you might want those 0.030 over pistons. I have never built a US engine with any miles on it to speak of that would still meet the piston to cylinder clearance specs with standard bore.

 

ya, but like .030 is a lot, maybe like .010 or maybe .020 wouldnt you think? and if i haul *** to Autozone by 11, can i get a micrometer there?

 

Dude listen to me. You are going about this bass akwards. You are ordering parts and you don't know what shape the engine is in. You say you can't use the original pistons because they are rusted. How is that posible when the pistons are aluminum? Aluminum doen't rust. An inside dial micrometer to do the job right in not $2.89. It will run you $100 or better. I'm getting the impression that you have not built a motor before. If this is the first one for you my recomendation is to ask around and find a good machine shop. Take them the short block, have them tear it down and give you a qoute to make it right. The cheapest you will get out for is rings, bearings and hone the cylinders. I can tell you though it will take more than that. There is a lot more to building a motor than just a tear down and replacing parts. I just sent mine to the machine shop. He tanked it, replaced one new piston, honed it, polished the crank new bearings and rings, assembled the short block for $450. TRUST ME! It was worth every penny.

 

ya...this is my first engine rebuild ,lol, thats why im here. i'd rather do it myself, i dont care what anyone says, im here for the experience and to screw up its life, we do it. as for the pistons, i **** you not, there is rust on them. ill get a pic if need to. Anyway, i just measuered the piston to cylinder clearance with a thickness gauge and it gave me a reading of about .09in. (then again, i mean this engine has rolled the friggin odometer over)

I assume i should bore it out then eh?

edit* maybe there isnt rust, i assumed it because this car had run without a hood for a while and water supposedly leaked down into the carb and down into the cylinders. it might just be dirt/grime/burn marks/oil/whatever, but i dont feel safe using 32 year old pistons anyway

 

If ya gotta do it ya self then I would get a book on rebuilding engines. Even your basic Chiltons has a how to section on motor rebuilding. Either that or just surf the net. There has to be some good stuff out there.