rings stuck on old pistons (pictures)

Well, I got my pistons out and can't get the dang rings off. The good news is that I now know the cause of my really low compression. The rings are so tight to the piston that it takes a good minute to even find where the end gap is. I have tried using a heat gun and soaking them with solvent. Anyone got any ideas?
Top ring gap
Bottom ring gap

 

Soak them in a parts cleaning tub.

 

I am thinking of getting new pistons. I found a pretty good deal on them. I'm renting a car for $20 a day and can't be sitting around for 2 weeks for the rings to maybe let go of the pistons.

 

soak them with liquid wrench for an hour, then try using a small flat head screw driver to break them free............or go with the new pistons/rings like you were saying.

 

I've got my valves out and they look pretty good for 113,000 miles.

 

would defintly agree on getting new pistons if its in your budget

 

Got the new pistons on the way. While I'm waiting for them to come in, I decided to do some clean up.

 

looks like it is coming along pretty good

 

Yeah, the head came out cleaner than I thought it would. It took me quite a bit of searching to find the proper valve spring tool to get the valves out. If anyone is wondering, you can get one from right here:
http://www.toolgopher.com/valvespringcompressorset.aspx

 

Gook on intake valve. Same type of hard deposit that glued the rings into the pistons.


Same valve.




They are all this clean now. :hattip



Nice set of pistons, pins, and rings.


Teflon (I'm guessing) coating all over the piston skirts.

 

looking good yeah that gook is basically carbon and those rings may never come out...I'd soak one of old ones now that you got new and just see how long before they free up (if ever)

 

I put my pistons in yesterday and got the head on and torqued. I feel like I got somewhere with the head back on. I didn't like having all those dirt sensitive parts exposed. Tommorow I will put the lifters, cams and exhaust back on and hopefully have it all together and running by Sunday.

Shiny new pistons.


Head on.

 

whats your reasoning for doing an overhaul ?


i am thinking about doing one and i donno if i wanna get into all that hahaha


cost so far and what you have done ?

 

Yep, Phantom is right. It's just one thing after another with this truck. I am starting to believe in vexes and curses now. My front brakes are currently locked up, so even though it is running, I still can't drive it.