Piston pin

[laxplayermjd]

Does anybody press their own rods and pistons at home? I would like to save as much money as possible when doing my first build. I have a way to heat the rod but as far as putting the pin in too far or not far enough is what im worried about.

[hatem61]

I never did it but some claimed that freezing the pins in the fridge the night before helps with the fittment.

[Mgardiner1]

Don't cheap out, have a machine shop do it. You'll be mad as hell if you squash a piston or damage it in any other way

[John]

Mgardiner1 gave you some good advise. If you really are set on doing it yourself, this is how to do it. http://www.fordmuscle.com/forums/all-fo ... ation.html
John

[laxplayermjd]

About what would it cost for the machine shop to do it? What have you guys paid?

[SilverXJ]

x2.. my machine shop only charged me $20 to put the pistons on the rods, but they also weighed each piston and rod prior to assembly so i would have to done it after they weighted it all any how. And i wasn't about to damage a $550 set of pistons trying to ham fist them in or cook a rod. This isn't the area to skimp and do it yourself.

[John]

The local rate here is $15 to remove 6 pistons and the same to mount a set. That includes the weight matching at installation.
John