Removing Rusty Rods & Pins From Pistons...
#2454392
02/20/18 02:45 AM
02/20/18 02:45 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,204 Fort Worth, TX
Clair_Davis
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,204
Fort Worth, TX
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So I picked up a 440 block and it came disassembled with some rods with pistons mounted. The pistons appear to be old Speed Pro / FM L2355's 0.040" over. The block is standard bore, so this is really just a box of parts. The pistons look like they've got next to zero time on them, guessing that a cam wiped or something else caused serious bearing wear, and the crank was pulled. The pistons/rods must have been stored somewhere that they either got wet, or just condensation over years got to them. The pins now don't move, so I'm wondering if there is any way to remove the pins without damaging the pistons any further. Ugly pics: 440_Piston-01 by clair_davis, on Flickr 440_Piston-02 by clair_davis, on Flickr 440_Piston-03 by clair_davis, on Flickr My initial thought is to hit the pins with some PB Blaster and see if they will loosen up. If they'll budge, heat the rod and press them out. Open to suggestions - this is mostly an operation to see if the pistons can be saved, but they're not parts I'll be using myself. Thanks, Clair
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Re: Removing Rusty Rods & Pins From Pistons...
[Re: Clair_Davis]
#2454439
02/20/18 09:29 AM
02/20/18 09:29 AM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,487 STL
cdstl
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,487
STL
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Trans fluid and acetone 50/50 is my go-to "Magic Juice". The acetone does evaporate.
1972 Cuda 340 4 speed, 2001 Ram CTD 4x4 6 speed, 1970 Duster 408 4 speed, 1996 Ram 5.9 2x4 auto, 1965 Coronet 500
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Re: Removing Rusty Rods & Pins From Pistons...
[Re: Clair_Davis]
#2454528
02/20/18 01:24 PM
02/20/18 01:24 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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there is a fixture that with the assy on its side it has a fork that goes in & supports the bottom side of the rod small end as you press the pin out but not all shops have it & I would for sure try the chemical combos mentioned.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Removing Rusty Rods & Pins From Pistons...
[Re: Clair_Davis]
#2461856
03/06/18 02:31 AM
03/06/18 02:31 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,204 Fort Worth, TX
Clair_Davis
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OP
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Fort Worth, TX
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OK, small update... I haven't tried the Evaporust yet, but the two flavors of ATF and the PB Blaster have results. After a couple days soaking, I held the rod big ends in a vice and smacked the pistons with a plastic dead-blow hammer and they all started to move. I would say that the the ATF + mineral spirits moved the easiest, but none were going to move by hand after just a couple days. Also, as cdstl noted, the acetone does evaporate out pretty quickly. It doesn't mix like the mineral spirits do, so you need to stir it periodically and add more acetone from time to time - things I didn't do.
The PB Blaster was the slowest to loosen up, and had the most friction after the two-day soaking. However, after soaking all three for a few more days, all three loosened up enough to move by hand - after another round of dead-blow treatments. Pretty quickly, all three could be moved by hand, and the PB piston was actually the easiest to move, followed by the ATF+spirits, then the ATF+acetone.
So, given a week and some dead-blow persuasion, all three methods appear to work. I've got 5 more pistons to go, so I'll repeat these three again, and then do a pair with the Evaporust just to say I did. Maybe there will be a clear leader after that effort.
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Re: Removing Rusty Rods & Pins From Pistons...
[Re: Clair_Davis]
#2461981
03/06/18 01:31 PM
03/06/18 01:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,499 God's Country Maryland
GODSCOUNTRY340
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,499
God's Country Maryland
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Here's what industry has used for decades.
Last edited by GODSCOUNTRY340; 03/06/18 01:32 PM.
I love the smell of Deer guts in the morning, it smells like... VICTORY!
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Re: Removing Rusty Rods & Pins From Pistons...
[Re: GODSCOUNTRY340]
#2462167
03/06/18 08:02 PM
03/06/18 08:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
dogdays
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
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I didn't see anything in your picture that couldn't be rehabilitated and reused. As a matter of fact once you got the pistons free you could probably use the rod/piston combination without taking them apart. The rod bearings shielded the rod big ends.
Any machine shop worth their salt should be able to press out the pins without damaging the pistons. That's just basic engine shop work. Literally tens, maybe hundreds of millions of pistons have been pressed on and pressed off since the automobile age began.
R.
Last edited by dogdays; 03/06/18 08:04 PM.
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Re: Removing Rusty Rods & Pins From Pistons...
[Re: Clair_Davis]
#2462341
03/06/18 11:40 PM
03/06/18 11:40 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,204 Fort Worth, TX
Clair_Davis
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Ah, Kroil... I've heard of that stuff before but never used it. Do they only sell directly, or is it on the shelf somewhere? Google shows AutoZone, but I don't recall seeing it there. Maybe I'll try that stuff and the Evaporust if I can find them both locally.
It crosses my mind to just free up the pins in the pistons, and sell them as assemblies for someone else to mess with. At least one rod is toast from a pitting perspective, so it isn't a drop-in set, even with some additional cleanup.
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Re: Removing Rusty Rods & Pins From Pistons...
[Re: Clair_Davis]
#2462658
03/07/18 04:40 PM
03/07/18 04:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162 USA
360view
Moparts resident spammer
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Moparts resident spammer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162
USA
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It crosses my mind to just free up the pins in the pistons, and sell them as assemblies for someone else to mess with. At least one rod is toast from a pitting perspective, so it isn't a drop-in set, even with some additional cleanup.
Very reasonable option. Apply money from sales to new parts that will have much better fatigue strength.
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