Question about honing

imalancerman · Jun 14, 2009, 02:27 PM

So I have recently had to undertake changing out my block due to hydrolock. The new block I have bought has vertical scratches in two of the cylinders. Im stuck at this bad point where I have no money left but need to get this fixed so I can go out and find me a new job. A new ring set is almost 100 bucks and I really dont have the money but need to get this done. I want to know, before I undertake this project, if I can either reuse the rings in the block as it has 54k on it, or even reuse the rings from my old block which was completely clean as hell when I pulled it, absolutely no scratches in the walls making me assume those rings would be in better shape. Please bring me good news?

senate6268 · Jun 14, 2009, 03:02 PM

Nothing I'm about to say is gonna be what you want to hear. Since there are visible vertical scratches in the block, you'd be wise to bore it out instead of hone it. But that means alot more $$$. Using the rings from your old block just because the cylinder walls were clean is irrelevant. Piston rings are consumable items in an engine and need to be replaced to ensure cylinder integrity for combustion.

Your best option is to get a new set of rings, hone the cylinders in the new block, install them and hope for the best. The scarring in the cylinders may or may not cause irregular wear to the new rings down the road. Or you can just keep your new block's rotating assembly installed and just swap the block in.

imalancerman · Jun 14, 2009, 03:11 PM

Here are pics of how bad it is. How will this affect me down the road? Like I said, and I find it unsusal, only two of the cylinders are like this and they are right next to each other. Numbers 3 and 4 to be precise if that even makes a difference. Thank you for your help. I assumed this to be the case but was hoping for better.

senate6268 · Jun 14, 2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imalancerman

Here are pics of how bad it is. How will this affect me down the road? Like I said, and I find it unsusal, only two of the cylinders are like this and they are right next to each other. Numbers 3 and 4 to be precise if that even makes a difference. Thank you for your help. I assumed this to be the case but was hoping for better.

Cylinders 3 and 4 are farthest away from the oil pump which is probably why these ones are scarred. Engine may have been pushed hard for its 54k miles. I would replace the bearings, but as you said $$$ is an issue. You can just throw that block in an go. The walls don't look that bad. Be sure to do a compression check after the engine is running to see what kind of shape the engine is in.

mcgarvey · Jun 14, 2009, 04:48 PM

I don't understand. Long block 4g94s with similar mileage can be had for $400 or less, ready to drop in. Why are you messing around with fixing a bad block?

senate6268 · Jun 14, 2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgarvey

I don't understand. Long block 4g94s with similar mileage can be had for $400 or less, ready to drop in. Why are you messing around with fixing a bad block?

I was wondering the same thing. The last complete 4G94 engine I picked up had 16k miles and cost about $300.

imalancerman · Jun 14, 2009, 11:23 PM

because I bought this block for 100 dollars. The block was guaranteed to be a running block. When your on a budget, your on a budget. The next alternative was a full engine for 600. Yes I know you can find them on car-part.com for less but nowhere near me. So this was 8 miles away at a junkyard, best thing I can do. And besides, a block for 100 guaranteed to run? cmon. I dont have a job and need my car running. Its not a bad block, just needs some work that may come down the road or maybe Ill swap a 4g64 in there. Anyways, I just wanted to know if this was a super bad thing or if I can slap it in and go. I wish I had some money to do this right but I dont. I appreciate the help guys. Thank you.

senate6268 · Jun 15, 2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imalancerman

because I bought this block for 100 dollars. The block was guaranteed to be a running block. When your on a budget, your on a budget. The next alternative was a full engine for 600. Yes I know you can find them on car-part.com for less but nowhere near me. So this was 8 miles away at a junkyard, best thing I can do. And besides, a block for 100 guaranteed to run? cmon. I dont have a job and need my car running. Its not a bad block, just needs some work that may come down the road or maybe Ill swap a 4g64 in there. Anyways, I just wanted to know if this was a super bad thing or if I can slap it in and go. I wish I had some money to do this right but I dont. I appreciate the help guys. Thank you.

The block is fine to throw in. Cylinders 3 and 4 don't look great, but you shouldn't have any problems. Like I said before, run a compression test after to verify the cylinder integrity on all cylinders.