Memory is failing me and this question may help a newby.
What would happen if you just replaced the rings without reboring the engine (of course with new bearings).
I ask because if it can be done without reboring, it would save some money or is this just a bad idea. It is my 67 289 I'm asking about.
Quote from: Carolina Boy on October 31, 2009, 11:23:36 PM
Memory is failing me and this question may help a newby.
What would happen if you just replaced the rings without reboring the engine (of course with new bearings).
I ask because if it can be done without reboring, it would save some money or is this just a bad idea. It is my 67 289 I'm asking about.
a lot is going to depend on the clearances that you find when you disassemble the motor. if the cylinder bore numbers are good, and the cylinder is 'round' (this is important) AND the pistons measure ok and 'round' you probably won't have a problem. just make sure you hone the cylinders properly before you pop those rings back on the pistons and into the block.
another thing to watch out for is a 'ledge' at or near the top of the cylinder. if this is noticeable you might want to cut it down assuming all other numbers are ok.
i did a set of rings only on a real old 283 chevy a long time ago and even though the thing had cylinders and pistons nearly swapping holes they were so loose; the new rings gave me another 20 thousand before i had to retire the thing.
also look for scratches in the cylinder walls up and down, alot of times these wont hone out. Like srt said look at the ring ridge usually just below the ring ridge edge is the deepest wear. Their is a napa up here that does machine work they did mine everything plus cam bearings and hot tank for 300. check down their see if your napas machine. but then i had almost 400 in the rest of the parts. But still not to bad while you have the engine apart.
I didn't think it was a good idea. to many possible setbacks. I just needed to hear it again from yall. I will go ahead and do what I've always done and rebore even if it does mean buying new pistons, better safe than sorry. Anyways, as heavy footed as I am, i'd most likely blow it and have to get a new engine. Thanks for the straightening out.
CB dont mean to be debbie downer. but i would check into putting hardened seats in the heads. the older heads were not hardened and the unleaded fuels today might make them swallow the valves.
yea. smallfrye, I had planned on that. I swallowed a valve in the Torino 390 I had. What a mess!