Fino's Sbc Build

Isn't that uneven scuffing on the piston indicating a problem? Taper, out of round cylinder?

 

The #8 piston only has the bad black scufffing on one side - the opposite side looks just like all the other and same as the #3 posted. FWIW - the blackened scuffing is on bottom or outer side of the piston only.

 

Robert Johnson fell down on his knees and prayed at the cross-roads - guess i could try that - of course, he ended up selling his soul to the devil to play the blues...maybe I could sell mine in exchange for being a competent jeep mechanic.

100% agree, but making that decision in the grey area between the two is more difficult when you have limited knowledge and experience in the subject. I appreciate the input and discussion here, and while I think for some it comes across as repetitive, every time I post, its because I've realized or thought of something new or slightly differently, more nuanced way than before. Of course, what that really means is that what some might have thought I understood previously, I really didn't - I am a very slow learner - I probably only get 10% of what people are trying to tell me the first time around. Anyway, I don't think I am willing to bite the bullet right now for a full rebuild (unless the machine shop cuts me a surprisingly good deal), but I can set the engine aside until next summer, and most likely things will be different. As the wagon is currently running (barely) with the current 283, there is less pressure to get it running asap - the issue is really just a budget and ideologically driven one. And thus when you cannot actually do, you talk about what you could, would or should do...

Chatted with the machine shop via phone (Colorado Custom Cylinder Heads) and as would be expected from a shop, they think its very unlikely that the cylinders are in good enough shape that they would be willing to just hone....but he welcomed to bring the block, crank and rods by tomorrow and let him take look, get some measurements etc and discuss options....If he is willing to hone the cylinders as is, then that is the solution....if not, then maybe I could try to hone it at home with a dingle ball set-up....Cleaning out the oil passageways would probably be the most critical part to getting any significant life out of it, and I'd really like to tank the block to ensure the passageways are clear, but that would trash the cam bearings....I'll post a pic of those - they look more like the main bearings in terms of wear as compared to the more worn rod bearings.......When I get the actual measurements, I'll post up and then will have to decide if its reasonable to even try and get away with a minimal re-assembly.

 

Went to the machine shop - had a nice discussion and got some measurements (and confirmed a few I tried to take...The block has never been bored - at the top of the bore you can still measure 4.0".....below the cylinder ring, the bores are all enlarged .010 or slightly more due to wear, and although we didn't do a ton of measurements for out of roundness, it looks to be .003-.005 in the cylinders. I am not sure I fully understand the clearance issue/measurements on the rod journal, but specifically the 7/8 journal was showing .007 clearance - apparently that would have made a heck of a rod knock. In other words, no way are they willing to just hone it....Going to set things aside for a bit and think about it, but those numbers seem a bit too much for trying a backyard budget re-assembly? May wait until spring when maybe I can expand my budget and go full rebuild...