Nick in piston tops

[80CutlassCalais]

OK, so I realize that the proper thing to do would be to replace the pistons, but...
I've recently acquired a low mileage sbc 350 short block. Everything looks good on it except that a couple of the pistons have a couple of small nicks in them. The story goes that the original owner installed heads with very large valves that contacted the pistons.
Given my limited budget, I'm tempted to throw a top end on this block and risk it. Has anyone ever successfully run an engine with this type of damage?

 

[supercrackerbox]

At very least, you'll want to smooth them out with a Dremel tool to avoid hot spots that will cause detonation. You don't need to make them disappear, just eliminate any sharp edges or creases. Of course, pics would help here.

Still in doubt, take them into a machine shop and get a professional opinion.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Post a pic, but I would probably just use a whiz wheel and smooth them out if they are not too deep. I dropped a washer down the intake of my 355. Yes, I found it AFTER the car was started. :shock: I pulled the heads, and found that 2 pistons in opposite banks had gotten washers in them!!! Fortunately, they were just scratched up a little, and I was able to smooth them out. I put the heads back on and it runs fine.

 

[Doober]

X2, what they said :lol:

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Just be sure to bring the piston to TDC and mask off the rest of the engine before grinding. Then, when you are done, blow out the debris from around the ring lands before taking the masking off. This will keep most of the shavings from getting in the engine. Bonus points for squirting brake parts cleaner around the ring land after taking the masking off, then oiling it after it dries to keep the rings from sticking when you fire it.

 

[Doober]

It would probably be best to tape each piston off all the way around the cylinder so there's less chance of getting shavings where they shouldn't be 😉

 

[ratbox]

They'll probably be fine the way they are, assuming youre not going to see any really high cylinder temps.

 

[80CutlassCalais]

Thanks for the info guys! I'll try to get some pics up this weekend. I think that I'm going to disassemble and then try to smooth them out. I'd hate for any foreign material to end up in there, guaranteeing a trip to the machine shop!