Cylinder Soft Spots

[TAMAHAGANE]

Hi peeps i tried doing a search.

Just a few questions

Im gonna be doing a engine build and would like to know how i would know if I've got any soft areas in my cylinder walls, i think there is a special tool i could get because 2 or 3 years ago i did some work experience with plr engine reconditioning and the owner there used one of these tools on a cylinder head, it would be good if someone can tell me what this tool is called.

A picture of one of the cylinders.

I know its in pretty bad nik and definatly need a hone but i just need to know whether they got soft spots

Thank in advance

[colourclassic]

Never heard of there being 'soft spots' in cylinders :S That looks like a classic case of piston slap/skirt damage.

[TAMAHAGANE]

Never heard of there being 'soft spots' in cylinders :S That looks like a classic case of piston slap/skirt damage.

Yeah i know what it looks like

Normally you hear of cylinder heads going soft and warping on engines with overheating issues from heating up and being onealed time and time again.

My engine didn't have a over heating problem but i figured if this can happen to a cylinder head then no doubt it could happen to the cylinder walls by being run hard and then cooled many many times.

I just don't want to spend the money on getting the cylinders, main tunnel and get the deck machine if I've got soft spots in say 2 of the cylinders

If i can get something like a hardness test done it would put my mind at ease before i get the block machine

[colourclassic]

You're comparing two difference types of metals though, cylinder head (alloy) vs block (iron). Iron is much less susceptible to warpage, and I'd imagine softening too. I'm no expert on this though, so I'll leave it at that.

FYI, this will probably get locked since it's in the wrong section. Next time try Forced Induction Performance.

[TAMAHAGANE]

Its all good did some searching on Google and it called a Rockwell hardness test so Im gonna take my block down to plr and see what they have to say

[StevenCJR31]

Yeah there wont be any soft spots, its cast iron and its tough thats why nissan used it in the first place

[datsun_1600]

Just FYI I wouldn't be doing a Rockwell test on the bore. 1.) When the test tool is pressed into the bore it will damage it (ie leave a mark) and 2.) The sharp pointed bits we use to do the test may actually fracture the bore. Doing it on a non finished surface (ie the outside of the block) would be much safer.

Just my 2c - Jeff

[TAMAHAGANE]

Yeah after doing a bit of research myself they usually would do it on the head gasket surface

And thanks for your input it is greatly appreciated