Stuck piston...AKA Im an idiot

In the process of freshening up my 521 (D1 block, Diamond pistons, RPM H-beams)...

I was using a 1" wood dowel and rubber hammer to drive #7 piston out and it gave me a little resistance so I lightly tapped it from the top and the piston literally popped out the bottom of the wall (it was already pretty much at the bottom of the stroke)and is stuck in the little pocket next to the #4 main cap. The rings are preventing it from going back in the hole and the pocket is keeping it from coming out the bottom.

At this point I'm expecting my answer will be "break out the torch and cut the block in half to save the piston/rod." Damn, its like this truck doesn't want to run this fall. EVERYTHING that could possibly fight me, has.


Any help will be greatly appreciated.

any way you can get a set of needle nose pliers in there and grab the rings and break them off the piston?

Thanks Dave.

I certainly didnt think I hit it hard enough for it to come through.


Yeah I might be able to get the rings off. Im too pissed off to work on it now though.

What did you do to George to piss him off at you,or did he get pissed because you pulled the engine out of him,you need to go talk with him and tell he you going to make him faster he might that the voooodoooooo off of you.

dfree383 wrote:Walk away from it for awhile.

yup. One of the benefits of becoming a little older.

69F100 wrote:What did you do to George to piss him off at you,or did he get pissed because you pulled the engine out of him,you need to go talk with him and tell he you going to make him faster he might that the voooodoooooo off of you.

I painted his timing chain cover hot pink and hes been pissed ever since.

Cooler heads prevail; cooler heads prevail with a cool one absolutely.


The good
That was easier than I thought after looking at it this morning.

The bad
The SC heat caused my nuts to melt and run down into my shoe while messing with it in the oven I call a shop.

The indifferent
Ill be calling Lem this week for a new ring pack. No big deal.



Thanks for the help as always guys.

Anyway you could've snaked a large OD hose clamp in there to clamp the rings shut and help slide it up the bore?

Very unlikely. If I could have Im sure it would have taken half the afternoon - not that Im in any rush or impatient.

You talked to George and you told him would not paint anything pink on him again go head and fess up. Did you tell him you was sorry for doing that.

Naaa, I said if he keeps this sh!t up Im buying a gallon and painting him bumper to bumper.

OK you had to show him who the boss is funny how we have to do that sometimes