What is the best way to clean a piston?

This question relates to my 1800G engine that I have had sitting in the shop for over 25 years. I don't know it's history but it is for my street MGA upgrade projuct. My disassembly revealed a badly scored cylinder and a lot of carbon on the pistons etc. The machine shop reported that cylinder ware was ~.001 and they are sleeving the bad cylinder and honeing the rest. The cylinders are still standard size. The crank measured standard on the rods and .010 under on the journals. The bearings were in very good condition. (The engine was rebuilt at some time and a single timing chain installed.)

I plan on reusing the pistons with new rings but what is the best way to clean up the carbon deposits on the pistons? Is there an easy way?

Also, what is the best source for the 5 ring sets, and bearings?

Thanks, Jim

I had good results just using a wire wheel on the bench grinder. I used a tool made for cleaning ring grooves. It worked well. You may be able to borrow one, but it didn't look like an expensive tool if you had to buy one.

Scraper on top, Scotchbright lightly on the side. Don't try to get it as cleean as new, some discoloration is stained into the metal.

What you see on the sides isn't the part to be real concerned about being clean, the piston ring grooves are your major concern. You can scrape them clean with a piece of and old broken ring. They make a special tool for that but it's expensive for a one time use. Thousands of them have been cleaned with a broken ring piece over the years, all you have to do is watch closely and make sure the grooves are indeed cleaned out.

Whatever you do don't glassbead them-one leftover bead will stick a ring and there goes all your hard work.

For the bearings, I'd talk to Basil Adams on here. He has the best bearings out there available.

household ammonia will sofrten the carbon build up .
soak overnight with crown down in about 1/2 inch ammonia.

Oven cleaner or Brake and Carb cleaner for the carbon build up.
Ultrasonic tank for the rest.
Gets all the rubbish out including ariound the pin seats.

Pete.

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