you guys think of them?

Cylinder #1:
<center>
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%201/?action=view&current=IMG_2122.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%201/IMG_2122.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #1"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%201/?action=view&current=IMG_2155.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%201/IMG_2155.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #1"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%201/?action=view&current=IMG_2124.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%201/IMG_2124.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #1"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%201/?action=view&current=IMG_2156.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%201/IMG_2156.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #1"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%201/?action=view&current=IMG_2152.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%201/IMG_2152.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #1"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%201/?action=view&current=IMG_2120.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%201/IMG_2120.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #1"></a><br /><br />
</center>

Cylinder #2:
<center>
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%202/?action=view&current=IMG_2142.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%202/IMG_2142.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #2"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%202/?action=view&current=IMG_2141.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%202/IMG_2141.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #2"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%202/?action=view&current=IMG_2102.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%202/IMG_2102.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #2"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%202/?action=view&current=IMG_2099.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%202/IMG_2099.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #2"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%202/?action=view&current=IMG_2096.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%202/IMG_2096.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #2"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%202/?action=view&current=IMG_2095.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%202/IMG_2095.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #2"></a><br /><br />
</center>

Cylinder #3:
<center>
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%203/?action=view&current=IMG_2148.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%203/IMG_2148.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #3"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%203/?action=view&current=IMG_2111.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%203/IMG_2111.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #3"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%203/?action=view&current=IMG_2106.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%203/IMG_2106.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #3"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%203/?action=view&current=IMG_2103.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%203/IMG_2103.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #3"></a><br /><br />
</center>

Continued in next post.

 

[DirtyBirdRacing]

Cylinder #4:
<center>
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%204/?action=view&current=IMG_2162.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%204/IMG_2162.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #4"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%204/?action=view&current=IMG_2161.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%204/IMG_2161.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #4"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%204/?action=view&current=IMG_2160.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%204/IMG_2160.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #4"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%204/?action=view&current=IMG_2137.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%204/IMG_2137.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #4"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%204/?action=view&current=IMG_2136.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%204/IMG_2136.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #4"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%204/?action=view&current=IMG_2134.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%204/IMG_2134.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #4"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%204/?action=view&current=IMG_2132.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/DSMBill63/1991%20Talon/engine%20work/piston%20inspection/cylinder%204/IMG_2132.jpg" border="0" alt="cylinder #4"></a><br /><br />
</center>


I apologize for the not so great quality. When I was inspecting the pistons and cylinders I thought they all looked pretty good. There was no gouging of the cylinder walls and if I remember correctly I could still see the cross hatch in all the cylinders (I think the motor was rebuilt about 3000-4000 miles ago). All the piston crowns looked great and had no damage except for what looked like light contact from some of the intake valves. What do you guys think? Should I clean the piston crowns or the cylinders with anything (I have noticed that between the block deck and the top of the first piston ring there is a "pretty" thick ring around the cylinder)?

Also, another question. I am going to be checking the flatness of the deck with a straight edge and feeler gauge. Since I will be using the MLS head gasket I think I want the deck to be within 0.001 in. of being completely flat. Where would I get a percision straight edge to check this?

Thanks a lot,
Bill

 

[cheap90gsx]

I just used gas to clean off the pistons.

 

[thewombis]

Could ###### find a machine shop and have them run a dial indicator around the head, that would give you a pretty good idea. If not, they could at least slap some nice ground surface blocks, and some shim stock so you can float it over the surface... Just make sure all is clean, and not to dig an edge in..

 

[HIGHPSI4]

The cam is not warpped. The timing jumped and the valves hit the pistons. This can allow the followers to fall off the valve stems. The cam will not turn because some of the followers are still on the valve stems which are bent in the guides. You can knock off some of those hot spots (valve imprint) on the pistons if you are just going to stick another head on it.

 

[bomper04]

sounds to me that your engine's got a ring ridge around the top. always recommended to remove the ring ridge, take it to a machine shop! or you can always diy

 

[DirtyBirdRacing]

Hi,

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

The cam is not warpped. The timing jumped and the valves hit the pistons. This can allow the followers to fall off the valve stems. The cam will not turn because some of the followers are still on the valve stems which are bent in the guides. You can knock off some of those hot spots (valve imprint) on the pistons if you are just going to stick another head on it.

I thought it had skipped timing as well, and it might have, but when I put the cams back on the head and did my "spin test" it was with no rocker arms and the intake cam still didn't spin freely. Either way, I'll just smooth out the pistons like you stated.

sounds to me that your engine's got a ring ridge around the top. always recommended to remove the ring ridge, take it to a machine shop! or you can always diy

When I clean the pistons, I'll hit some of the ring I was referring too. Hopefully its just some stuborn carbon deposits.

Thanks again,
Bill

 

[HIGHPSI4]

Got ya. Pull the cam caps and see if the journals are eat up. If the engine was ran low on oil the journals may have lost oil and ruined the head. I have seen one that the #1 journal got stopped up and galded the cam to the journal.