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Changing rings without pulling the engine?

858 views 5 replies 6 participants last post by  BstMech 
#1 ·
Friend of mine got a low-ball quote to replace the rings on his engine. One of the reaosns the price was so low is the guy said he doesn't have to pull the engine to do it. Guy said shops just do that to tack on the extra cost.

I wanted to say something, but figured it probably is physically possible to do, just that it sounds like a really bad idea. Am I wrong here?
 
#3 ·
It can probably be done but it depends on the car and whether the oil pan can be removed. You also have to worry about excessive wear in the bores which would require a bore job. Honing can be done in the car but another thing to worry about is the metal particles from honing. Everything has to be cleaned very well. That's a shade tree mechanic way of doing it, not that there's anything wrong with it. It can save you money but can also backfire if everything isn't just right.
 
#4 ·
I have done this once on a new race engine that blew a piston. the cylinder wall was okay so I tried it under the advice of an old timer. pull the heads and oil pan, the engine will have to be lifted some to allow room. unbolt the rod cap and push the piston out the top; this will only work if there is no ring buildup on the top of the cylinder wall, which is probably not the case if your buddy's engine needs new rings. place surgical tubing over the rod bolts before you push the piston back in the hole; you don't want anything to nick or otherwise damage the crank. is worked out okay in my circumstances, but I don't recommend it. so to answer your question, no I don't think you are wrong. yes it can be done but in most cases it probably shouldn't. any engine builder worth his salt would say do it right. as the saying goes, pay the man now or pay the man later.......
 
#5 ·
The only thing an in the chassis rering is really cost effective on is industrial and ag tractors and semi-tractors, these are usually reliner kits so they are relatively clean of carbon, oil deposits and abrasive grit, push out the old sleeve-piston assembly, install new, very efficient system.
 
#6 ·
He can also do it without removing the heads, he can just pull the piston/rods through the bottom. <img src="graemlins/drunk.gif" border="0" alt="[drunk]" />

Instead of an inframe rebiuld how about an insane? :D
 
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