Replacing piston and sleeve!

[Devinlowe18]

So about 2 months or so back I had a receiver go bad and flipped my Nitro 4-tec at WOT and blew a hole in my trx 3.3 piston (some of you may remember my posting about it). Anyway I just bought a new engine for it and put the blown one to the side. Well now I am thinking of just replacing the piston and sleeve on the engine and upgrading my tmaxx 2.5 with the rebuilt 3.3. I can get the piston and sleeve new online for $43. Now I know alot of people say just replace the engine but if I could just rebuild it for less than $50 then why not. My only question is how many of you have done this and was it worth it? After the new break in process does the engine run as well as a new motor? What issues could or will I run into? How hard is it to do? I want to do this but just wanted to hear other experiences. The good and the bad. Hopefully it's not all bad... Lol

 

[hamz9561]

It's not very hard to do at all. You have to heat the sleeve to remove it. You may want to put the replacement sleeve in the freezer overnight before to contract the metal to make it easier to install. New bearings are also a very good idea to be installed as well.

After installing the sleeve and piston, you should break it in like a new engine because basically that is what it is.

 

[2revo1maxx]

Replacing the piston and sleeve without a new conrod is like polishing a turd. You also must check, but should, replace the bearings.
You can use a stiff piece of plastic to push the sleeve out, I use an extra tie rod that has the plastic end still on it. If you decide to use heat, you'll want to heat the block from the outside.

 

[Devinlowe18]

Yea I keep hearing that about the con rod and the bearing but if I did all of that it WOULD be cheaper to buy a new engine.... Lol I'm not trying to buy a new one just thought if I could fix That one for less than $50 then I would, but if I have to replace everything just to make it worth it then ill just let the thing sit in the tool box as extra parts... Lol

 

[hotrodrob]

Replacing the piston and sleeve without a new conrod is like polishing a turd. You also must check, but should, replace the bearings.
You can use a stiff piece of plastic to push the sleeve out, I use an extra tie rod that has the plastic end still on it. If you decide to use heat, you'll want to heat the block from the outside.

Especially since you blew the engine I would consider the rod shot as well! And bearings ,it is even possible that the end of the crank may have suffered a bit,

transmited from a mobile communications device

 

[jerzey10]

I did the same but I upgraded the con rod to a rbmod rod. My engine runs great.

 

[hulkmaxx]

+1 on what hotrod said. I would just replace engine. You can get engine minus carb for like $80.00 or cheaper on egay!

 

[MudSlinger33]

Even if the conrod bushings are still good, the 3.3s are notorious for snapping the conrod. After rebuilding the motor, you run the risk of the throwing a rod through your new piston. If nothing else, at least consider upgrading the rod. Davis diesel makes a great replacement rod for the 3.3s.

 

[2revo1maxx]

+1 on what hotrod said. I would just replace engine. You can get engine minus carb for like $80.00 or cheaper on ebay!

I fixed that for ya.