new to me 93 sport

[malohnes]

Ohhh, so disappointing!!! Forged Pistons for our engines are pricey from my research, but may very well be worth it.

Have you considered using the SOHC flat Pistons? I think you might have more options looking that way. The extra compression will get you extra power and not be so bothersome as with the 422 cam.

 

[2stroke]

I had not considered SOHC pistons. My only stipulation is that it can still run on 91 octane. If I can't buy gas at a gas station, it kind of ruins it as a daily driver.

 

[2stroke]

I went through the pistons with a fine eye today, and I really don't like what I see. One piston was obviously thrown or dropped, they all have a lumpy surface which is beyond what I consider ok. 2 have flash in an oil hole, but could be cleaned out. The machined surface seems ok (the weird marks are most likely water spots from the coolant used), but what is really bad is one of the wrist pins has corrosion on it. Even then, some wrist pins fit tighter than others. I called Federal Mogul, and all was fine until I mentioned quality issues, and they just flat hung up. I'll be returning them to rock auto anyway. Its just sad, made in India, go figure.

I guess I'll be going for some Enginetech, maybe I'll luck out. I looked into SOHC pistons and don't see a huge selection. I would only go with forged if I bumped up the compression. I considered boring to 4.000", as there are a million piston choices, but none with the correct wrist pin or compression distance. I even called Wiseco, and while they were helpful as they always are, they just can't find a piston that would work. Best they could do is a custom set, and I didn't even ask the price of that.

poor casting, and odd black spot

dropped on bottom edge

it looks worse in person, you can feel it with a fingernail

best picture I could get of flash in an oil hole

 

[malohnes]

Pics worth a lot of words...dismal quality.

Yeah, I think 91 octane is good. I'm going that route myself, flat top pistons for 11:1 compression with 95tm heads. I have water meth injection to help with octane. If you found a low mileage SOHC engine, you might see about using the pistons there. Recondition the rods, clean up the pistons, fresh rings and balance them. Its an option to try.

If you decide to go to 4.0 in bore, make sure you have your block checked. The early blocks supposedly are safer for that then the newer years. IT does open up lots of options but leaves little room for error in the machine shop.

 

[2stroke]

I did a ton of research today, and settled on KB silvolite pistons. Rock auto seems to be no problem to return items with. I'll be returning the sealed power pistons and rings. In place of the rings, I'll be going with perfect circle moly rings. There simply are no choices for these engines. Enginetech, DNJ, Sealed power, KB, OEM. Those are the choices. Anything else has to be custom.

 

[2stroke]

Last week the KB pistons showed up and they looked fantastic. A little different design, but the quality was much better. I brought everything to the shop and I'm guessing the block will be done later this week or next week. I have decided to have the valves replaced/new seats etc. , as the cost isn't too bad.

On another note, the barb for the heater hose in the intake manifold is very rusted. I would like to pull it out, and tap it (probably 3/8 or 1/2 NPT) to use a threaded hose barb. Has anyone had success doing something similar? It looks like the barb is pressed in, hopefully I can just pull it out with force.

 

[2stroke]

Still cant say much for the engine, its just about done, it will hopefully be together by the end of the month. I'm just waiting on the crank.

I would really like some advice on Rockauto, however. I sent those Sealed Power pistons back ASAP and didn't hear anything for a couple weeks. When I did, I got an email saying they refunded me for $35. I figured it was a simple mistake and called. The customer service seemed good enough, however, when he called the warehouse, they flat out denied having received 6 pistons! This went on until just today, where the guy just told me I was SOL, my $200 was just gone. There was no sign of damage during shipping, so either A. the warehouse lost it, or B. one of the workers flat out stole them. I don't know where to go from here. I sent 6 pistons back, there has to be something I can do.

 

[natenkiki2004]

That's going to be an uphill battle but if it were me, here's what I would do;
Contact them over e-mail and link them this thread. You have proof that those pistons were bad/questionable and proof that you were talking about it before shipping them back. If you have a tracking number, add it to the e-mail as well. Put your phone number in there and request a call back to discuss the issue. Stand your ground and you'll get there.

The frustrating part about Rock Auto is their customer support. I had an issue with closeout parts and e-mailed them (since I had links to send) and for each reply I'd get someone new and have to re-explain the issue. It was a more complex and unknown issue, I bought Wix premium filters but they were closeout and house brand, namely Carquest. However, I received the Carquest red filters which are the middle of the road quality when I had bought the premium ones which should have been blue. I went back and fourth with them and eventually they offered me a refund or discount or something but I declined since it was so small and at the time I wasn't 100% sure I was right, I just wanted them to look into it.

 

[larrydd999]

Thanks for the feedback on Rock Auto. I have some winter projects planned once I get the garage cleaned and was considering them for some of the parts.

 

[pkn]

I haven't but might. I need to take mine out and see where all the water around the windshield is coming from. ...

I had same problem, fixed it from outside:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums...0k-miles-but-need-to-fix.416547/#post-3352882

 

[pkn]

I decided to buy a fan clutch tool as taking the fan off with a couple of channel lock pliers is a pain. I've done it once before, but its not fun. I bought a Powerbuilt set and all I can say is what GARBAGE it is. I didn't even get to use it once. The big crowfoot that holds the 4 nuts works fine, but the "wrench" is a fail. All I did was pull on it with my bare hand and the jaws opened up and it no longer fits the nut. I closed it back up in a vice, but the metal is barely harder than lead. What an embarrassment of a product! Made in China, go figure.

I tried different sets, all the same, as you said -- garbage. I ended up buying (relatively) cheap jumbo wrenches set (regular thick metal wrenches, not those special for fun clutch nut) from Harbor Freight tools, which has 35 mm wrench in it. I grinded it to 36 mm (exact size of my fan clutch nut), and it worked perfectly.

Update: Sorry, I should've read further first...

 

[mr cribb]

I'm not exactly a fan of rock auto myself. They've sent wrong stuff, or inoperable stuff to me before.

I try to stay away from them, but as for your issue, I have no clue.

 

[92exp4x4]

I tried different sets, all the same, as you said -- garbage. I ended up buying (relatively) cheap jumbo wrenches set (regular thick metal wrenches, not those special for fun clutch nut) from Harbor Freight tools, which has 35 mm wrench in it. I grinded it to 36 mm (exact size of my fan clutch nut), and it worked perfectly.

Update: Sorry, I should've read further first...

I bought one of the cheap sets. The jaws of the wrench kept spreading while trying to remove the clutch. After hammering it back to shape a few times I realized how soft the metal was and traced the end out on a piece of flat 3/16 plate. I cut a mirror image and welded it to the wrench., doubling it's thickness. Works great now. The beefed up part fits perfectly into the fan hub and the handle is still thin enough to work with.

 

[2stroke]

I'm just lucky I had big wrenches, I think up to 50 mm or so (probably standard, but i did have a 36mm wrench). With a real wrench, taking the fan off is a 30 second job, with the "special tool", its next to impossible, it just flat out doesn't work. I'd never buy it or recommend it again, I'm guessing you could use a wrench or big channel locks for the fan side and do just as well.

Enough on that, the machine shop had to buy a new tool, he said I should have everything early next week, and by the time I have the short block done, he should have the heads done. I am going full rebuild. The crank was turned, the block bored and honed, new cam, all new bearings, new timing set, new lifters, but I'll probably reuse the pushrods (all are in perfect condition), as well as the rocker arm assembly, which also seems fine, but can be replaced easily at any time if it begins to clatter. The heads are milled flat, cleaned, new valves, seats, guides, seals, and springs. All in all, it will probably come out to be around $2000. More than you can buy a crate engine for, but at a much higher quality, as well as the priceless education. I don't build engines, never have. I have done enough top ends in 2 strokes, torn apart plenty of lawn mower engines, outboards, etc., but this is my first automotive engine I've had below the heads.

As for rock auto, I'm not sure what to do. I must have spent over $3000 there this year alone so far, and have shopped there for years. I sent the email Monday; no reply yet. That money alone would fund the rest of this engine rebuild. I have a list backing up of things I need that I may very well just give to the local auto parts store. Everything I've saved this year by shopping rock auto is lost due to this incident anyway.

I've decided its too late this year to do any major modifications to the explorer. Next spring I'll replace the rockers, as well as any other rust that pops up this winter, bedliner undercoating, as well as about 1/3rd up the bottom side, SOA rear, matching lift in the front, regear to 4.56's, and running BFG 33x10.5 tires. At some point I'll also be fabing some bumpers and a swing out tire carrier for a 33" spare and a jerry can.

 

[Maniak]

I would really like some advice on Rockauto, however. I sent those Sealed Power pistons back ASAP and didn't hear anything for a couple weeks. When I did, I got an email saying they refunded me for $35. I figured it was a simple mistake and called. The customer service seemed good enough, however, when he called the warehouse, they flat out denied having received 6 pistons! This went on until just today, where the guy just told me I was SOL, my $200 was just gone. There was no sign of damage during shipping, so either A. the warehouse lost it, or B. one of the workers flat out stole them. I don't know where to go from here. I sent 6 pistons back, there has to be something I can do.

At this point, If you bought it with a CC, just do a charge back. Worst case it will force Rockauto to do more research. Also, if you shipped it some way that you can see the weight of the package you'll be able to show you shipped more than 1 piston.

At least that is where I'd probably start...

And it's a shame that Rock Auto has been going down hill. They have been my go to, I'm not in a hurry for, parts house. It's to the point now that Rock Auto is now 3rd on my list of suppliers..

~Mark

 

[2stroke]

I used PayPal to buy it, but I don't know how to check shipping. To return to rockauto, they give you a FedEx Shipping slip to print. I then dropped it off at a drop off box.

Is there any way to charge them via PayPal? Heck, I'd at the very least like my crappy pistons back.

 

[natenkiki2004]

Paypal, in my experience, is very good when dealing with issues. I have a 2nd computer at home that I use as a server and I have it setup for remote access. It also has Google Chrome installed with all my goodies synced. Some clever ****er got into it (ok, my password was weak) and for some reason they only decided to buy a few things on eBay with my autofill info. Problem is, eBay wouldn't help me since the purchases were made from my own home, they said I was **** out of luck even though the items were shipped to another country that I've never been to nor had anything shipped to in the last 10+ years of using eBay. So I went to Paypal and they were a pleasure right from the start. They handled each transaction as a separate dispute, refunded the sellers and once they had investigated and gotten the info they needed, refunded me, no problem.

Your situation should be easier to deal with. Your FedEx shipping label should have a tracking number on it, grab that. Once you have that, give them one last chance and tell them you'll open a dispute with Paypal.

 

[mr cribb]

Just as a reminder the fan and fan clutch are new, like not even 5k miles old.

The thermostat is a failsafe 180. You probably need a normal OEM temp for up where you're at, as it isn't as cold down south in the winters.

 

[2stroke]

Wow, thanks for all the help, I have a feeling this will get worked out. I found the tracking number, and sure enough it is listed as a fairly large package at 1.5 pounds. I have exact dates, I have pictures of the pistons, I have proof a full set was shipped to the warehouse, so if I still have to resort to paypal, I'll loose all respect for rockauto.

 

[Maniak]

Wow, thanks for all the help, I have a feeling this will get worked out. I found the tracking number, and sure enough it is listed as a fairly large package at 1.5 pounds. I have exact dates, I have pictures of the pistons, I have proof a full set was shipped to the warehouse, so if I still have to resort to paypal, I'll loose all respect for rockauto.

Was it really only 1.5 pounds? That seems light for a full set of pistons... Did you mean 15 lbs?

~Mark