Piston removal methods?

Hello again,

Well, my long overdue engine rebuild is scheduled to start next month and I'm trying to anticipate likely problem areas.

I'm going to (attempt to!) rebuild a 1973 2.4 911T engine with CIS.

One task that looks quite difficult is removing the pistons from the rods. The Factory Workshop manual shows the use of a special electric "Piston Heater" to warm the psitons to a temp of 80-100 Centigrade. Then use a suitable "drift" to hammer out the piston pins. The Haynes manual suggests wrapping the pistons in rags soaked with boiling water before you hammer out the pins.

Questions:

1) Has anyone done this task before and if so, what method did you use?

2) What is the diameter of the drift used to hammer out the pin? Would a short piece of wooden dowl rod work, or do I need something made of brass or even steel?

3) How much force is needed to do this - Obviously I don't want to damage the pistons or the rods unless its unavoidable.

Thanks in advance,

- roGER

PS: Expect lots of questions from me over the next few weeks/months!

This is what I did on a 2.7l. I had some lights that were 100 watts or so sort of like a flood light. I used these for lighting in my cellar. Any way I stuck one right next to the piston for 10 minutes or so, I then found a socket that basicaly covered the circumfrance of the wrist pin put a six inch extension on and tapped it out. Really went very smoothy.

I used a blow torch to heat the piston right at the pin for about 10 seconds on each side, then used a wooden dowl and a mallet to softly punch out the pins. This worked well.