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Originally Posted by idmetro
Syndrome Zed;
I'm quite certain you could just replace the piston and rings in cylinder 3, but I think in the long run you would wind up pennywise and pound foolish. I once took 3 different subaru engines and pirated the best parts off each to make a whole one, I matched the wear on them as close as I could and went with it. While I'm sure no self respecting engine builder would sanction such a thing (and who knows about longevity, although I had the suabru for two years and 45K miles after the "rebuild") when you are young/poor you do what you have to. As a matter of fact I'd be willing to bet you could go to a local wrecking yard and get a "replacement" piston for really cheap. The downside of doing just one cylinder would be the possible effect of uneven wear/stress on the rest of your rotating assembly. And you will have at least some money involved in the gaskets, rings, miscellaneous parts and of course your time. I really think you'ld be better of swapping in a JDM engine or doing a real honest rebuild. Of course if you are just plain overtaken by that forever present scientific question "What if...?" then have at it.
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I've decided to do what Chilton's calls a "freshen up" - basically rebuild the bottom half of the engine and replace the piston at the time. Money was one factor, time and equipment another, and since I'm a scientist by trade, you're right that there's definitely some curiosity at play.
So I'll try and document everything as much as possible a la DOCTORBILL. I doubt I'll be able to do as good a job as he did, but I'll give it a go.
Anyway, one question. Chilton's says to take the piston to a machine shop to have the pin removed and the new piston installed to the connecting rod. But Chilton's also says to go to a machine shop or pro for most everything I plan on doing to my engine. So how
does the pin come off - is it a dowel-tapping thing similar to removing the piston from the cylinder? Hell, at this point I could probably just use my Dremel to cut the old piston off (just kidding, don't worry...
).