Follow along as I build a high performance 914 engine |
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Installing Pistons in CylindersThe first step I did in preparing the pistons was to put in the first wrist pin retaining clip. There are 2 of these - the first one you can put on before you put the piston into the cylinder, and the other one goes on after the wrist pin is installed (the wrist pin is the part that holds the piston onto the connecting rod). The retaining clips that came with my pistons are spiral spring clips - they come flat, but are easier to install if to "flex" them open to look more like a spring:
To install them, get one end started in the groove, then push the rest in little-by-little with a screw driver:
Because of the stroke / connecting rod length / piston selection for this engine, you'll notice that the wrist pin bore goes through the oil ring grove. Obviously, because of this, the oil rings will have to be installed after the pistons are connected to the connecting rods. To help support the oil ring, there is a metal band that comes with the pistons that will act as a little "shelf" which will bridge the open space. I put this on next and pushed it up to the top of the groove - I'll have to push it back down to the bottom of the groove before the oil ring goes in place.
Now, it's time to put on the compression rings and put the pistons into the cylinders!
And, finally, the piston / cylinder assemblies are all ready to be put on the engine:
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All pictures and text copyright 2008 |