Piston Stuck

I got a 360 small block engine. Rebuilding it and putting it into a 1973 Duster. The pistons are out of the engine but the rods will not move freely like they should. When i set the piston down the rods stand straight up and dont fall over. I can only move the rods with a malet. I tried spraying brake cleaner into the piston bearing and around where the bearing and rod meet but still cant break them free. Tried to use a press to get the bearings out but nothing. They are press fit by the way. Anyhelp or ideas would be nice.

spray some JB 80 on the pins. or soak the pistons in diesel

Spray them down with equal parts of acetone and automatic tranny fluid mixed together. That stuff works wonders

Dk.03 said:

Rebuilding it

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Rebuilding means boring it and fitting new pistons. So take it to a machine shop and they will separate the pistons and rods, usually with catastrophic results to the pistons.
If you desire to reuse the pistons, and they measure/test as reusable, AND the bores are ROUND and not tapered,and within usable limits,
Then, this is called reconditioning.

In your case the piston-pins are captured in the pistons during the assembly process,and the pistons are usually broken or otherwise damaged beyond reusing, during the disassembly process.. The pins have a small clearance in the rod-bushings. Yours appear to be varnished up. So you will need a chemical to dissolve that varnish.

The pins are a press fit into the pistons... no bearings.

Use some carb cleaner to remove any varnish and then lube the pins with a light oil. Be patient. Might take a few days to free them up.

Pressed pins sticking in piston pin bores.
Spray some lube and work them loose.

use a small propane torch , heat piston and when loose use a spray lube on pin

Buy new pistons and rods. It is cheaper to buy new rods then to have them resized and new piston material is far better then the old pistons you removed. The same with heads . Its cheaper to buy heads then to have yours redone. Unless you have a good running motor you just want to refresh for originality. My son has a engine machine service shop. He loses money when giving this advise but is honest when asked.

The rotating assembly is the heart of the engine. When it fails the arms, legs and everything attached usually get destroyed with it. $$$$$,!
You cannot make perfume out of **** and make it smell like a rose. Unless you take the advise from someone who's **** doesn't stink. Rotating Assemblies are the way to go. Just make sure your block is good. Magnaflux, line bore, and deck surface. then Clean, clean, and clean again.