Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: 2.3 rebuild questions (Read 1580 times) previous topic - next topic

2.3 rebuild questions

i pulled the head off of the motor thats going in my dads car and sent it out to get worked over (valve job and roller cam) now that i can see the pistons i think i have a problem.  the piston comes out over the top of the surface a little bit and there was a considerably thick copper head gasket on it.  The cyl also look like they are honed already.  do they still make head gaskets for motors that have been machined?  Do you think i should just get a new shortblock and start over?
ideas please guys, i dont want to run into problems when i get it back together.
84 TC - under contruction
2018 F150 2.7 4x4 STX
98 F-150 XLT - 4.6, auto, 4x4, extended cab

2.3 rebuild questions

Reply #1 –
??  The pistons shouldnt be taller than the deck!  Are they stock pistons? or oversize?  They do make mls headgaskets.  Dont remember who makes them, but they can make pretty much any thickness.  Do a search at turboford, and you will probably find what you are looking for.

88 t-bird tc - 14.97 @ 90  IHI 18 psi + k+n filter...so far - NOW HX-35 @25psi - 12.75@112    348rwhp/395rwtq
78 F-150 - 11.61@120 on 175shot N20 - 12.55@110 on motor - 5200# race weight:hick:

2.3 rebuild questions

Reply #2 –
As far as I recall, on a 2.3T the pistons do come up past the deck (but not the HG).  I don't remember the exact dimension though.

Obviously though, if the engine was running, or could be turned by hand, the pistons were not contacting the head.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

2.3 rebuild questions

Reply #3 –
none of my turbo pistons are above the deck.  Even on the engine I had decked(that ones pretty much even)

88 t-bird tc - 14.97 @ 90  IHI 18 psi + k+n filter...so far - NOW HX-35 @25psi - 12.75@112    348rwhp/395rwtq
78 F-150 - 11.61@120 on 175shot N20 - 12.55@110 on motor - 5200# race weight:hick:

2.3 rebuild questions

Reply #4 –
sounds like someone may have themselves a little stroker and doesnt know it.

2.3 rebuild questions

Reply #5 –
Are there valve releafs cut into the pistons???
87 TC
HO Swap, T5 Swap, Mach Springs, CHE Upper and Lower control arms, Mach Chin spoiler, soon to be Procharged.

:evilgrin: Nitrous is like a hot chick with an STD you want to hit it but are scared of the consequences. :evilgrin:

2.3 rebuild questions

Reply #6 –
the pistons do have a recessed area to them.  im assuming the pistons are stock.  they come up above the deck eough for the eye to see it.  the engine was running and quite well actually.  i just wanted to go over it and put new gaskets in it before putting it in my dads car.  pretty sure its the stock crank and everything too.
84 TC - under contruction
2018 F150 2.7 4x4 STX
98 F-150 XLT - 4.6, auto, 4x4, extended cab

2.3 rebuild questions

Reply #7 –
theres a reason why the high quality copper gasket was on there.

the block was decked and the head was milled.  adding the headgasket shim back on fixed everything.

you should clay the top of the pistons then snug the head down without a headgasket and tell us if valves break through the clay and hit the piston or not.

you could also use play dough.

2.3 rebuild questions

Reply #8 –
Yeah, I did some digging, and the factory spec on the piston deck height is .017" stock.

So yeah, they should be down in the block.  You need to measure how much they are sticking up past the deck.

Sounds like someone REALLY decked that block.

Why don't you take some pics of what you have?
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

2.3 rebuild questions

Reply #9 –
that little thing must have some good compression.

dont go short on new headgasets, use that old copper one or one like it the same thickness.

2.3 rebuild questions

Reply #10 –
I would use a cometic copper head gasket
87 TC
HO Swap, T5 Swap, Mach Springs, CHE Upper and Lower control arms, Mach Chin spoiler, soon to be Procharged.

:evilgrin: Nitrous is like a hot chick with an STD you want to hit it but are scared of the consequences. :evilgrin:

2.3 rebuild questions

Reply #11 –
Unless they are more than .010-.015 out of the hole I would not worry about it, especially if it was running OK prior... Most head gaskets are around .040 compressed, so you still have piston to head clearance...

Pistons on my ole 5.0 were maybe .003-.004 out of the holes and it'd never been decked...

2.3 rebuild questions

Reply #12 –
ill try and snap some pics next time im up there.  idk if i want to resuse the old gasket ill get a new one.  the guy who is doing the head seems like a guru so ill ask him what i should do about the gasket.  he should have the head done with the new cam now so ill have to run up there soon to see him.  while im up there ill stop at my dads too.  is there a way to check if the rings are sealing good without the head on the car?  i wanted to do a compression check before i took the head off but then i thought that if the gasket was leaking a little that it could through off the results so i waited.
84 TC - under contruction
2018 F150 2.7 4x4 STX
98 F-150 XLT - 4.6, auto, 4x4, extended cab

2.3 rebuild questions

Reply #13 –
yes the pistions should be in the block about .015.

Turbo 2.3 pistons have a D shaped dish in the about .095 deep

stock compresion on a turbo engine is 8:1.. if the engine has been gone thu, the block and/or head may have been milled to raise compression

compressed thicknes of the 1035 is .041 thick
1985 TC (yet another one) Fully loaded
has 225k mile  still with the factory head gasket






84  Turbo ranger  Daily driver  ($800.00 Ebay deal)
          volvo FMIC and more getto rigging than the law should allow

2.3 rebuild questions

Reply #14 –
ok sounds good im going to measure the thickness of the old gasket and see what we decide to do.  i do have stock turbo pistons though i know that now.
84 TC - under contruction
2018 F150 2.7 4x4 STX
98 F-150 XLT - 4.6, auto, 4x4, extended cab