JWysenski762 0 Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 i finaly started doing my conversion! i ordered the parts from tapco but havent goten them yet, but i already started doing the conversion work. i removed the old fire controll group, floor plate, and moved the trigger guard up. every thing has gone smoothly so far. the hardest part was actuly getting a screw in the mag realease to re mount the trigger guard. verry easy so far. but i was wondering what all is involved in replacing the piston (you get a free one from tapco with the fcg/ pg combo). i know how to drill out the old pin but where do i get a new pin (for cheap, ie. not online)? also ive had my eye on the folding skeleton stock for the ak 74. looks like it could be riveted in. any one have experience on these? or know where to get a non folding skeleton stock of the same style? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vjor 2 Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 Hey, PM me, I have some stock left over stainless steel rod (316), 1/8 and 1/16 of an inch I can ship you couple of inches to make pins, tell me what you want 1/8 or 1/16 of and inch, you pay shipping. SaigaShooter use it on his conversion; ask him about size he uses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SaigaShooter 0 Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 Replacing the piston is super easy, you need 2 cobalt drill bits 1\16" (3/32" also works) and a 5/32", and a piece of 1/16" thick stainless steel rod. ***This may not be the right way to do it, but it's worked for me on two Saigas*** Drill out the peened area on the carrier with the 5/32" bit, and remove the piston from the carrier. This requires alot of WD-40, and maybe a rubber mallet. With the piston out, clean out any crap in the threads on the carier. Screw in the new piston in and make sure everything looks right. Unscrew the piston, and put some thread locker on the threads, now screw it back in. Get a 1/16" (3/32" also works) cobalt drill bit and drill through the piston. You might want to use a press, because the hole has to be perfectly straight through the piston. Now take your piece of stainless steel rod and put it into the hole through the piston. now peen one end over so it fills in the area you drilled out of the carrier. Turn the carrier over, and repeat on the other side. At this point, you can either weld over the new pin like I did (because I'm paranoid) or leave it as is. Finish the carrier with whatever you want (paint, marker, cold blue) An alternative way I've heard of is, putting in the new piston with thread locker, and mashing the threads with a nail set through the hole in the carrier. To me, this seems unsafe, but thats just me. If you'd like, I have some rod left over that was sent to me by Vjor, which I can send to you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
k_dawg 0 Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 I was able to find the right size/diameter pin at my local ACE hardware store. I just used a dremel cutting bit to cut it to the right length. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jon elia 0 Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 drilling out the old pin...i've seen it just tapped out with a pin punch...then use a 16 penny nail as your new pin.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SaigaShooter 0 Posted June 20, 2005 Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 The Saiga dosen't have a pin in it's stock form, it just has metal from the carrier mashed into the pistons threads. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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