Thread: Can you remove and replace a piston from a 350 from the bottom

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Originally Posted by jerry clayton

You can get a piston out the bottom of #8
You can get it out of number 1 if bore is oversized and/or front main boss is trimmed a bit----

I'm thinking maybe you could get the eight out with the motor still in the truck but you would need to remove the crank as well, correct? The number one would be directly over the front differential on the shallow end of the pan. Could you conceivable get either piston back in without cracking a ring? I know this is more a question of feasibility but this absolutely wouldn't be the way you would want to work on a customers engine, right?

I still say this is crazy, it would be pretty near impossible on a engine stand much less in a vehicle, I mean pulling the crank, oil pump, the pan, the timing cover, the timing chain, water pump, the fan, drain the block, the oil, the cam gear then to try and somehow fish a piston out the bottom of the motor and somehow compress the rings with the block webbing and get it back in (cylinder bottom isn't square like the top)? I realize you need this info for court maybe but I really can't see this ever happening, you would have to reinstall all the above too (can't happen), hypothetically it may be possible maybe but we are car guys on here and I bet nobody here has ever seen this done nor would they ever try on a customers car. Don't let this fool try to convince you or anyone else this ever happened, it simply didn't.
Forgot the starter too, hey just for giggles if he didn't pull the heads how did he know which piston was marked, I hope he has a bore scope or he is a really good guesser, and getting a crank back in with 8 rods dangling without caps having to be pulled down and shoved up...this is just insane, the odds of winning the lottery are bettter than this ever happening. Take him to court with a piston installed and watch him look like a fool, then tell the neighbor kids to roundupp his yard one night (I didn't really type that did I?) Best of luck Matt

Originally Posted by Matthyj

I still say this is crazy, it would be pretty near impossible on a engine stand much less in a vehicle, I mean pulling the crank, oil pump, the pan, the timing cover, the timing chain, water pump, the fan, drain the block, the oil, the cam gear then to try and somehow fish a piston out the bottom of the motor and somehow compress the rings with the block webbing and get it back in (cylinder bottom isn't square like the top)? I realize you need this info for court maybe but I really can't see this ever happening, you would have to reinstall all the above too (can't happen), hypothetically it may be possible maybe but we are car guys on here and I bet nobody here has ever seen this done nor would they ever try on a customers car. Don't let this fool try to convince you or anyone else this ever happened, it simply didn't.
Forgot the starter too, hey just for giggles if he didn't pull the heads how did he know which piston was marked, I hope he has a bore scope or he is a really good guesser, and getting a crank back in with 8 rods dangling without caps having to be pulled down and shoved up...this is just insane, the odds of winning the lottery are bettter than this ever happening. Take him to court with a piston installed and watch him look like a fool, then tell the neighbor kids to roundupp his yard one night (I didn't really type that did I?) Best of luck Matt

He said he located the damaged cylinder by disconnecting the spark plug wires one at a time. When the knock stopped he found the cylinder. Which kinda sorta makes sense. It would no longer have any pressure on it. I never bought the screw story. I felt he messed up the short block rebuild and I had a rod knock. The same rod knock I brought the short block in for. He showed up in court saying it was fixed and this was his story, removing the piston from the bottom. At the time I didn't care I just wanted it fixed. When I drove it though I got the same results. 60 PSI on start up (using an mechanical gauge), warms up and PSI drops to 40 drive it for a little bit and stop at a stop sign or light and the oil pressure drops off to 0 and it starts knocking. Start moving again and it runs about 30 to 40 PSI. He supplied all the parts and a high volume point was included. Now it's many years later the truck is a mess someone has been using it as a parts truck and it still has the knock and we go back to court on Monday.

I agree with matthyj, it simply makes no sense. It makes a good story, but would require more effort and cost than pulling the head. It would have been easier to use a bore scope and to take a picture. Which is what I would do if I were you, he told you which cylinder he pulled the piston from (court record), use it against him, take a picture using a bore scope (use a reputable shop for this). If the piston isn't damaged, he's blowing smoke....

His explanation doesn't even hold water.

He claims it was knocking because of a tiny screw which was dancing on top of the piston, and this screw decides to sit still because the plug stops sparking- That guy writes better fiction than Asimov.

Even if that piston was chewing on a 1/4-20x1/2" fender bolt, that still wouldn't affect the oil pressure.

I think this guy needs all of us to show up at his court trial/hearing and testify as "experts"...

I'm a bit troubled by your last statement,

Originally Posted by mcgyver01

Now it's many years later the truck is a mess someone has been using it as a parts truck.....

It would be one thing to take the guy to court for a fresh build, but it's been years and "someone" has been using it as a parts truck? A basic long block from one of he big box auto parts stores like O'Reilly's, Pep Boys, etc, etc is less than $2000. You've got to be spending more than that on attorney's fees, I would think? On the other hand, the mechanic must also be paying an attorney, so both of you are spending more than it takes to put a new engine in the truck? Something doesn't make sense in this sad tale.

Originally Posted by 36 sedan

I agree with matthyj, it simply makes no sense. It makes a good story, but would require more effort and cost than pulling the head. It would have been easier to use a bore scope and to take a picture. Which is what I would do if I were you, he told you which cylinder he pulled the piston from (court record), use it against him, take a picture using a bore scope (use a reputable shop for this). If the piston isn't damaged, he's blowing smoke....

He swapped the piston out.... I'm hoping he'll bring it into court again tomorrow.

Small claims courts goes up to 10k here. No attorneys.

Originally Posted by mcgyver01

Small claims courts goes up to 10k here. No attorneys.

Even so, to me your story is becoming more questionable with your statement, "Now it's many years later the truck is a mess someone has been using it as a parts truck....." It's your truck, but "...someone's been using it as a parts truck"? Maybe I'm simply not understanding the situation.

Originally Posted by rspears

Even so, to me your story is becoming more questionable with your statement, "Now it's many years later the truck is a mess someone has been using it as a parts truck....." It's your truck, but "...someone's been using it as a parts truck"? Maybe I'm simply not understanding the situation.

I'll fill more in tomorrow after the hearing. It's a long drawn out story and I doubt he's watching this board but someone he may know maybe. I don't want to put to much out there. I'll just say that what he did as a shop owner is despicable. Unfortunately at the time he was the only shop in town doing block work.

Having had some experience with small claims courts, and a specific example remotely similar to this, I feel comfortable telling you your chances of getting satisfaction are close to zero given what you've described. It's worth a shot, but don't be surprised when you end up with nothing but spun wheels.
While it's nice to think that justice and "truth" will prevail here's what you're up against. It's very likely the judge, justice, magistrate, whatever, that presides doesn't have an intimate understanding of the engine at hand. Given the realities of court scheduling and the relative insignificance of your claim (I know, not insignificant to you, but in a world sense), he/she isn't going to spend any time doing research on your or the defendants behalf. It will all come down to the "facts" (if it sounds like opinion you lose) in testimony, which will need to be overwhelming or irrefutable. Unless either you or he are complete dolts you will likely both come across as credible, each expressing opinions/beliefs/facts that sound equally reasonable to the "judge". Unless one of you can demonstrate irrefutable data (unlikely from your description), the best you could hope for as a judgement would be a 50/50 split of the costs which would mean the other party would have to refund you a portion of the actual bill (assuming you've paid and likely nothing for your subsequent time). IF it even gets to that, you'll still only have a judgement against the other party and an empty hand. You'll still have to collect. If he stiffs you there, and you have no garnishment recourse, you'll have to open a case in superior court............and bring out the wallet.

Believe it or not that's the condensed version, but you should get the point. I wish you well..........

My slanted view--------on here you have totally proved beyond any doubt-----that you are questionable on your ability to even understand what, why, how come, where to look, for what, why not, what if-lots of W words------

The shop owner will come across as the expert, professional, know it all, fully capable, wanted to make it right--------

Get it??????

Mcgyver01,
Unfortunately, I believe Roger, Bob and Jerry have summed this up for you. You may be in for disappointment unless you have professional witnesses and proof.
And, for your own good stop talking about it until after court, I quarantine he knows.

Originally Posted by 36 sedan

.... I quarantine he knows.

Dad-gummed Auto Correct!!