Are these pistons done for?

[Zaun]

So picked up a non running 325ix. Guy claimed low compression was cause for no start. I was going to use the body to move my 2.7 into it, but wanted to try and get it running before i did the swap. previous owner said it has a rebuilt head on it. Anyways after replacing several items (Rotor/cap, fuel regulator, main and fuel relays) I got it to start. Ton of white smoke. so i figured id pull the head to check the headgasket and have the head checked at a machine shop.

Well now i see why the previous owner had tried putting a rebuilt head on. Had to have broke a timing belt and tried to run it. #1 piston is hammered on (all the others have lighter marks. Anyways wanted to see what you guys think, have the head checked out at machine shop and then try a new head gasket (he had put a VR one on) or are these pistons done for. Some pretty gnarly hits. Oh compression was 1-6 was 120,90,120,120,90,120
Pretty sure there probably done for but wanted to see what other people think.
[IMG][/IMG]
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nfun4nxky1...84619.jpg?dl=0
No actual holes in the piston and the pictures look way worse, then again it is pretty bad haha.

[AndrewBird]

Picture isn't working for me.

[TobyB]

Nor me.

Pistons can take some abuse, but the edges can't- the ring lands will get compressed
and the rings will stick.

This is why a leakdown test is good after a compression test- if you had
leaking by the rings, you'da known the valves were OK.

t

[Zaun]

Thanks andrewbird...looking into that..Fixed the picture...Will take more in the morning..Gonna catch some zzzzs

[jeffnhiscars]

I think that piston will develop hot spots. If it were mine I wouldn't use it.

[Zaun]

im actually thinking that cylinder may have a crack, wait and see what the machine shop says about the head.

[101]

I would not use that piston either.

[Ether-D]

The bottom of that piston is destroyed. Not at all worth risking it. I have a stack of m20b25 Pistons if you decide you want to replace that one. The block is likely scored as well though. Good luck.

[SkiFree]

I would not reuse that piston and agree with what others have said.

Lastly, as I've said before. Timing belts don't just "break" unless it is well past the service interval. Sound like your swap timing just moved up.

For curiosity's sake, please keep us informed on what the machinist finds.

[Zaun]

I would not reuse that piston and agree with what others have said.

Lastly, as I've said before. Timing belts don't just "break" unless it is well past the service interval. Sound like your swap timing just moved up.

For curiosity's sake, please keep us informed on what the machinist finds.

This ix has 170k on it..I didnt pick the car up from the owner, i had to work so i sent a friend to pick the car up sight unseen to me(and i knew not running). So I havnt gotten a whole lot of info from the previous owner, and my friend that went didnt really get a whole lot. He just looked at what i told him to look for and told him ignore the engine lol. Im going to take the head to machine shop hopefully Friday. That way i can at least see if this head is good or not and go from there.

Haha yea swap timing just got moved up...have to find a friend that will let me do it at there place. Current living arrangements do not allow it.

[TobyB]

Oh, ug-
that's a lot of damage- I like the valve imprint!

I wouldn't put a head back on that, either.

Sorry.
t

[stonea]

So picked up a non running 325ix. Guy claimed lowed compression was cause for no start. I was going to use the body to move my 2.7/2.8 into it, but wanted to try and get it running before i did the swap.

FYI, ix blocks are ix specific. I've heard that you can convert a regular M20 block to a ix block, but I haven't seen proof yet. Not to say it can't be done, but I just haven't seen documentation.

[Zaun]

FYI, ix blocks are ix specific. I've heard that you can convert a regular M20 block to a ix block, but I haven't seen proof yet. Not to say it can't be done, but I just haven't seen documentation.

Yep! finding that out. I had read that i could, but cant find anything on it. Looks like the mounting points are different on the block...So i may end up having to build an ix block. Still trying to find research and plan out what im going to do. Took the head to local machine shop to have it checked out. Even if its good, and an actual rebuilt head like i was told by the previous owner, Im still probably going to use my head off my other motor due to all the machine work that has gone into it.

Really kinda a bummer because i was thinking i could just switch out the oil pan and pump and be good to go...unfortunately not the case lol

[The Dark Side of Will]

The only difference in the block castings is the location of the dip stick. The blocks are otherwise identical. The mounts are in the same locations.

The iX oil pump turns the opposite direction from the RWD oil pump, so you need to use the iX intermediate shaft (driven by the timing belt) and oil pump drive shaft, as the gears are cut with opposite pitch relative to the RWD gears.

As long as the top ring is still free, that piston can be reused in a stock application just fine. Don't boost it, though, as all the ridges are potential hot spots.

[jeffnhiscars]

However, once you pull that piston to check the ring lands there is simply no good reason to reinstall it.