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STUCK pistons ADVICE #606063 02/06/10 03:11 PM 02/06/10 03:11 PM
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,107 Lynch Road mro OP super stock
mro OP super stock Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,107 Lynch Road	I've got to break the pistons out of a 383 - Assuming the rings are all stuck - I have no intention of re-using the pistons - would like to save the rods if possible - the caps are off the rods and crank but the crank is stuck because all the pistons are frozen in place - the block is important to the care ( numbers) Any ideas to make this as easy as possible? AND is anyone making 383 pistons 10:1 comprssion .30 over? Thanks!!!! 68 Satellite Wagon and a few other ones

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: mro] #606064 02/06/10 03:18 PM 02/06/10 03:18 PM
Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 821 NW Ohio 6 6pkaar super stock
6pkaar super stock 6 Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 821 NW Ohio	I've never tried it, but have heard of guys pouring a can of Coke over the piston and let it soak for a day or two. My uncle messes with antique tractors and has freed up several stuck motors using this meathod.

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: mro] #606065 02/06/10 03:21 PM 02/06/10 03:21 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Put some diesel fuel or kerosene on top of them for several days. Worst case scenerio might have to drill a bunch of holes in each piston top to free up the piston walls. Would be time consuming but with it being a #'s matching block I wouldn't do much pounding on the pistons. When you get it rescued you'll soon forget about all the labor it took but if you crack the block you'll be upset for a long time. live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: mro] #606066 02/06/10 03:28 PM 02/06/10 03:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 31,046 Oregon A AndyF I Win
AndyF I Win A Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 31,046 Oregon	Just bust them out of there. Use a steel rod up from the crankcase and hit it with a 5lb sledge hammer. Cast pistons will easily bust. You can usually only get a few pistons at a time so you have to work your way around the block. Hopefully you can bust the stuck ones and then rotate the crank enough to get to the next ones.

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: 6pkaar] #606067 02/06/10 03:29 PM 02/06/10 03:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,668 Mi,U.S.A. M mike s top fuel
mike s top fuel M Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,668 Mi,U.S.A.	1.)Mopar rust penetrant.Soak each cyl several times.It will eventually free up. 2.)A few shots with a dead blow hammer should help. 3.)If 1 or 2 doesn't work if may be neccesary to break the top of the piston. Leave the gun.......take the Cannoli's....Mike

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: mike s] #606068 02/06/10 03:52 PM 02/06/10 03:52 PM
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 8,850 Central Coast, Calif. S Snoopy master
Snoopy master S Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 8,850 Central Coast, Calif.	If the penetrating oil doesn't do the job. Pool acid, muriatic acid. Dilute some muriatic acid and pour it between the piston and the cylinder wall. Wait about ten to fifteen minutes and then pour some water/baking soda solution over the piston to neutralize the acid. Then drive the piston out. The pistons will be a total loss. You are probably going to bore the engine, I wouldn't worry about damaging the cylinder wall with the acid. The acid does two things, dissolves any aluminum that may have fused to the cylinder wall and dissolve any rust between the rings and the cylinder wall. Be careful, the acid is not user friendly. Use appropriate clothing and a safety shield. You don't want this stuff on your skin, eyes or clothing. Keep a bucket with water/baking soda solution handy for accidental spills or splashes.

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: Snoopy] #606069 02/06/10 05:20 PM 02/06/10 05:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,111 Bowie, MD R Reggie top fuel
Reggie top fuel R Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,111 Bowie, MD	If you're in no rush you can also try plain ATF. Pour enough in to cover each piston completely and let it sit.

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: Reggie] #606070 02/06/10 10:19 PM 02/06/10 10:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,802 McGregor,Iowa 52157 5 500ciDuster top fuel
500ciDuster top fuel 5 Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,802 McGregor,Iowa 52157	I've soaked with whatever then take a 2x2x4 chunk of wood on end beat with a maul on intake side and exhaust side of pistons,once u get the to rock a little they will come right out.Another way I got them to move was with a hydraulic bottle jack and log chain, put the bottom of the jack on top of the piston wrap the log chain around the block & over the ram then start jacking(if you are accident prone don't do 2nd one) Mitch

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: AndyF] #606071 02/06/10 10:28 PM 02/06/10 10:28 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,316 Prospect, PA BSB67 master
BSB67 master Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,316 Prospect, PA	Quote: Just bust them out of there. Use a steel rod up from the crankcase and hit it with a 5lb sledge hammer. Cast pistons will easily bust. You can usually only get a few pistons at a time so you have to work your way around the block. Hopefully you can bust the stuck ones and then rotate the crank enough to get to the next ones. Big This is what I used last time 5787484-DSCN6201.JPG (64 downloads)

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: mro] #606072 02/07/10 11:56 AM 02/07/10 11:56 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 75,043 U.S.S.A. JohnRR I Win
JohnRR I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 75,043 U.S.S.A.	you need to be careful just busting them out , a friend punched a hole thru a cylinder wall doing it that way once . As far as your 10.0 .030 piston request , the only piston that will get you that is the KB400 DOME piston , the factory OVERATED the 383 , the only way to get that compression ratio with a flat top piston is to deck the block so the piston is poking above the deck .020 and using a cylinder head with a 79.5 cc chamber with a steel shim gasket ... assuming 906 open chamber heads ...

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: JohnRR] #606073 02/07/10 01:05 PM 02/07/10 01:05 PM
Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 708 Mechanic Falls, Maine 4 4BBodies mopar addict
4BBodies mopar addict 4 Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 708 Mechanic Falls, Maine	I find a piece of cut firewood the closest diameter, and hit that. It spreads the force over the top of the whole piston, and keeps from damaging the cylinder wall with the hammer. Works pretty good! But you have to soak it for days first, usually I use diesel fuel.

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: 4BBodies] #606074 02/07/10 02:48 PM 02/07/10 02:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 3,524 Lansing, MI 70gtx440dana master
70gtx440dana master Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 3,524 Lansing, MI	Lots of good advice here....I freed up a 440 by using PB blaster rust penetrant, a 5 lb. maul and a stack of hockey pucks taped together to beat on. Cut a hole in small piece of wood just larger than the bore dia. to protect the top of the block in case you miss the hockey pucks. Worked for me and all of the pistons were stuck. Good luck! 70 Road Runner 383-4 4 speed FJ5 & black guts 70 Charger R/T 440-4 4 speed FJ5 & white guts

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: 70gtx440dana] #606075 02/07/10 03:01 PM 02/07/10 03:01 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,938 California 1970mopar master
1970mopar master Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,938 California	Take it to your local engine machine shop and have them quote you for the job. I bet they will be able to do it for less $$ than you think and you won't have the issues of possible damage trying to do it yourself .

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: 1970mopar] #606076 02/07/10 09:00 PM 02/07/10 09:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,017 Ridley Park, Pa. 69MOPE super gas
69MOPE super gas Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,017 Ridley Park, Pa.	Quote: Take it to your local engine machine shop and have them quote you for the job. I bet they will be able to do it for less $$ than you think and you won't have the issues of possible damage trying to do it yourself . It's going to the machine shop anyway for the .030 bore!

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: 69MOPE] #606077 02/07/10 09:08 PM 02/07/10 09:08 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Quote: Quote: Take it to your local engine machine shop and have them quote you for the job. I bet they will be able to do it for less $$ than you think and you won't have the issues of possible damage trying to do it yourself . It's going to the machine shop anyway for the .030 bore! Be sure & tell THEM it's a valuble block and not to beat on it as they could very easily delegate that job to the lowest man on the totem pole and the BFH might appear (to him) to be the appropriate tool for the job. live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: mro] #606078 02/07/10 10:00 PM 02/07/10 10:00 PM
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 1,131 Thigh-Gap Junction @ @#$%&*! New user name, Same old jerk!
@#$%&*! New user name, Same old jerk! @ Joined: May 2008 Posts: 1,131 Thigh-Gap Junction	The only tip I can add to the above is to clean the bores above the pistons with some coarse sandpaper before starting. If you don't do this they'll fight you all the way out and require lots more pounding with the bfh.

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: @#$%&*!] #606079 02/09/10 12:26 AM 02/09/10 12:26 AM
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,086 Baton Rouge, La. StandOnIt super stock
StandOnIt super stock Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,086 Baton Rouge, La.	Diesel fuel works well. I got some out with Kroll penetrating oil also. I agree with lightly sanding the cyl's above the slugs so the will come on out once they are free'd up. A hammer and a piece of wood to work them around in there. Good luck with it and just take your time. 76' Volare, 5.9 magnum w/Iron heads. New best 10.68 at 123 mph 1/4 mile.

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: StandOnIt] #606080 02/09/10 07:38 AM 02/09/10 07:38 AM
Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 26 wisconsin 7 72dak member
72dak member 7 Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 26 wisconsin	ive dealt with alot of frozen engines and the best luck ive ever had was with pb blaster. make a pool on top of each piston and let it sit for a couple hours, roll it over and try to pound them out using a wooden dowel or hammer handle. if some still dont move, dont rule out frozen wrist pins, i had a locked up 383 because of 1 frozen pin. if this is the case fill the bottom of the piston while its upside-down and try again later but be careful for cyl. damage as the rods may not move smoothly. good luck

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: 72dak] #606081 02/09/10 12:27 PM 02/09/10 12:27 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 304 Ohio LS-300 enthusiast
LS-300 enthusiast Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 304 Ohio	May sound strange but the last one I incountered my Grandfather showed me how to get it out. We went out and got some Dry Ice. Remember handlying with caution. Packed above the piston with it and covered it over with a section of plywood. We made a piece of wood as close to the diameter of the cylinder as we could. After a short with using the wood block we made and a hammer we pounded it down out the bottom of the block. Didn't take much work and didn't damage the block. Shocked the snot out of me but he did this a lot on trucks that he rebuilt. 1979 Chrysler 300 1968 Barracuda project

Re: STUCK pistons ADVICE [Re: LS-300] #606082 02/09/10 12:33 PM 02/09/10 12:33 PM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,506 Az Crizila master
Crizila master Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,506 Az	Quote: May sound strange but the last one I incountered my Grandfather showed me how to get it out. We went out and got some Dry Ice. Remember handlying with caution. Packed above the piston with it and covered it over with a section of plywood. We made a piece of wood as close to the diameter of the cylinder as we could. After a short with using the wood block we made and a hammer we pounded it down out the bottom of the block. Didn't take much work and didn't damage the block. Shocked the snot out of me but he did this a lot on trucks that he rebuilt. Cool ( pardon the pun ) idea!!! Fastest 300

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