Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) New (to me) 98 12v needs rings. Advise needed

[moparguy]

Last Saturday I bought (at a local auction) a pretty clean 98, SLT, club cab, short bed, 4x4, auto, with 3. 55 gears with 130,000 miles.



I bought it knowing it had excessive blow-by. Since then I've repaired a vacuume leak at the cruse control and now everything works. And blow-by is reduced considerbly. However the stock air filter was damanged for what appears a long time allowing unfiltered air into the engine and the rings are dusted.



I'm debating re-ringing and keeping, or sale for a profit to me and reasonable deal for the buyer.



So, can anyone point me to a thread or link on doing a ring job. I've got a shop with everthing needed except a cylinder hone. I suspect the entire frontend has to come off, including the ac condencer, alllowing the engine to slip out the front. If so that's a bummer cause the ac works fine and I'd hate to lose the charge.



I'm thinking I can do this for less than a $1,000. Reuse everthing except front, rear seals, and headgasket. Assuming things look as they should at 130k.



Thanks, RR

 

[CFAR]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152994



The vacuum leak itself can cause blowby, you might not need new rings, depends on the environment the truck was run in. Before you do anything have the compression checked.

 

[moparguy]

Compression check is a good idea. However, the truck was in farm country, lots of dirt fields and roads. I talked to the original owner, he didn't know what caused the problem.



My bad but I didn't check the truck out prior to the sale, didn't figure it'd be in my price range. It was only after I'd moved my head one too many times and bought it that I checked the air filter, massive no seal and unfiltered air.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Yep I read about another truck with a torn intake boot and it took out the rings on his rig. But I would do a compression check to be sure. There is a blowby volume test as well you can do, which can give you an idea how poorly it's sealing.

 

[fulltimer]

What should the cylinder compression reading be on a 94 stock?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I donno, my '96 had 520psi on each hole when I checked it at 353,000 miles. It had a . 010" over head gasket.