Planning on swapping pistons. Advice welcome.

[my_gst95]

I may be interested in replacing my pistons on my 1G with stock-sized forged tops, but I'd like to keep my rods since I don't plan on making much more power then what I've already put down. For those that have done this process before can you offer any tips? From what it looks like, could I just remove the head, oil pan, and then disconnect each rod from the crank and pop it up? Since they will come with new rings, any tips on honeing? I've never done or seen it peformed on an engine, so any advice is useful. I'd like to do this with as little downtime as possible, especially since the engine is in pretty good shape as is. New main studs while the oil pan is off?

Thanks,

my_gst95

 

[timloomis]

you can hone it while the block is still in.just cover the crank with something so metal shavings dont get all over it.youll have to take off the main caps to put in new main studs,so youll have to remove the block to do that,so you can line the crank up,etc...just hone it till you get that nice cross-hatch pattern,but no more than you have too.use a bottle-brush type hone also,those knife sharpening stone looking things suck.use plenty of oil also.just clean it all up and bolt it back together.

 

[my_gst95]

Ok got it, thanks. I guess I'll just order the piston set and new arp rod bolts. I just realize I have an extra 7bolt shortblock laying in the garage I can practice honeing on. How long does honing take per cylinder using the brush-type end to get a nice crosshatch?

my_gst95

 

[timloomis]

just a few minutes for all of em.youll be able to tell when your there.

 

[boostedinaz]

I would never do this to my own car. I have a good feeling if you do this you will not be happy with the results. First off you don't know how bad your cylinders walls are? They could be great they could be in horrible shape. Either way how much are you going to hone? Are you going to hone to much and have piston slap, especially with forged pistons? What about all the crap that falls? I hope you are going to just use a rag and hope that gets it all. Someone will come in and say they know a guy that did this and it went fine, but do you want to chance messign up and having to do it all over again? This has bad idea written all over it.

If I were you I would spend the money now and just take it to a good machine shop and have them do it THE RIGHT WAY.

My .02

 

[RiceKiller_TSi]

Ditto^^