Replacing Piston Rings

[emetzler87]

1982 VW Rabbit Truck 1.6L Diesel. 212,000 miles on the vehicle, unknown how many are on the engine. Don't think its the original engine.

I am getting blow by in one of my cylinders, lots of oil observed in the air intake and air filter.

My rings need to be replaced, correct? What else should be replaced along with the rings?

Has anyone replaced piston rings while the engine was still installed?

[shelbot]

Has anyone replaced piston rings while the engine was still installed?

I think you would be the first

I've been told to go with Goetze rings from  http://www.autohausaz.com/

As far as replacing anything else. That is where the fun starts.

If everything is proper tolerance then I don't see why you couldn't reuse it.

I know some bolts and washers you have to replace and make sure all bearings are ok. I had a failing intermediate shaft bearing and thrust bearings were worn past spec.

Cost can be from about 80$ for rings + gaskets about $150 for a full kit +- $50 for shipping, location ect..

I chose  to do a full engine build/body resto/go cray doing most of it myself

I'm at about 4K CAD and still need me a few things.

[theman53]

Many bottom ends make it to 400,000. Slight oil is normal...figure out what you have if you don't want to throw a bunch of money at it.

[ORCoaster]

Shelbot?  Surely you jest.  I think many have done exactly that as it is not that bad to do.  Especially if you do not have the engine stand or the hoist to pull the parts out of the engine bay.

I did mine, ring replacement only, in the car.  But I didn't have cylinders out of spec or round.  I did have rings that were worn, broken and stuck in the grooves and blowby in two cylinders.  I measured the compression first and two were near new and the others we like 240-220 psi.  So way off between them and starting in the summer was getting to be a glow plug only affair.

You are looking at the right place for parts and the right ones to put in there, You should determine if the cylinders need boring to make them a circle instead of an oval.  Good machine shop can measure them up with proper tools if you don't have them. 

I did it just a few months ago and they didn't even charge me.  I thanked the foreman for the work and asked if I could give the guy that did the work a tip.  He was surprised I asked but was like sure, go ahead, and smiled at me for the gratitude I guess.  The kid was speechless and even looked to the boss who gave him the yeah, take it sign.  It was cheaper than buying the tools. And the kid and I had a good discussion on engine rebuilding while he measured them top and bottom. 

 

[shelbot]

I just find things easier to work on with the car not in my way but that's my excuse to pull everything and clean A few things unbolted I can have my engine/trans out held up by a Jenga tower in slow time! :3

My engine stand sat and watched me pull the block apart on a milk crate as I don't have a hoist only a come attached to the shop ceiling. The shop holds the rx2 over the winter so I got shafted by myself somehow?

+1 I love talking with the machinists you always learn something useful. I ordered rings today through the machining company because it would be cheaper than shipping charges over the boarder alone.

*shakes fists at clutch set up with angry bear faces*

How far have you made it along now emetzler?