Bryan

Nothing much new. Put all the old pistons in old storage shed. Been cleaning the VPW NOS pistons. A lot of work but got my 2.00" compression height for $107 (included shipping) instead of EGGE $350. Feels like $243 worth of work but hey, I'm retired. Scotchbrite pads do well, I found laying them on the glass plate and rotating the pistons on them is best. Tried holding them in my hand but wasn't even. Finding on the NOS pistons 4 out of 6 are slightly dished on top. Not measurable but you see it when rotating the pistons on 2000 grit sandpaper on the glass plate. With all the cleaning I'm removing .2-.3 grams from the pistons. Love my scale. It is 0.1 gram accurate. Each piston shows consistent weight loss. Cut grass on riding mower yesterday before it got hot. Think I overdid it last week. Been feeling crappy ever since then.

Hope this helps, you might already know about it.

If the valve adjustment doesn't work, try something crazy. Take the muffler off, but leave pipe to it on. On my 92 Dodge Dakota recently had the muffler just all of a sudden get loud. I thought the joint to the exhaust manifold broke loose, nope that was fine. Maybe something stopped the muffler up. Last resort. It isn't like these things have 10 different sensors and a computer. Enough fuel, no air leaks -> proper mixture at throttle (up a hill). Spark, at proper time (vacuum & mechanical advance) under load. Compression. Exhaust. Power to wheels -> Nothing dragging like slipping clutch or sticking brakes.

That's what my father had done on the 48 I have now. Sisson unhooked and manual choke installed.

If it were a modern car I'd say check the catalytic converter. No power going up a hill. Maybe a rat crawled into your muffler? Fuel filter okay? Condenser & points?

Seems like Scotchbrite is faster than 0000 steel wool. Made sure I rotated the piston so any scuff pattern on sides would be horizontal. Slow work. Still not going to get all the spots on the sides out but you can't see them anyway. Before starting I measured the distance from the top of the pin hole to the top of the piston (front and rear). To later see if I was changing the compression height as I cleaned the tops. Checked 2 pistons a 2nd time after all measurements to see if I was consistent. Yep, same. #1 - 1.5730 front 1.5750 rear Checked twice #2 - 1.5715 front 1.5725 rear #3 - 1.5700 front 1.5725 rear Checked twice #4 - 1.5735 front 1.5740 rear #5- 1.5740 front 1.5745 rear #6 - 1.5735 front 1.5745 rear Example: On #3 1.5700 + .42965 = 1.999" compression height

Ha! Was actually thinking of one of those glue on wood grain applicates but didn't want to complicate it. Picture software is weird. MS picture manager will sometimes show it different on the Thumbnail than MS Paint. I think your picture I rotated it with MS Picture Manager. I do believe cameras have some kind of sensor that knows which way is up..wish it would just stay one way across all programs.

Safest would be stick with the previous non-detergent oil. A lot of work switching over with no guarantee you'd clan out all the sludge beforehand. I found sludge in the pan, in the oil pickup, in the valve tappet area, under the timing cover, etc.

Yours is running exactly the same as mine was. Probably 3/16 - looks the same as my brake line.

After I'm finished with my 48 Dodge I still have my mother's 1958 Dodge Coronet to get running. Floor rusted out, engine ran 40 years ago but needed guides. A lot of interior work. Wife keeps me from selling it. Says it's not hurting anything sitting there in the garage. The 48 is almost overwhelming but have to do things one step at a time. If I bought another car I think it would almost have to be in very good shape with just minor things to correct, like a carb overhaul or starter. On the 48 everything needs work. $15-$17K would be the same range I'd be buying another car.

Cleaned 2 piston tops up. Not feeling well today. Maybe got too hot yesterday. Was using the glass plate/sandpaper method but on one piston the top is slightly dished (one on the right). Not trying to make them flat. Went to use 0000 steel wool but got to generating metal fibers, even using it wet. Too much for me inside. Might go to Scotchbrite pads..

Sometimes got to get the brain to working. .06 mm is .0024" duh. Other number 83.26 mm is 3.28". Namely .030 over.

Or gloss black.

Here it is.

Don't know, didn't see that on my Dodge pistons. A thing to watch is that some replacement pistons are "rebuilder" type. The compression height is about .02 lower than regular pistons. Should be 2.00" and not 1.980 or 1.978. If you are not having the block decked it's important.

On one piston except for the top, think that's about as clean as it will get. Still measures the same on skirt as others. Not perfect but will work.

Cleaned one up with a damp paper towel and brasso. About 3 times. Looks like VPW polished them a little before sending off but no scratches you can feel. Forgot I have to go off and cut grass today. I think they will clean up well. Heck, only the tops are visible. On the top "spiel" means play. .06? Sounds a lot.

Don't know. On the skirts I won't scrub too much. Don't want to remove too much material. It's smooth to the touch. Let the cylinders do all the work. I'll try it tomorrow.

That's a lot of detailed work. Great job! How were you getting the airflow numbers?

More pics. I'll clean a little tomorrow. Spots are smooth.

The sides though discolored are very smooth to the touch. I'll leave the ring lands alone, they're shiny & clean. Going to try baking soda and lemon juice mixture. Also read that Cream of Tartar can clean aluminum, and coffee cups. If the spots don't come out, I'll leave it. Only the tops are rough with deposits, probably corroded aluminum. Always have my glass plate and 2000 grit sandpaper to smooth the tops. As long as I don't take off more than a 1/2 hair width. ? Looks like someone has already been using fiber pad on the sides.

Arbitrary numbering 1-6: 1. 475.9 grams 2. 475.8 g 3. 480.0 g 4. 477.7 g 5. 476.9 g 6. 481.0 g I haven't cleaned them yet, but no heavy deposits. The ring lands are tight, unlike my used pistons. Pictures of 2 pistons' undersides. Most the same.

Look again..most of what I stated was .02 difference in compression heights for pistons. 2.00 vs 1.980 for rebuilder pistons. At least you didn't end your post with "Just sayin".

Got my NOS pistons from VPW today. ELKO. Look a little rough but you can't feel anything on the sides, just discolored but very smooth. Tops are slightly crusty but will polish them up. .030 diameter with a compression height of 2.00". Came with clips and clean piston pins. Didn't think they would, so already ordered pins from somewhere else for $25. Oh well. Shipping was about $30. Still happy with them. Other alternative to get pistons with a 2.00 compression height was EGGE at $329 not incl postage.

The cars have a ring of smaller bolts surrounding the nut. Doesn't change anything except if the middle crank nut is turned a certain way the shoulders are near the surrounding bolts, and you can't get a socket on it til you remove the smaller ones.