Date:         Wed, 31 Mar 1999 23:10:04 -0600
Reply-To:     Joshua Van Tol <jjvantol@USWEST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joshua Van Tol <jjvantol@USWEST.NET>
Subject:      Re: How to measure piston length??
Comments: To: al brase <braseelec@FORBIN.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <3702F9D6.1EB2@forbin.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

>
> Tom:
> If you have long AND short rods I don't think you have 2 two-liter
> engines. Two liter engines have shorter rods so that they put all the
> extra 5mm. stroke at the bottom of the cylinder and not at the top and
> bottom both. (71mm.-66mm.=5mm.)
> I'm sure you could use a calipers to measure the distance top of pin
> hole to top of piston. This should help you compare pistons. While
> you're at it measure the diameter. 2-liter's are 94mm, 1.8's 93mm. bore.
> Measure across the skirt perpendicular to the pin.
> Al Brase
> 69 double cab

Al, there is some variation in rod and piston length. Perhaps on the
order of 0.010"? If anyone has ever actually done this, perhaps
they'd care to send in some numbers? What Tom is trying to do is
match the "short" pistons with the "long" rods, giving approximately
equal assembled lengths. This is a blue printing trick, and isn't
really necessary for a normal engine. However, it's free, and it may
help the smoothness, longevity, and power output of the engine.
Albeit by a very small amount.

Also, there's another way to tell a 2.0 liter rod from one for a 1.7
or 1.8. 2.0 liter rods don't have a balancing pad on the small end,
while the 1.7's and 1.8's do.

Joshua Van Tol -- jjvantol@uswest.net