Project engines/cars

[glenn]

Re: Engine rebuilds, etc.
Correct me, if i'm wrong, but isn't having 5 or 6 project engines/cars 'Normal'? (See Cees.) If you don't, consider yourself deprived and underfulfilled.  If more, certain people in America were fortunate enough to have this condition, it would be a better country. Anybody have a spare '67 250SL  piston?

[JimVillers]

Glen .... I agree, extra engines are good.  I have three spares for my 190SL and am curently rebuilding one that I'll swap into the car this spring.  I would have a spare for my 230SL is I came upon one cheap.  Keep your eys open, cars are junked every day and a sedan engine can become an excellent spare.

[Benz Dr.]

Re: Engine rebuilds, etc.
Correct me, if i'm wrong, but isn't having 5 or 6 project engines/cars 'Normal'? (See Cees.) If you don't, consider yourself deprived and underfulfilled.  If more, certain people in America were fortunate enough to have this condition, it would be a better country. Anybody have a spare '67 250SL  piston?

Uh.... what size piston are you looking for? Standard, .5mm or 1 mm over?

[glenn]

Doc, Piston comment was kinda 'tongue in cheek'.  But, I have 12 stuck in their cylinders.  6 still have the head on with one showing anti freeze in the plug hole.  The other block shows #1 piston with a valve imprint(intake if I remember correctly) and maybe a crack.  The other 5 seem whole, but stuck also.  Both blocks are in 'soak' therapy.

[Shvegel]

Hi,
Don't feel bad if you can't free up the pistons. My car sat in a heated garage for 28 years and due to some reaction of the aluminum pistons they literally grew or corroded themselves into the cylinders. I ended up beating them apart to get them out and was able to hone the bores without having to oversize them(it's a 280 and I wanted to keep the cylinder walls as thick as possible) I was unable to source new stock pistons without resorting to Mercedes prices but was able to acquire a used set of nice stock bore pistons for the sum of $5 apiece from Joe Alexander.

The big thing is to avoid damaging the connecting rods when you are beating out the pistons. I think I used a long piece of rod on the wrist pin boss of the pistons and a BIG hammer to finally get them out.

[glenn]

My current'solution' is to fill the block with water, heat it with a dip stick heater to 200, then put dry ice atop the pistons with cardboard on the cylinder walls.  Hopefully a 300 degree temp difference will free up something???  Then a tap with hammer on a 2x2 on the piston------