pistons dented, are my valves bad?

[Kyogie12]

So i just bought a 91 eclipse tsi awd from a local guy, has tons of mods on it. FMIC, 16g, Walburo 250fp ect...

He was selling it because he said all it needed was a new head gasket and oil feed banjo bolt. He had the head off because he was trying to sell it (rebuilt 15k ago) but the guy backed out. I noticed when i got home that the pistons had 4 divots/dents in them around the edges. I'm wondering if the valves hit them and are bent...? Do the stock pistons have these dents normally or are they are smooth surface? Any way i can check to see if my valves are bent by looking under the head or do i have to do a compression test or pull the head apart?

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

If the valves were hitting the pistons, they would be bent.

Stock pistons have dimples in them where the Intake and exhaust valves are, for added distance so the likelyhood of Piston-kissing is reduced.

However, to be absolutely sure I would ask that you post a picture that way we can see first hand.

 

[BogusSVO]

if the head is off the car, pull the cams out of the head, set the head on its side, then pour water in the runners, if the water runs out (not little drops) good chance the valves are bent.

stock pistons have 4 valve relifes cast into the piston crowns.

 

[Epiper87]

my question is.. i have the same car with bad head.. pistons bent valves. i pulled my intake cam and my valves all stayed open... now i need to know where i can get a used head cheap thats not warped or bent valves

 

[dsmjunkie97]

Look on the classifieds, many heads available for sale.

 

[BogusSVO]

Epiper... why not just rebuild your head? then you know what you have and what parts are in it.

 

[GsXdSmKingGsX]

my question is.. i have the same car with bad head.. pistons bent valves. i pulled my intake cam and my valves all stayed open... now i need to know where i can get a used head cheap thats not warped or bent valves

SlowboyRacing or S&R Racing can hook you up with a head of your dreams! Made exactly to your specs and for your power goals! You can even send them your warped head and they will re-use it and machine it back out to new for your build!

 

[Clinical]

Op, if you're talking about the little dimples in the pistons like shown here

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then no those are just the valve dimples or whatever they're called as mentioned above to avoid the likely hood of piston kissing.

 

[cwriley]

looks good to me, if valves were hitting it would be a lot rougher looking and valves and valve guides would be shot. those slots are just grooved into the piston to keep them from touching