The end ? (1 Viewer)

[Marvelicious]

I cannot tell which cylinder these are, but there are two pistons that look like they've been hit with a hammer on the top edge and swaged the piston towards the sidewall. It does NOT look like this has been dragging on the cylinder wall, so this may be something done by the current disassembler, especially since it looks "fresh." Very clear on the bottom left of the bottom cylinder in the bottom picture and on the upper left on the cylinder above it.

Upon further review, it appears these must be cylinder 3 and 4. There is a picture of the HG in post #24 that would appear that the HG has corresponding sealing ring failures in corresponding locations. I wonder if this is NOT the original HG, but a poorly done replacement and not a Toyota gasket. If this indeed looks like it's been running like that, then you may be OK.
I see some discoloration in the one cylinder directly above the dent on the piston. If this looks "fresh" maybe the PO did a shytty job of a HG and knew this was an issue. This would have been discovered at startup because this impact would have "seized" the engine unless the starter was able to ram it past this point.

This is very concerning to me. The fact that there is no carbon trace on the edge of it is what makes me think this is post disassembly. Let them explain. Ask them how they went about disassembly and if they stuck a pry bar in there or hit it with a hammer to break anything loose. Don't be accusatory. Just keep asking for information.

These are the only red flag to me. If those were not a problem before, they will be now because it also may have affected the clearances on the top compression ring. It may cause the ring to hang up and not rotate like it's supposed to do. It will also drag the wall as the pistons heat up and expand.

As far as ring groove, there is not one visible. It becomes a lip at the top of the cylinder wall about 1/4" to 3/8" down where the top ring stops and the end of each stroke. When the cylinder fires, it creates an enormous amount of pressure at ignition and is causes the ring to exert more force at that point, so it wears more right there. On the old SBC's, you could catch a fingernail on the ring groove and it would have to be cut out before you could remove the pistons.

There is some slight wear on the left and right of the cylinder walls, but it is minor, especially with 271K on it. It's not enough to cause sealing issues with the rings.

If you need to pull the pistons for this inspection, you need to pull the engine. If you're pulling the engine, you have crossed a line and may just need to go with a new short block to offset the cost of labor, disassembly, inspection, and machining.

I see what you're talking about. I can't be entirely sure if that's not just debris that looks like damage, but it DEFINITELY looks like damage.

Just perfect... hammer and chisel mechanic destroys the pistons taking the engine apart and then says, "Yep, you need a new engine."

 

[CharlieS]

Kinda looks like that one piston kissed two valves. I had a BMW motorcycle that had this happen and the damage looked similar.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Kinda looks like that one piston kissed two valves. I had a BMW motorcycle that had this happen and the damage looked similar.

View attachment 3809921View attachment 3809924

All the pistons have relief cuts in them for clearance to the valves

 

[Broski]

Pictures are so misleading, I’m thinking it looks like head gasket debris that fell in there.

 

[clx16]

Pictures are so misleading, I’m thinking it looks like head gasket debris that fell in there.

These are the spots I believe in question. They do kinda look like someone hit them with a hammer or maybe dropped the head on them when they were at the top

 

[Broski]

These are the spots I believe in question. They do kinda look like someone hit them with a hammer or maybe dropped the head on them when they were at the top

View attachment 3809987

Ya I see them ! again It's a picture and hard to tell

 

[BILT4ME]

These are the spots I believe in question. They do kinda look like someone hit them with a hammer or maybe dropped the head on them when they were at the top

View attachment 3809987

If you look at the picture in post #24, they correspond exactly to the sealing ring on two adjoining cylinders.

 

[Broski]

That the marks look the same is alarming to me.

All I'm saying is to be conclusive one need to look at it, not the pictures.

 

[powderpig]

First, Thanks Kernal for words.
I still believe this gasket is an original type. 93-94 run cooler in the combustion temps, as the OBDI system runs the engine richer than the 95-97 OBDII, which leads to hotter combustion temps. The original head gasket design failed more often on 95-97 than the 93/94. Also, I see gray gasket material, more than likely original grey from the factory.
Next, I can say, this is not the shop you want to be working on your engine. I see with the new pictures you have scoring and some polishing at the bottom of the bore on the lowest pistions. One never wants polishing more than an inch wide, you may want to feel any scratches you see in the bore.
If a finger nail picks it up it will be more than .001 deep. If the finger pads can feel the scratches, more like .005 or greater.
I would still want to have the chain held up and the engine rotated to get 1 &6 pistons moved to the bottom to see # 1 bore. If there is no cross hatching one can see, then the engine will need to be rebuilt or replaced.
another concern I have is the block it self. I can see where water and carbon has been moving under the gasket. This can often times create low spots where the fire ring is. Once the block is cleaned really well. One need to use feeler guages and a flat bar to measure around the cylinder areas for low spots. .002 low spot is what the factory calls good, any thing lower is questionable. I personally have used Hylomar and new stock Toyota Gaskets on .004 with good results. Did I recommend it, no. But the owner wanted to try. It lasted till he was able to get enough money to rebuild it later.
As for a top ring groove, the cylinder wall is not clean, I woud bet from what I see, there is only slight top ring groove, and a bunch of carbon build up.
Same on the pistions. Carbon build up can miss lead you. When I did any head gasket job,all carbon I can touch is removed. Toyota Tech and most automotive mechanics will not clean carbon on this type of job. It is the training.
I have lots of stories of shops doing this job for clients and then wiht in a few thousand miles a knock appears. Carbon was dislodged and tore up the cylinder wall.
Anyhow, Get a picture of #1 and then post it up, let us look.