1G Intro and valvetrain question

[MrMiata]

Hey everyone, new guy here. My name is Matt and I currently have a pretty clean Miata NA. I have an offer to trade for a 1g talon tsi. It seems like a very clean car but at one point, during a water pump change, it was put back together one tooth out of time. It was put back in time and put back together with new gaskets, timing belt, tensioners, and etc. This is what scares me, there was valve contact with the piston and it has valve marks on the top. I'm not too worried about the piston as that shouldn't affect compression or anything but I am worried about the valves. He swears there not bent and that the car runs perfect. Bear in mind he had the head and everything off. During that time he had the head checked and whatnot. He also has receipts and picture documentation of when it was apart. Sound legit?

Just seems that if valves made contact with the piston they'd almost definitely be bent?

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I can bend them by rolling the cams over by hand (and have). For sure do a compression test, that will let you know if there is something suspicious.

 

[MrMiata]

OK, that's what I was thinking too. Hopefully it checks out.... I hate interference engines

 

[Mauispyder]

Compression test ditto

 

[MrMiata]

After doing some more research, could the valve marks on the piston cause hot spots? This is looking more like a no go-go.

That's a pic of the worst piston.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Ouch, yes they can and will. In a pinch i would seal the rings off and LIGHTLY round off the gouges (dremel ever so slightly). Sharp edges will get red hot. Of course if you are already together then run it. If you aren't together it would be ideal if the piston was not in the bore. No grit or debris of any kind can get to the rings, if it does it will eat the rings up.

 

[MrMiata]

Well I don't currently have the car, I may trade for it and that just pics of when it was apart. He claims that it's still the original valves on the car and that they're not bent. With contact like that though, I think they should be. He did, however, replace all gaskets, timing belt, tensioner and etc, as well as get the head checked and it looks like he has documentation to prove it. He already had it all apart, if they were bent I'd assume he'd change em. I dunno. Due to the uncertainty of the valves and the pistons as they are, looks like it may be better to pass on it as it'll be a dd. Do you dsm experts draw the same conclusion?