y/n can the cylinders reinstall w/o removing the pistons ?

[devesvws]

my engine is at a friends place, heads off, cylinders off and everything cleaned. is there a shortcut to reinstall the cylinder jugs with the pistons still on the connecting rods ? we tried every way we could but getting past the last ring was our only problem. this is now in its 3rd weekend, and i'm at the mercy of my friends spare time. removing the pistons from the rods, which has become the hard time consuming part of the job. and this is what the hold up has been. am i reading this right? are these guys saying there ring compresser can do the job without removing the pistons? http://farfrombroken.com/index.php?p=1_23_Vanagon-Cylinders-Install
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THE FEW THE PROUD THE ORIGINAL VW WATERBOXER -> looking for a original 91 vanagon owners manual with 1991 on the cover http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmuiG2tUsP4&feature=share https://picasaweb.google.com/101290228103300323836/BostonBobFlywheelVideo#5543000332201103922

[insyncro]

My experience say NO, but would love to be shown it can be done.

[Alaric.H]

Bring it over and I will give you a hand /loan you the tools to do it.
Oakton VA about 1.5 hr out from you.

[xoo00oox]

I have done it many times, in the car even. You can make the chamfer at the bottom of the cylinder much bigger to make it easier. Use a split style ring compressor, you do have to work to get the compressor out but it can be done.

[insyncro]

[xoo00oox]

Ok. See you then Dylan.


The chamfer can be ground to about twice as big, I use a carbide cutter on a die grinder rather than a grinding stone so it leaves no abrasives in the cylinder that could be missed when you are cleaning them up.

[devesvws]

[Alaric.H]

Just bust out your VW 3159 and it should make quick work of the wrist pins.