Pics of my engine/pistons, opinions?

I was tempted to NOT take apart this motor, but since I'm on a slow rolling restoration and I've got this 4.0L out and on the stand, figured I'd at least do all the gaskets, to include the HG.

Upon disassembly, I haven't found any ugly surprises, at least as far as I can tell, just what appears to be normal wear and tear. Rockers, pushrods, old HG, intake/exhaust gasket, cam lobes, etc.. all look fair enough.

I did get some concern looking at these pistons.. they appear to be covered in fouling/soot. Hard to describe it other than "dirty". If you care to venture any opinions looking at these photos, let me know what you think... either way, is there some cleaning technique or product I should use before I reassemble?



and no, those are not my painted toe-nails...

Doesn't look too bad. Carb cleaner will clean that up pronto. I used Seafoam before my tear down, and other than the lifter galley full of gunk the pistons were clean as a whistle.

okay, thanks for the feedback... I've never used Seafoam but hear good things about it, guess I could soak it in there while I've got the motor disassembled?

I would use carb cleaner while disassembled. It will clean the carbon build up. I use Seafoam through a vacuum line about every six months or so.

Looks normal

We use a 5 gallon bucket of carb cleaner (Zepresto, to be exact) to clean pistons we plan on reusing, then have at it with a wire brush, but that's with the pistons out.

thanks guys, I'll carb-clean it until it at least looks better and then blow it out with compressed air before I re-mount the head...

Have you measured things? Bore gauge or feeler gauges to check the cylinders for round and taper? Scratches in the cyl walls? Head and deck flat? Cam lift? Bearing slop?

Jack,

no, none of the above.. I wasn't planning on pulling it apart at all, and just doing the external gaskets/accessories (water pump, thermostat, etc) and then I got a hair up my butt and pulled it apart. I'm not, nor do I pretend to be, anything other than a DIY and self-taugh shade tree mechanic, and a pretty limited one at that.
I'm sure there are a million things I could/should do while it's apart but I'm limited in (a) education (b) access to parts, tools, and expertise and (c) flexible time.

Hence my question in an earlier post.. what should I do while I have it out/on the engine stand? I have not pulled the bearing caps to look at the races, nor did I pull the cam.. I pulled the timing chain set and am trying hard not to get the cam/crank off time while I've got it off. I've got the head removed, and thought about taking it to a shop for a valve job, but frankly haven't researched the cost/benefit on that one.. I figured maybe trying to do the valve stem seals myself (if my military self-help auto shop has the equipment I need)..

Your input and education (as is anyone's) is appreciated.

How was it running before? Burn any oil, run hot, any nasty stuff? Any obvious scorch marks on the valves?