Piston and cylinder assembly, Tips? Options

[TheCabinetmaker]

Doing a top end on a 1.7L. New c/p's. New heads.
The p/c assemblies seem to be quite dirty. Should I take them apart and clean and relube evetything? what should I clean them with. I read about weighing the pistons. Should I check the ring gap, or assume(I hate that word) the were checked when assembled.

This ain't my first time, but it has been a "few" years.

Thanks, Curt

[Matt Romanowski]

Mark,

This guys has done every engine known to man. One time he said something about Merlin (sp?) engines. I replied, "They make nice boat stuff." He chuckled. He was talking about about WWII aircraft engines.

Maybe I communicated wrong. The crank must be dynamincally balanced (but does not get weights put on it like a V8 crank would). The pistons, rods, and pins all have to be balanced (to each other). So yes, everything gets balanced, but not like in a V engine.

Also, you don't need a mill to lighten the pistons. Removing some metal can be done lots of ways.....but never with a drill bit.

Matt