Pistons out of  '88 7.3L idi running at 18-19+psi of boost for 68k miles (225k total on engine)

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Pistons after being taken out of the engine and bead-blasted and cleaned off.  These 5 are the worst, the rest of them still look almost new!

I think this is a testament to how how much these engines can really take.

Piston 1

As you can see from the pictures, it looks like part of a glow plug was embedded in the piston when someone changed them and broke the tip off in the past.  Luckily the tip just embedded in the piston and didn't shatter it.

Let this be a lesson - DON'T run the engine and try to "pass" a broken off glow plug tip!

Piston 2

As seen from the pictures, a little bit of damage, not that much though.  The piston has a little wear on the top as well.

A few pits, but not bad.

Here you see the wear on the top of the piston.

Piston 3

Piston 3 (cylinder #6) is by far the worst piston in the group.  More pitting has taken place.

More pitting by far than the rest of them,

This piston also has the top-end wear.

Piston 4

Fairly good condition.  A little pitting around the valve cut-outs, and the top-end wear.

Piston 5

Overall good condition, blasted top end.

Considering what the engine went through, I don't think the pistons are worn all that bad.  You can still see the original stamping on most all of them.