I might pick up a 346 shortblock with 16K original miles, but the guy said the pistons have a little "valve stamping" on them.

What is valve stamping? (is it a negative p2v clearance)

Is that cause for concern?

if its not, and I buy it, can I replace the rings, without having the block honed?

 

not sure what valve stamping is, but what i've been taught is to hone the block everytime you change rings or they won't seat right. You could probably get away with an autozone honing block on your drill though.

 

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Ok, not worried about machining cost anymore.

I don't think that "valve stamping", whatever it may be, could be bad, the valves would bend before any real damage to the piston was done, right?

 

The guy just got back to me, said that he was prolly running a cam with a p2v that was close, and over revved it, possibly missed a shift.

The short block is only $500. is it possible that there was damage done to the bottom end?

Or for 500 should I not worry about it?

 

I've seen a lot of engines run that have had the valves hit the pistons with no issues later on after a smaller cam was put in of course. If there is no real gauging or cracked I wouldn't worry about it and just run it after some spot-checking.

 

i agree, if its just that the p2v clearance was too close then it wouldn't cause any real damage to the shortblock, the valves are much weaker than any component in the shortblock.

 

Why not just put some heads on it and see how it runs. With that low of miles the rings should be good.

 

Well, you're right. I could, but while its out, isn't that good insurance to change them, just in case there was a problem. Plus, I might put a little nitrous on the motor, so I can put a ring pack on thats designed for the spray, and increase the life, right.

Am I being smart by wanting to do this, or just a nervous nelly, and I should just put it in.