Re: JPOR: Piston removal

[Brett Davis <bdavis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Obi-Wan wrote:

> ****************Please Remember to snip your replies***************
> You guys will get sick of me before I'm done with this project...

You're right, we're sick already :)

> Once I've got the crankshaft removed from my 401 V8, is there any
> reason why I can't remove the pistons from the bottom to check/replace
> the rings?  The TSM says I have to remove them through the top, but
> that assumes the crank is in place.

Not familier with the 401, on the BB chebby I seem to remember it being
physically impossible to remove from the bottom due to bearing journal
placement.  You don't wanna remove the heads?

> When removing through the top, the TSM says I need to ream out a
> little ridge that's along the top of the cylinder bore before the
> pistons will slide out.  What exactly is the "ridge reamer" they
> talk about, and can I just do the same job with a Dremmel tool?

dunno, it would seem so, though I would be careful to not remove too much
material at a time, and try removing the piston after each pass of the Dremmel.

> The TSM says to use a ring expander to install the compression rings
> on the pistons.  What is this, and is it really necessary?

Only to make life easier.  And to protect your investment.

> Similarly, it says to use a ring compressor to install the newly-ringed
> pistons back into the cylinders.  What is this, and is it really
> necessary?

Again, only to make life easier.  Much easier.

> Many people don't understand this type of devotion; in fact some think of our
> mindset as a sickness or as an aberration of the human mind. -- Rick Pewe

ya, like my wife.
--
Brett Davis