Yessir...

as for the sandblasting, I believe that most machine shops have glass bead booths that are not as harsh on aluminum products...I glass beaded many cylinder heads at my father's shop back in the day, but can't remember if I ever did any pistons...

and can i just submerge the entire piston and rod assembly in there? about how long should i leave it?

Yes you can. Leave it in as long as it takes to soften up the carbon. Repeat it if you need to. Start with overnight & go from there.

i dont know maybe I am picky but I wouldnt use that piston with the chip if you are going to spray it at any point. Hell I dont know that I would use it period.

yeah its really worrying me but its kinda hard to find one LQ9 piston

used wd40 and a red scotchbrite pad.....very lightly tho

That little nick on the edge of the piston is nothing at all to worry about. If you're worried about that little thing disturbing the integrity of the piston, then you should also be worried about the numbers that were stamped into the tops of the pistons. Well, you really just shouldn't worry about any of that. It won't affect anything. In fact, many piston manufacturers dimple or notch one edge of the piston at the top edge to tell the builder which end of the piston should face the front of the engine. Clean em up & put em in!! If you're putting used pistons in your build, then it's a "budget build" anyways, not an "all out" build.

I agree w/. Roger, even if the beer is gettin to him. On all counts. If it's a budget build, rock em. If u have doubts, use your discretion.

U gettin smarter Tommy!! lolz