Who knows the ins and outs of pistons?

[Luckypabst]

I have some questions about replacing a (as in one) piston in my truck.

I was about halfway through a ring job today and was cleaning the pistons, really getting into it and rushing. I set one piston/rod assembly down wrong and it fell off the bench, breaking the skirt.

On the NAPA site, I've found a Clevite piston that's an exact dimensional match to what I have. If it works out, it would be 20 bucks compared to the cost of a full set of 6.

What I don't know is whether it is a true match. I can't find any marks that would indicate a manufacturer or a part number on what I have. I guess my question is are all stock replacement pistons built to a standard pattern regardless of who makes it?

On the other hand, it's a very masculine truck and real men don't wear skirts so I could just bust all the rest off to match.

Thanks
Chris

[Roothawg]

It will work.

[Fraz]

Mismatched pistons can cause engine vibration. Just ask me. Dealing with that now. Too f'n poor to pull motor down again and have everything balanced and shit, so I just run it.

This is assuming it's a V-block motor. If you're inline, you should be just fine.

[Rocky]

When I was in high school, we were too damn poor to spend big bucks on our Y-blocks and s.b.c.'s. If we blew a piston, we replaced it with a napa or western auto or JC Whitney replacement piston and bought one set of rings for one piston. We never wound our stuff high enough to cause further problems. I can't remember anybody having any problems over it.
Scotty Schrier even replaced one in his 283 [out to 292] in the sagebrush next to our "dragstrip", which was the old hiway, abandoned when the state built a new one. Other than picking up a few ticks, he had no further problems.

[Humboldt Cat]

I admit ignorance to replacing pistons- I need to replace the rings on mine, and the rod bearings may be going. But I was told to put in new ones, the block would need to be bored, particularly from the top.
To remove from the bottom, I've been told I must remove the crank, not just a singular rod 'n piston. Is there a way around this?

[Luckypabst]

Thanks guys, mostly what I wanted to hear. It's a Ford 300-6, not a high revver by any means but it does see 2+ hour freeway runs at 3000 rpm.

HumboldtCat, they're probably talking about the "ridge" at the top of the cylinder. I was lucky and got the pistons out with a little persuasion but if it's built up too much you can get a ridge reamer that will cut the junk out of the top of the cylinder.

Chris

[AHotRod]

If money is a major issue, buy one. Otherwise you can get a set of 6 very affordably from PAW or Northern Auto Parts.