Thread: Detonation! Can Block Be Saved?

So, took off the head to change a timing chain and found this. The question is, before I haul this thing off to a machine shop, what do you think - can the block be saved? Only cylinder #4 and #3 showed bad damage. The pistons are shot. Don't have pics of them but they are not super bad, but don't want to reuse them.

We were thinking hone/bore to 87mm pistons + deck to try and save block




-G

Looks more like lean or heat. I would not use that block for boost anymore imvho. What was the setup?

edit; damn that piston got pecker marks all over it, def detonation. Were all four like this or only this one?

setup is in my sig.

specks you see on middle of piston are from wd40 or old gasket. Only dmg to piston was near exhaust side which is really hard to see in pics.

Only cyl #3 and #4 had bad detonation. #1 and #2 also had some, but not nearly as bad.

-G

id say scrap it.

i did that to one of my motors years ago also.

stratton.

I don't mind getting it machined if the block isn't damaged beyond repair. I was guessing buying a new engine/block would cost just about as much?? Maybe I'm missing something.

Doesnt look that deep at all. Id say bore and hone to 87mm and be good to go. I had a block like that and they only had to take off .003 to get it back smooth and mine finished out at 86.5mm and was fine. Ive built a couple rwd det's that had detonation damage/melted pistons/pitted top edge of the block and all came out fine after simple resurface and bore/hone

Good to hear ashton. Hopefully I can build the motor up stronger than before with at least forged pistons.

-G

My current Ve block had some nasty marks like that. I decked the block, and shaved the edges for ring installation. After that, it was hardly noticeable. It's running strong still with no problems. Of course, I'm sure you guys saw the pics of my pistons... they were toast.

Take the block to your machinist. He should know how bad it is, but from the pics I'd say it is fixable.

I am in the same boat. Good luck finding a block! It can not be saved. I have been looking since October-

what would have caused this?