Swap Piston Rings to New Piston??

[LaN-]

Per the pictures below my valve and piston were going at it. Thankfully the valve didn't break off.

Assuming the cylinder wall is fine how practical is dropping the pan, pull the piston and swap the rings to a new one?

I'm not really "in love" with the idea, but i'd like to get some additional input.

[JerTM]

They are cheap enough, I'd just install new rings with the new piston.

[GONIF]

As long as you got it apart already it would be a great time to hone the cylinders and install new forged pistons and rings and balance the engine . Would be nice to have the heads ported and throw a cam in as well .

[CWI]

Why did this happen? Valve retainer fail? I didn't see big cam on your mod list.

[christianchevell]

Your assuming you need a new piston........... And you would want to drop the whole engine and cradle at once most likely.

[RichSS2006]

New rings on a that new piston. I wouldn't trust a piston that's been hit. You'll have to at least hone that cylinder. And then the question is how to rinse all of the honing oil out without dismantling the engine? I'd pull the engine. It can be removed from the top. Did it! Take the engine apart. Hone them all and re-ring the whole engine. This will also give you the opportunity the check the main and rod bearings. Obviously the heads need to be checked and repaired. What broke, a spring? How many miles do you have on this car? I ask because at a certain point it may be worth a full rebuild. Good Luck.

[LaN-]

So to give you guys some back story.

Either a valve spring or rocker arm bearing broke. Car has 6-7k miles on it. The cam i was running must be to aggressive, or that 1 valve spring was defective.

I'm leaning toward pulling the block, but I can't get a straight answer from anyone on what to do. I'd like to buy some forged pistons and rods have a machine shop put them in and i'll throw it all back together. 2 local shops so far just tell me to buy a 100% new shortblock for like 5-7k. To me thats overkill as my goals are roughly 600whp.

if anyone is in the area and/or has experience with this. Could you tell me what you think the cost should be just to drop my block off at a shop and have them put some forged internals in?

[christianchevell]

I am serious I have ran a lot worse that the little kiss you got.... You can see its slightly kissing the piston as the trunnions bearings fell out then one small bite when it went and it perfectly bent the valve for saving the engine not trashing the piston. You need to talk more experienced people, sure you could blow a ton on it, or replace the what ever affected and check thoroughly as I would trash lifters, pushrods and springs and rockers....time to upgrade the trunnion, your not the first to kiss a piston and you should count your unlucky stars your not looking at having to replace that slug. The Trunnion problem is a known issue with us motorheads on here, spontaneous spring breakage ...not happening unless you stressed the hell out of it over revving most likely as the springs are tough.