1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Help with piston ring replacement

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by Benwaah, Nov 5, 2016.

  1. Nov 5, 2016 at 6:31 AM
    #1
    Benwaah

    Benwaah [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2016
    Member:
    #201400
    Messages:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    Gunnison, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    97 2.7L 5-speed 4wd
    Is there a guide or manual on how to replace piston rings on a 2.7? I have searched and searched with no luck..

    Any help is appreciated
     
  2. Nov 5, 2016 at 7:17 AM
    #2
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2015
    Member:
    #153833
    Messages:
    14,277
    Gender:
    Male
    New Tripoli Pa
    Vehicle:
    2000 Work truck 5 speed 4x4 3.4
    Super Springs
    Just how did you arrive to the point of installing rings

    pretty straight forward

    remove the old ones install the new ones

    I hope you have the pistons out

    all the measurements have been done not that your trying to install old pistons in egg shaped cylinders
     
    jmaack likes this.
  3. Nov 5, 2016 at 7:31 AM
    #3
    Beer:30

    Beer:30 There's always money in the banana stand

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2016
    Member:
    #181299
    Messages:
    1,896
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kevin
    Somewhere North of Denver
    Vehicle:
    2016 DCSB OR V6 4X4
    It will be in the factory service manual. Or an aftermarket service manual will also have it. Major job. If my rings were shot, I'd replace the whole motor or do a total rebuild.
     
  4. Nov 5, 2016 at 7:53 AM
    #4
    Benwaah

    Benwaah [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2016
    Member:
    #201400
    Messages:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    Gunnison, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    97 2.7L 5-speed 4wd
    Right, well my situation is I bought a 97 with 248k on the clock with a blown head gasket. Just dumped $1,000 in parts (new cylinder head, head bolts, timing chains and sprockets, water pump, plugs, wires, fuel filter, belts, gaskets, oil, etc) and it was brought to my attention that I may want to replace piston rings also.

    So now I'm thinking of pulling the engine and doing just that.. I was hoping to find an online manual or guide to aid me in my journey. Buying a new engine us not in the budget and I feel it's a bit unnecessary, so I'm doing the work in my garage..

    Do you know of any online resources?
     
  5. Nov 5, 2016 at 8:07 AM
    #5
    Clearwater Bill

    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2014
    Member:
    #140097
    Messages:
    22,418
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Billy
    Largo Florida
    Vehicle:
    '13 5 lug AC w/convenience package
    A few OE parts from fancy trucks
    You want to replace rings because it was 'suggested'? Based on what?

    Once you break open the bottom end its going to take more than rings to properly reassemble.
     
  6. Nov 5, 2016 at 8:16 AM
    #6
    Pickeledpigsfeet

    Pickeledpigsfeet Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2013
    Member:
    #112813
    Messages:
    1,193
    Gender:
    Male
    Foothills, CA
    I have rebuilt a bunch of toyota 4cyl and v6 motors. If you are interested in saving money you need to buy a used lower mileage motor and just swap your new parts onto it, leaving the rings alone. If you want to do it right then you need to send that block as well as new pistons and the crank to a machine shop. You can install them for your own education, but they need to inspect, grind and fit them.

    If you decide to try and rering a high mileage motor without cleaning up the bores you are going to have a hard time. At least do some reasearch on what material rings are available and which you feel comfortable using as they have different characteristics.

    And yes each ring gap is supposed to be measured, ground, and then placed in a specific range on the piston, that limits blowby, oil consumption, and low pressures. Depending on the rings, the manufacturer might request different gap placement and end gap measurements than Toyota. Go with the manufacturer settings in that case.
     
    Benwaah[OP] likes this.
  7. Nov 5, 2016 at 8:20 AM
    #7
    Benwaah

    Benwaah [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2016
    Member:
    #201400
    Messages:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    Gunnison, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    97 2.7L 5-speed 4wd
    Thank you for this information
     
  8. Nov 5, 2016 at 8:29 AM
    #8
    Pickeledpigsfeet

    Pickeledpigsfeet Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2013
    Member:
    #112813
    Messages:
    1,193
    Gender:
    Male
    Foothills, CA
    Here is the ring gap orientation

    image.jpg
     
    Benwaah[OP] likes this.
  9. Nov 5, 2016 at 8:34 AM
    #9
    Pickeledpigsfeet

    Pickeledpigsfeet Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2013
    Member:
    #112813
    Messages:
    1,193
    Gender:
    Male
    Foothills, CA
    And you will easily be able to afford a used running motor for the price of the machine shop. Here in Ca it is usually between $500-$1000 just for a simple over bore and checks for damage and flatness at trustworthy shops.
     
  10. Nov 5, 2016 at 8:42 AM
    #10
    Benwaah

    Benwaah [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2016
    Member:
    #201400
    Messages:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    Gunnison, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    97 2.7L 5-speed 4wd
    Great, I'll keep my eyes out for one. Unfortunately this is my only vehicle now so I'll install all my parts and start looking for a low mileage 2.7 to swap them to
     
  11. Nov 5, 2016 at 8:45 AM
    #11
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2015
    Member:
    #153833
    Messages:
    14,277
    Gender:
    Male
    New Tripoli Pa
    Vehicle:
    2000 Work truck 5 speed 4x4 3.4
    Super Springs
    I can think of a few people that scored the crank so bad installing pistons that needed to be replaced

    Interesting how other people can spend your money .

    I guess it is good it was not suggested you sell your truck for scrap would you have done that??
     
  12. Nov 5, 2016 at 9:06 AM
    #12
    Pickeledpigsfeet

    Pickeledpigsfeet Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2013
    Member:
    #112813
    Messages:
    1,193
    Gender:
    Male
    Foothills, CA
    That is what i would do. If it is still together you can do a leakdown test and see what condition the rings are in.
     
  13. Nov 5, 2016 at 9:20 AM
    #13
    tan4x4

    tan4x4 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2011
    Member:
    #67982
    Messages:
    3,809
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rick
    Folsom, CA
    Vehicle:
    99 Tacoma EC 4x4 2.7L Auto
    Bilsteins, OME 881's, 3-leaf AAL, Detroit TruTrac, Tundra brake swap, Michelin LTX AT2, Tranny skidplate, TC skidplate, CBI rear bumper, TG sliders, UltraGauge, PowerTank, Reverse Camera
    I've only done one rebuild, and it was on an old 22R toyota 4-banger. I was able to replace the pistons without pulling the motor. I did have to remove the oil pan to disconnect the push rods from the crank. However, on yours, you may have to remove the front diff, to make room to remove the oil pan. More work.

    The whole project took me about 2 weeks of evenings and weekends, but I had a backup vehicle to drive. :D
     
    Benwaah[OP] likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top