D17D Engine Rework Update

The first compression ring is nearly 1/2 inch below the crown on the piston. If the those chunks of metal were rings, that piston would be in really bad shape. I would look the intake heater over really close, that and the air cleaner. I guess if the fire ring is MIA, you may be right. If the fire ring got loose, I'm betting you will need to do some counter bore machine work. If you have to fix the counter bores, and you end up decking the block, don't forget to check the piston stand out. I found on my 262 that the pistons were between .050 and .060 above the deck. The compressed head gasket was .055. Bill at Sandy Lake called someone at AGCO and they pulled the blue prints for the D262 and came up with a piston stand out of .003 to .029 above the deck. The blue prints also state that the sleeves are to be flush with the deck + or - .002. I think I would feel better about .002 above minimum, but thats what the blue prints say. Ron at Arnold's machine shop in Ankeny says that in his book of specs, it shows .040 for piston standout. He claims to have built many D262's and has used the .040 spec for the pistons. All I can say is don't forget to check the piston height and if necessary, have the tops of the pistons shaved so they don't hit the head like mine were doing. I think I will be using the .040 spec on mine. My engine would start without block heater, intake heater, or ether down to the upper 30's. That last little bit of compression must be right on the threshold of starting/not starting when cold. Just a slight whiff in the intake would start it right up down to -20.

Its the little details as to which gasket kit and the sleeve installation required for the kit that can drive a man into a cursing hair pulling tantrum.