Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 926 Threads: 22
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Location: Near Cambridge, UK
Car type: 1928 tourer (mag type), short chassis Gould Ulster
It is usual to remove pistons from the bottom of the block after the block has been lifted from the crankcase. In some cases if your bores are oversize and/or the sides of the big ends have been reduced you can remove from the top without removing the block, but the oil baffles are always a problem. For many years I have not used baffles. The thing you cannot do as far as I know is remove pistons from the bottom of the block when it is still on the crankcase.
Joined: Feb 2021 Posts: 34 Threads: 12
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Location: Devon
Car type: Austin 7 ruby 1938 Austin 7 Ruby 1937
Thank you for your advice Robert
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Location: Darkest Bedfordshire
15-07-2021, 08:02 AM
(This post was last modified: 15-07-2021, 08:07 AM by Chris KC.)
Well "never say never" but as far as I know it can't be done. Certainly not if the oil baffles are in place.
On a '38 (three main bearing?) engine the rods are offset on the crank & you'd have to get past the centre main bearing webs too.
Even in the best scenario, the lower piston rings will spring open once the piston is past the block preventing any chance of retreat when it goes bad.
What you could do if you really want to spare your gasket is lift the block off the crankcase with head still in place.
If it ain't leaking I'd leave it alone though - the block to crankcase joint is arguably more troublesome than the head joint.