nikasil texture

[Alan Cottrill]

I have some used nikasil cylinders. the original crosshatch is still clearly visable. I've cleaned them up with some brake clean and the texture is smooth as glass. is this good? will the new rings seat? what is the texture of a new nikasil cylinder?

[Rot 911]

Alan, I just rebuilt my 3.2 with nikasil cylinders and like yours I could see the crosshatch and they were also smooth as glass. Upon the advice of Wayne and others I used a flex hone (grape hone) and ran it 4-5 times up and down each cylinder to insure the rings would seat.

[Alan Cottrill]

after running the flex hone were they less smooth? could you feel a change in texture?

what type of lubricant did you use when honing?

[Wayne 962]

Seeing the original cross-hatch is a good sign. Not seeing any scuff marks from the piston skirts is also a good sign. If both of these are true, then you can probably reuse these cylinders with good results.

-Wayne