Best way to clean the surface of the pistons?

[FLG]

You can use the mopar stuff with or without the engine together. There's plenty of threads out there if you do a Google search.

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[digger]

why bother getting rid of all the carbon so it is spotless? unless you have thick areas that might create a hot spot you are hurting performance making it shiny. the carbon acts to insulate the piston and provide a slight combustion efficiency improvement via changes in pressures and temps in the chamber.

many people deliberately texture the surface via bead blasting to promote a thin uniform layer of carbon build up since this is cheaper than $40-$60 per piston for a ceramic coated crown.....

[CrisMac]

Wasefi,

i just tackled this project and I used the following:

Terry cloth 800 and 1000 grit
sanding block
Scotchbrite green pad
seafoam cleaniner.
straight edge to keep everything level
and feeler gauge to check clearance on the deck

The top of my block looks machined, its nice and clean as well as my bottom end (Oil pan mating surface)

You can checkout my instagram for photos of the cleaning.

Hope this helps brotha!

[kronus]

why bother getting rid of all the carbon so it is spotless? unless you have thick areas that might create a hot spot you are hurting performance making it shiny. the carbon acts to insulate the piston and provide a slight combustion efficiency improvement via changes in pressures and temps in the chamber.

many people deliberately texture the surface via bead blasting to promote a thin uniform layer of carbon build up since this is cheaper than $40-$60 per piston for a ceramic coated crown.....

interesting, I did not know that this is desirable. Is there a reason new pistons are not as susceptible to this, or do manufacturers factor possible damage into designing break-in procedures?

[digger]

interesting, I did not know that this is desirable. Is there a reason new pistons are not as susceptible to this, or do manufacturers factor possible damage into designing break-in procedures?

susceptible to what ? shiny pistons will eventually carbon up just takes alot longer and you may not get the same thickness of build up. bead blasting is an added process that costs money. ive seen new mahle OEM pistons with definitive machining marks on the crown and they are far from polished. pretty stuff rarely goes fast.

[kronus]

the new forged JE pistons I have on the shelf have very shiny tops..

when you say bead blasting, do you specifically want something less abrasive than sand? I've got a sandblaster and a set of now-clean pistons that were going to go in tonight..

[digger]

the new forged JE pistons I have on the shelf have very shiny tops..

when you say bead blasting, do you specifically want something less abrasive than sand? I've got a sandblaster and a set of now-clean pistons that were going to go in tonight..

aftermarket will be shiny by default (JE do offer a brushed and milled crown which is a less shiny surface and sharp edges blended), if they are new its fine to leave as is. just i wouldn't go spending alot of time cleaning used pistons

bead blasting is different medium to sand blasting. sand blasting is a bit too aggressive. i dont know the exact medium that works best.

[Wasefi]

started off like this when I first pulled the head off
,


Sprayed a little brake cleaner and let it soften up, then wiped it with a microfiber towel.
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after about 30 mins of spraying and wiping... this was my result and how it sits now.(ran out of brake cleaner :-|)
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[Wasefi]

The head looks pretty! New valve guides, valve stem seal, and a 3.5 degree valve job.

[Frankus12]

wow, your head is beautiful :o I am doing the same on my m44, im just gonna use some mineral spirits and a microfiber towel on the block surface and pistons and gonna give the head to a shop. hopefully it works. Ive had the head pulled for a few months now while im away at school and noticed some rust developing in the coolant passages :/

[butters]

With the engine on a stand, why not bring it to be rebuilt?

[Wasefi]

With the engine on a stand, why not bring it to be rebuilt?

Honestly, I thought about it and I just cant afford it at the moment. Just because if I go that route I will end up spending a lot of money on quality/performance parts.

[butters]

Honestly, I thought about it and I just cant afford it at the moment. Just because if I go that route I will end up spending a lot of money on quality/performance parts.

Rod and main bearings and bolts plus ring sets, OE quality, will run $500 from Blunt. To me that is very cheap insurance and a low price for the peace of mind it brings. With the engine on the stand you will save time/money doing it now vs. down the road. My 2 cents..

[nyChris]

Rod and main bearings and bolts plus ring sets, OE quality, will run $500 from Blunt.

Sorry, but this is flat out wrong. OE piston rings for an s52 run $112.19 PER CYLINDER from ECS (Blunt will not price match ECS). Which brings you over the budget you allocated, and all you bought was rings.