Had a 1970 124 Sport gifted to me, body is in pretty good shape, will need to replace floor pans(rust), exhaust, panhard rod (bent during transport), etc. Has not run to my knowledge since the 90's. In the process of changing out the spark plugs I noticed the the 3rd cylinder appears pretty rusty, I noticed this when I was vacuuming the gunk out around the old spark plugs and the vacuum sucked a nice little plume of rusty dust out of the spark plug hole, upon further investigation can see that the piston if visibly rusty. Checked the other 3 visually and they do not show any signs of rust. Want advice on how to proceed, initially I just wanted to replace plugs, wires, battery, oil/filter, etc and try and start it. Now I am wondering what next steps should be and what the cause of rust in one cylinder could be, bad head gasket? Cracked block? Any way to check on that with out breaking the entire motor down? Any advice is much appreciated.

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IMG_1414 by JScottM, on FlickrJScottM, on Flickr

For posting pics, first put them up on a site like photobucket.com. You can't load them directly from your computer.

In your posting here, hit the "img" button above, with the cursor where you want the picture to appear. Go back to photobucket, hover over your picture and a drop down menu will appear. Click on "direct link" and the message will appear: "copied".

Go back to your post here and make sure the cursor is exactly in between the 2 "img" messages. Right click and hit paste and the web code for the picture will appear. When you post, the picture should be there too!

Pete

and if you delete it on photobucket it will be lost here also

Since you're on Flickr, hit the "Share" box, select "Grab the HTML/BBCode", making sure the BBCode button at the bottom is highlighted, select the size you want (Medium 500 works pretty well) and paste it into your message. With the Flickr BBCode, you don't have to use the "Img" button ... just paste as you copied.
The code looks like this ... .... and what you get in your message looks like this ....

IMG_5036 by razooli55, on Flickr

You can cut the last part of the code so you don't get the "image by #####, on Flickr" line below the photo.

Thanks for the help on posting pics, much appreciated.

looks like a great car
you should do d a compression test and a leak down test
have your rad acid boiled and reseemed
also put a flushing tee on thr upper heater hose for filling

JScottM:
it looks like we've got ya all fixed-up on the picture-posting.... but none of us have chimed-in on your original question! sorry!

So; a rusty cylinder can really mean only one thing: water. never good in a cylinder. Assuming there were spark plugs in the motor when you bought it, and nothing else "weird" was going-on... there's only one way you're likely to get water in there: head-gasket failure.

The good-news: these aren;t so bad to replace, assuming no "real" damage has been done.

You can try a leak-down, of course. never a bad idea. But if it were me I'd have that head off, looking at what damage has been done to the cylinder-wall.

This could very-well be the reason the car was parked in the 90's?

thanks for the advice 124Joe and Maytag. check on the rad acid boiled and seemed.thinking I will just go with pulling the head at this point and checking the cylinder damage and taking it from there.


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Pulled the head, looks like some cylinder/piston damage.
I assume I now will need to pull the block and take it in for some professional cylinder/piston work.
Also looks like the head probably needs some professional care? Advice is much appreciated.


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unless you are going for original, i would source a 1608 for a replacement. just alot of more bang for the buck. yes you could put a 1800 or a 2000 in it as well. the 1608 would be the "period" performance option.

WOW!
would LOVE to know the story behind piston #4?

If it was mine, I'd be looking at oversize pistons for starter, but some of those pistons look like a fish has spawned in there, so perhaps have a real good look at the crank and all things on the bottom end. Looks like one or two of the pistons had a carb mounting or air cleaner nut banging about for awhile so the valves would have to be looked at real close.
Take a look below in the parts for sale section and see if any cars are being parted near you. A 1608 or 1800 would work well and perhaps save you some grief and $$$$ I'll have a 1608 before long but the shipping would be stupid from Canada.
Chris

Why replace it??
Cylinders can rust just from sitting, if that intake or exhaust valve was open and engine outside. Or, plug not quite tight, water pooled around plug and dripped in.
Looks like an old engine inside. Clean it up, check it out, hopefully just some rings and beargings to get er going.
Nothing wrong with the 1438.

u could save your troubles and will that car ro me or sell it, i have a 1608 and 1438 for it
save your self money:) id love to have a 70

majicwrench wrote:Why replace it??
Cylinders can rust just from sitting, if that intake or exhaust valve was open and engine outside. Or, plug not quite tight, water pooled around plug and dripped in.
Looks like an old engine inside. Clean it up, check it out, hopefully just some rings and beargings to get er going.
Nothing wrong with the 1438.

Keith, I know you'll be shocked, but I agree with you!

However, in the final photo, doesn't that look like rust-pitting on the cylinder wall? Do you think that'd hone-out? or is he looking at a rebore?