[Hybrid]

I just pulled the heads/exhaust manifolds/intake off my 318 to clean it up and check the heads for cracks and the do some gasket matching and exhaust/CC polishing. Casting 593 for those interested. Anyway, I was surprised by what I found. The camshaft looks impecably new. The lobes are worn perfectly. I pulled some of the lifters and their base was nice and worn as well. Valve tips have perfectly centered wear lines on them from the rockers and everything else is perfectly clean, no gunk as far as the eye could see. Here is the question, on top of each piston, along with what appear to be 4 small cut valve reliefs is scribed "030". This leads me to believe that these pistons are not the originals and in combination with the condition of the rest of the engine, that this is a rebuild. Dodge didn't send out any factory engines with .030+ pistons, did they? I'm praying its nice and rebuild. The bores look very nice and the tops of the pistons only have enough carbon on them that I could whipe it away with my finger tips. I just want to confirm my presumptions that this is a rebuilt 322
-Pat

 

[IntenseImages]

sounds like it is to me

eric

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Yup, someone's been in that engine since the factory, sounds like a bonus if it's been done well!

 

[Monsta® aka Mudshark]

I'll agree with AZ and Intense. the engine has been rebuilt before.

 

[Evildriver-3]

It has been rebuilt

 

[Hybrid]

there was a second indication that lead me to believe that as well, namely being the small amount of blue RTV on the intake manifold gasket and the valve cover rims. I'm still going to take everything down from it and check it all out before reassembly just to make sure. Overall, everything looks pretty good internal. I'm one happy camper Thanks guys.