Pistons came with a project of mine; come up as Speed Pro forged flat tops ( SLP-L2256F30). It looks like someone was rough when they handled these and I am wondering if I can reuse them and if so --- if I should try to lightly sand the nicks out of them or not.

NOTE: Some images are the same nick from a slightly different angle. My finger nail gets hung up on all of the ones pictured.

 

I'm guessing these were bought used?

If these are new send those things back. That is not good shape at all. We're talking about thousandths of an inch for ring gaps. I doubt you can even get those nicks that smooth without having them done by a machine shop.

If we're talking about a budget claimer racing type motor might give it a shot.

Rotating assembly is not a place I would skimp on a street driven car. When I put mine together I was off by a little on a ring gap too large. I said to hell with it and bought another entire ring kit. I rather spend the extra money and take the chance of an issue down the road or troubles of worrying about it.

I'd be more worried about even cleaning up the nicks you could leave something to score the wall, weak stress point on the piston, or god forbid it's no longer a matched set and they balance by grams.

Normally you can order replacement pistons by the group made so you can get close if not exact match again. If you modify them by cleaning up nicks each piston will probably be a little different so you're basically forcing the entire assembly to rebalanced again if you need to a new piston. Since balancing can run acouple hundred I wouldn't risk it.

 

They will defiantly score the cylinders without being addressed. I started a dispute on ebay because they didn't make any mention of the nicks pictured.

Never dealt with gouges/nicks in the skirt; had a skirt break once and other then that they've always been perfect when I assembled a motor.

 

If you used PayPal just make a claim with them. They will work towards a resolution they will actually contact you and the seller both and be a neutral party on the deal.

Keep us updated too. You've peaked my interest.

 

Those nicks can be dressed up with a hand file and some sand paper.
The light scuffing in the dark coating you don't really want to touch or sand because it will remove the coating.
If this is for a basic rebuild, you'll be just fine one the high spots are addressed.
On used pistons, there is a taper measurement from the top of the skirt to bottom of the skirt that should be checked (so the pistons don't rock to much in the bore).

 

They aren't even wore through the coating on the skirts. I'm not playing around with this clown. I shouldn't have to file anything. Dispute filed already.

 

I remember my 1st performance motor build......


Fireturd350; on the piston rings that you said were to big, it sounds like you got file fit rings with your pistons. That isn't a problem. They are ment to be file fit for custom applications, N/A, NOS or blower all require different gaps.

 

It's not my first motor build. I don't understand how they get that messed up. I have removed plenty of pistons without damaging any (well, my girlfriend dropped one when I was putting together a stroker motor once).

Every piston I have ever put in has been free from any defects (new or used). Seems like you have to be doing something really dumb to damage one.

 

It most likely happened in shipping (they are very gentle) and not from removing them. Maybe file a claim with the shipper? It doesn't really take much to nick one like that at all. A rod from another set may have popped it, even thru some packing materials.

Its a used piston, file the area and sand it a bit, you may have all of 10 mins in it.
You'll have to pitch the rings, bearings, check weight, check the big end of the rod, re balance and then clean em up anyway. They'll be just fine.

 

No I meant I wasn't paying close enough attention and went like 40 on the gap instead of the 24 or whatever I went with for the second gap.

 

Defiantly did not happen in shipping. They were individually wrapped and put back into their boxes, wrapped again and put in a bigger box with the rest of them. I already sent them back because he admitted to knowing they were nicked and got a refund.

 

Well he was a butt nugget for not telling you.
The pistons would have been just fine with a quick touchup.