vauxhall vectra hole in piston :-(

if you can remove the sump and head then you can replace a piston

I think he knows that hence the question.

John

actually i wasn't sure ! i remember doing a piston change on a different car years ago and for some reason it turned out to be impossible without removing the engine (i think the crank had to be fully removed) - so i just wanted to double check for sure... if i have to remove the engine i would probably not bother and sell it for spares - i'm debating this anyway as i'm wondering if other damge may be there as another symptom was an oil leak from the head gasket around the piston.... plus i've just driven 200miles to get home in this condition (on

3 cylinders)- drove surprising well actually ! if i peer down the spark plug hole the piston is holed and broken where the conrod fits into it (the conrod is bashing up and down whilst what is left of the piston pretty much stays at the top) although it sounds unlikely, my gut feeling from looking at the top of the conrod is that the bore has a good chance of being ok any thoughts ! ? cheers, andy

Remove offending engine, replace with another from a scrap car. Cheaper easier and (as long as it's guaranteed) it's a known entity...

Some engines have non removable heads, hence the reply.

However, the piston on every engine you are likely to come across will come out of the top, however if the con rod is detached from the piston and flapping about , then it is unlikely that the bore is OK

good point, much better idea ! brain isn't working tonight - probably from breathing 200miles worth of oil dripping on the exhaust fumes ;) cheers, andy