A week ago I bought a Dakota that was running bad. I tore into it this weekend and found this:

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Its an 02, 174k miles. Top end was supposedly rebuilt at 125k miles.

I'll take the head to a shop and have it redone. The big question is, am I ok leaving that piston as is? I'd rather not touch it if I don't have to.

Thanks guys!

 

ouch, im not sure about leaving the piston but thoes heads have a ton of carbon build up on them, look at your plugs! as comparison heres what mine looked like at just under 130k....are you from kansas? (your username)



this was my old motor before i blew it.

 

Yeah, I'm near Wichita Ks.

 

You should be OK. Look at the cylinders an if they are glaysed and no ridge at the top just have the heads rebuilt.

 

Thanks dolittle.

Googling I saw someone recommend using emery cloth to smooth of sharp edges on the piston damage. That was to avoid hot spots that could cause detonation. Do you guys think that's a good thing to do?

I can feel a very slight ridge on the cylinder not much at all.

Thanks!