The Ford Barn

Tony, NY · 12-24-2015, 05:56 PM

Xxx

34pickup · 12-24-2015, 05:59 PM

I can't believe you would consider repairing a piston.....just me.

flatheadmurre · 12-24-2015, 06:00 PM

Replace it !
And you want to tear it down and get the leftovers out of the engine.

Tom Walker · 12-24-2015, 06:12 PM

Be good to know the brand so we can all avoid it!

SofaKing · 12-24-2015, 06:27 PM

Burt Munro would melt it down and recast it, I'd toss it and thats why I don't hold any world records. What went through the top? Ditto on removing the rest of it.

Lawrie · 12-24-2015, 06:35 PM

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My Father welded up one for his E type jag in the 70,s it got mashed by a valve and he was short of $$ so welded it up, My brother still has the car,piston still in.
But Not for me,I would get a new one or set.
Lawrie

Lawson Cox · 12-24-2015, 06:59 PM

Only way to repair it safely is to drop pan, pull scrap aluminum out of the hidden places, and replace the piston, same as flatheadmurre suggests.

woodiewagon46 · 12-24-2015, 07:40 PM

Two companies that come to mind are Egge and Arias that will make any piston to your specs. I would be more concerned with the fragments that are in your oil system. Ever try to TIG weld an aluminum part that has been saturated with oil? I don't care how you degrease it as soon as you hit it with any heat you will see the oil bubble to the surface. I know you will get several people that "do it all the time" but I would get another piston.

TJ · 12-24-2015, 07:47 PM

If you weld it up and it doesn't hold you will have to tear it apart again. The next time may cause a lot more damage. Not a good idea in my book.

Flathead Dave · 12-24-2015, 07:52 PM

Tear down to clean out and replace the piston.

Pete · 12-24-2015, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony, NY

This piston has a hole thru it. Exact brand replacement not available. One close in weight (8 grams) is. Plug the hole with weld and use it or? Don't really want to get into a major tear-down. Motor has a recent rebuild and practically no miles on it.

You are looking at a COMPLETE teardown.
All of the material that came off the piston is now distributed evenly ALL through the engine. Every nook and cranny and oil passage. A lot of it is hammered into the babbit. Lightly scrubbing the babbit surfaces with scotchbrite MAY remove it. May not.
In any event you need to look at everything in the engine for debris. After all this and reassembly, the engine may last forever but on the other hand it may not due to left over aluminum debris you missed.

tubman · 12-24-2015, 08:54 PM

If you can replace the piston, do it. On the other hand, when I dropped an exhaust valve in the early hemi in my vintage dirt car, it did the same type of damage to one of my JE forged pistons, which were new less than two years before. When I contacted JE, they wanted to sell me another set of 8 pistons for another $1200. My builder magna-fluxed the piston and found no internal damage. He then had it heli-arced and re-magna-fluxed, and found no problems. I've run it in at least 30 heats since then successfully.

Bottom line : replace it if you can, but they sometimes can be fixed if the circumstances require it.

EDIT : I should add that even though the piston was repaired, the engine was torn down completely and thoroughly cleaned.

uncle buck · 12-24-2015, 10:54 PM

I would contact Egge for a new one. I would also be finding the cause and address that

VeryTangled · 12-24-2015, 11:04 PM

Hi Everyone, Wow that sounds like a sad story.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony, NY

Exact brand replacement not available.

Just an idea Tony, and you didn't say exactly what the brand is, but if you know, and tell us what the piston is, someone may be able to help.

As we've seen recently, a few people who hang around here, have a thing for saving old ford parts of every description.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony, NY

Don't really want to get into a major tear-down. Motor has a recent rebuild and practically no miles on it.

As others said, I'd be scared to run that for long without a very serious cleaning.

Do you know what caused this?

Vics Stuff · 12-25-2015, 01:51 PM

By the time you try to fix the damaged piston you could replace it with a new one. My suggestion is do it right , otherwise this will come back and bite you in the $$$$$
Vic

Kube · 12-25-2015, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

You are looking at a COMPLETE teardown.
All of the material that came off the piston is now distributed evenly ALL through the engine. Every nook and cranny and oil passage. A lot of it is hammered into the babbit. Lightly scrubbing the babbit surfaces with scotchbrite MAY remove it. May not.
In any event you need to look at everything in the engine for debris. After all this and reassembly, the engine may last forever but on the other hand it may not due to left over aluminum debris you missed.

Yep... could not have offered better advice than this.

jimTN · 12-25-2015, 04:48 PM

You do not say what it is out of. Pistons are made by dimension, not by brand of car. It will be a certain stroke, bore and number of rings and of course weight. Lots of different make cars had the same bore and stroke.

Bored&Stroked · 12-25-2015, 06:06 PM

Listen to Pete!

chap52 · 12-26-2015, 10:26 AM

Do it right...sleep good at night...

supereal · 12-26-2015, 05:34 PM

We use Egge or Mahle. They will make pistons to spec. Not cheap, but what of real quality is?

12-24-2015, 05:56 PM	#1
Tony, NY Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Capital of Corruption , NY Posts: 811	Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? Xxx Last edited by Tony, NY; 12-28-2015 at 06:01 AM.

12-24-2015, 05:59 PM	#2
34pickup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Huntsville Al Posts: 1,526	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? I can't believe you would consider repairing a piston.....just me. __________________ Matt 24:36-41

12-24-2015, 06:00 PM	#3
flatheadmurre Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,045	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? Replace it ! And you want to tear it down and get the leftovers out of the engine.

12-24-2015, 06:12 PM	#4
Tom Walker Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Leicester. UK Posts: 404	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? Be good to know the brand so we can all avoid it!

12-24-2015, 06:27 PM	#5
SofaKing Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 756	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? Burt Munro would melt it down and recast it, I'd toss it and thats why I don't hold any world records. What went through the top? Ditto on removing the rest of it.

12-24-2015, 06:35 PM	#6
Lawrie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Qld, Australia Posts: 4,215	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) My Father welded up one for his E type jag in the 70,s it got mashed by a valve and he was short of $$ so welded it up, My brother still has the car,piston still in. But Not for me,I would get a new one or set. Lawrie

12-24-2015, 06:59 PM	#7
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? Only way to repair it safely is to drop pan, pull scrap aluminum out of the hidden places, and replace the piston, same as flatheadmurre suggests. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

12-24-2015, 07:40 PM	#8
woodiewagon46 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Island,NY Posts: 1,555	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? Two companies that come to mind are Egge and Arias that will make any piston to your specs. I would be more concerned with the fragments that are in your oil system. Ever try to TIG weld an aluminum part that has been saturated with oil? I don't care how you degrease it as soon as you hit it with any heat you will see the oil bubble to the surface. I know you will get several people that "do it all the time" but I would get another piston.

12-24-2015, 07:47 PM	#9
TJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napa,California Posts: 6,035	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? If you weld it up and it doesn't hold you will have to tear it apart again. The next time may cause a lot more damage. Not a good idea in my book.

12-24-2015, 07:52 PM	#10
Flathead Dave Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: SOCAL Posts: 557	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? Tear down to clean out and replace the piston. __________________ "Some people are like slinkys. They're not really good for anything but they sure bring a smile to your face when they're pushed down the stairs"....

12-24-2015, 08:54 PM	#12
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,312	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? If you can replace the piston, do it. On the other hand, when I dropped an exhaust valve in the early hemi in my vintage dirt car, it did the same type of damage to one of my JE forged pistons, which were new less than two years before. When I contacted JE, they wanted to sell me another set of 8 pistons for another $1200. My builder magna-fluxed the piston and found no internal damage. He then had it heli-arced and re-magna-fluxed, and found no problems. I've run it in at least 30 heats since then successfully. Bottom line : replace it if you can, but they sometimes can be fixed if the circumstances require it. EDIT : I should add that even though the piston was repaired, the engine was torn down completely and thoroughly cleaned. Last edited by tubman; 12-25-2015 at 03:17 PM.

12-24-2015, 10:54 PM	#13
uncle buck Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Snohomish,WA Posts: 1,030	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? I would contact Egge for a new one. I would also be finding the cause and address that

12-25-2015, 01:51 PM	#15
Vics Stuff Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Reno Nevada Posts: 391	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? By the time you try to fix the damaged piston you could replace it with a new one. My suggestion is do it right , otherwise this will come back and bite you in the $$$$$ Vic

12-25-2015, 04:48 PM	#17
jimTN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Powell, TN Posts: 2,509	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? You do not say what it is out of. Pistons are made by dimension, not by brand of car. It will be a certain stroke, bore and number of rings and of course weight. Lots of different make cars had the same bore and stroke.

12-25-2015, 06:06 PM	#18
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,064	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? Listen to Pete!

12-26-2015, 10:26 AM	#19
chap52 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Marana Arizona Posts: 1,776	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? Do it right...sleep good at night...

12-26-2015, 05:34 PM	#20
supereal Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,634	Re: Would Anybody Attempt To Fix This? We use Egge or Mahle. They will make pistons to spec. Not cheap, but what of real quality is?