Airflite40

I am going to dive in and pull the engine out of my shark very soon. I am going to do the rod bearings and install a crank scraper kit. I parked the car last month as I sprung a random coolant leak (was unable to verify where from, it was dark, I think I accidentaly burned a hose when I was resoldering some wires on my engine harness) and I am prety sure that some coolant went in through the oil filler tube as the leak was hitting the tube and moved it. Anyways, I havent done a compression check since I R&R'd the entire top end including the head gaskets. When I got my PPI 2.5 years ago, they did one and determined that the head gaskets were leaking. Can I do a compression check with the engine out of the car? I dont want to drain the oil, replace the oil, do the check, then drain the oil again to pull the engine. The car ran well since I R&R'd the top end and sprung the coolant leak (about 4 5 months). Anyways, should I just go ahead and replace the piston rings as a WYAIT? Is there anything I can screw up by changing them without needing to? I can pull out the pistons when I do the bearings, or do I have to remove the crank in order to pull the pistons out?

GlenL

You can't get the pistons out the bottom. You've got the pull the heads to replace rings.

On the stand it's possible to do a leak-down test with compressed air. Actually better as it's easy to identify where the air is going.

Airflite40

Thanks Glen.

mark kibort

tough call. do the leakdown. if it says rings, and you got the engine out anyway, replace them. crank can stay in the block, so its not that big of a deal
Just be very careful, or have someone put in the pistons for you . one broken ring, and you have to do the entire thing again, plus new/replair block. NIGHTMARE> been there with scots car!

MK