Rering or use the old rings (not reboring).. Dialup warning!!
 

Took this 5.0 that I recently acquired apart.. Oops, some background.. Me and zoomin bought that convertible that was for sale here a few months ago, he got the chassis, I got the engine... Bought it, apparently had a 'recent rebuild' and a bigger cam (Looks doubtful), and assorted other stuff.. I don't really knwo waht I'm looking for in this engine, but.. anyways, Did a leakdown test.. about 10% in all cylinders except 8, which had about 30.. So I ripped the heads off, and found a really oily valve.. For the time being, I'm going to assume thats my problem with the leakdown.. So, since I was in this far and rather curious (Stupid?) I pulled the piston out.. There was a ridge at the top, tried to use a ridge reamer, no dice, that just kind of gouged below the ring (haven't figured out why it did that either.. Blade was flat.. anyways).. Don't think the gouge is enough to harm anything, but the fact that there is a ridge (on half the cylinder, closer ot the top) leads me to believe a recent rebuild isn't that recent.. especially considering they are the stock forged pistons (1988). All the gaskets were new however, looks semi clean in there.. Little orangy though, although the pictures might exaggerate it.. Overheated? I dunno.. So anyways, I was going to just hone the cylinders and buy new rings while I was in there, but some people have told me don't use new rings on an unbored cylinders.. But a Hayes manual I was just reading says always use new rings when putting cylinders back in. A bore isn't in the cards right now, seeing as I still have the rest of the car to assemble, maybe later.. Is it a bad idea to just hone and use new rings? Wouldn't new rings be slightly wider than the old worn ones anyways and help a bit? Someone told me it will smash against the ridge (I'd take donw the ridge anyways) and will smash in the cylinder because it's oval shapes now... I haven't measured the bore yet, but wouldn't a ring just contort to the shape of the cylinders anyways? What do you guys think. A rering kit is about $200 from summit.. Even that is pushing the budget considering I still have the rest of the car to go (1967 fastback).. Basically, it comes down to, reuse old rings, or put new rings on.. Also, shoudl I get new head bolts, or is it not absolutely necessary? What about studs? Ahh.. Help please..

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gkrikorian/oilpan1.JPG

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gkrikorian/oilpan2.JPG

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gkrikorian/oilpan3.JPG

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gkrikorian/oilpan4.JPG

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gkrikorian/oilpan5.JPG

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gkrikorian/rockers2.JPG

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gkrikorian/pistons1.JPG

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gkrikorian/pistons2.JPG

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gkrikorian/pistons3.JPG

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gkrikorian/pistons4.JPG

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gkrikorian/pistons5.JPG

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gkrikorian/pistons6.JPG

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gkrikorian/pistons7.JPG

well i dont know if this helps you much, but when i was a kid, my moms boyfriend and i ripped apart my 80cc honda dirt bike and honed out the cylinder, and used NEW rings.

made a big difference.

good luck in your quest!