1. Is there any way to clean the piston top or don't bother? FYI, that's Marvel Mystery oil on the pistons.


2. For the most part the cylinders look good was just concerned about a bit of scuffing on cylinder 5. Opinions? Open to suggestion. Thanx

 

how many miles on it?

if it has a bunch of miles on it, i would go ahead and break it down all the way ballhone it and rering it..

 

60K miles

 

low miles...

whyd you pull it?

brake cleaner will probably clean them.. might use a good cleaning brush or a soft wire brush.

 

The motor has been sitting unturned for 12 years. Besides a head and cam swap I'm doing a 95 opti conversion, changing every gasket that exists (rear was leaking already), and if all goes well an aftermarket K member and arms.

 

i would almost have to put new bearings and rings in it.. just because your spending so much on it already...
whats another couple hundred for a rering kit at that point..

 

Can't just throw bearings and rings in there. You have to get the crank turned and the cylinder walls honed.

 

you dont have to get the crank turned to put new bearings in.. if your crank is standard already, when you order bearings get standard sized bearings..

you can buy or probably rent a ballhone and ballhone it yourself..
it wont take you 20minutes to ballhone it yourself..

 

Sitting for 12 years not turned??? No way would I do just the top end! You're asking for problems in my opinion.

 

i'm with you on this, if its been sitting for 12yrs and i was spending that much on a topend i would definetly put new main and rod bearings in it. i wouldnt be be able to sleep at night if i didnt put new main and rod bearings in it.. just my opinion..

 

Would I have to replace the main and rod bolts as well? At this point I might as well strip the block down and have it hot tanked right?

Just get all the GM rings and bearings?

 

I don't think you would have to replace the rod and main bolts unless you plan on making some serious power but for top end only you'd be ok. Also you don't have to use gm bearings and rings. Speed Pro makes both the rings and bearings for your LT1 and you can find at your local parts store and Speed pro stuff is pretty good quality stuff also clevite.

 

you can go to northern auto parts and they have a complete rering kit. you just have to designate what size main and rod bearings, and also your bore size.. pretty much the same with summitracing...

you could have the freeze plugs and cam bearings removed and have the block hot tanked, its not absolutely necessary but since your engine has been sitting for a long time it might not be a bad idea actually.. have the machine shop reinstall your cam bearings and freeze plugs, it makes life easier and they dont charge an arm and a leg to do it usually.. if i take a block to the machine shop, usually i will have the machine shop price me a rebuild kit or a rering kit, on gen1 sbc's my machine shops kits are cheaper than online with clevite bearings, and hastings rings..
i use clevite main and rod bearings, durabond cam bearings, and hastings rings.. ive also used speedpro bearings.