Can I replace the piston rings from the bottom without taking off the heads? I have one cylinder with low compression. Not sure how these are made so that is why I said "stupid question". It is the #8 cylinder. looking in the cylinder with a scope cam it appears that the walls are good and the piston appears to be in good shape so I assume the rings have failed.

 

Im not sure but heres a bump to the top of the list for ya....

Oh and Welcome to FTE.

 

Sorry wrong section. It is a 97. Not sure if it is the same. Can a mod please move?

 

Nope. You can't do it.

Plain and simple.

 

This is not an answer to your question but have you done a leak down test to check for a bad valve?

 

You have to pull not only the head but most likely the engine as well. I don't think these trucks would be any fun to try an in-frame rebuild.

 

I would suspect valves leaking before I would suspect rings. You need to pressurize the cylinder with a adapter that screws in the GP hole. If you do need rings you have to pull the head.

 

Ok thanks guys. I will let him know. i was posting for a guy at work that is why i posted in the wrong section. Thanks again for all the help.

 

IIRC you have to pull the engine just to remove the oil pan

 

I read a couple things about pulling engines and oil pans

Somewhere I read that if you have to pull the engine, it's actually easier to lift the cab up to work on the engine. I disremember where it was but I saw pics of it. Same was for the E-Series and I saw those pics also. 8 bolts to unhook the cab and 12 for the E.

Oil pan, I just saw where someone cut hid crossmember out, did his business and then welded it back it.

Not sure if I would do it that way but it is food for thought....

 

That was me that cut the cross member for the oil pan. I was skeptical too, but after talking to a few guys in the 99-03 forum they steered me to one guy that 7 years on a cut cross member w/o a failure. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Bet I can do it in less that 4 hours now that I have one under my belt.

The only way to do rings is with the engine out. Might as well rebuild the whole thing if you're going that far IMHO.