I wasn't talking about a picture of the boat. I was referring to the
actual cylinder. Something like this
http://members.cox.net/onebigguy/100_0180.JPG

Frank wrote:
I wasn't talking about a picture of the boat. I was referring to the
actual cylinder. Something like this
http://members.cox.net/onebigguy/100_0180.JPG


You got a photo of John Herring's cylinder head?


--
We today have a president of the United States who looks like he is the
son of Howdy Doody or Alfred E. Newman, who isn't smarter than either of
them, who is arrogant about his ignorance, who is reckless and
incompetent, and whose backers are turning the United States into a pariah.

What, me worry?

(Frank) wrote in message . com...
Cool! I'm rebuilding the 454 in my Sea Ray and man what a job. My
question is, what is the most I can take of the cylinders and still
use stock pistons? Some water go into 3 cylinders last year and left
some pitting. After a lot of honing most of it is gone, but I thing
some machining will be necessary. I can post some pics if it helps.
Thanks.

Frank: you can have the cylinders bored out by a good engine rebuild
shop. They'll determine how much - 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 thousandths of
an inch - based on the depth of the rust pits. They'll also advise you
on the limits required to keep using the stock pistons.

Ideally, you don't want to increase bore diameter more than necessary.
I've gone 20 thou over with stock pistons. Any more and you risk
increased piston slap; it happens when the pistons rock from side to
side during travel. When this occurs, the piston skirts experience
more shock and can start fracturing over time.

However, if the honing has pretty much removed the pits and there's
little more than a surface stain left... and you can't really feel a
change in surface smoothness when you drag a fingernail over it... you
can assemble the engine with a new set of rings on the stock pistons
and it will run just fine. Be sure, though, to put an old ring in each
bore and measure the end gap with feeler guages at the top, middle and
bottom of the cylinder. This will give you an idea of what the run-out
is. If it's only a few of thousandths of an inch, you'll be fine. If
it's like 10 thou or more, you should bore to get them all uniform.

You can buy new ring sets that have enough 'meat' on them for
hand-fitting. You slip the rings into the bores, find the smallest
diameter in the travel path, file the end gaps until you get them just
right. There are specs to keep in mind (usually come in the box) - you
want enough gap so they have room to expand when heated up yet not too
much to pass oil and allow blow-by (compression leakage). You also
want to stagger your ring gaps so that they are at opposites to each
other - i.e. the second ring gap is 180 degrees opposite to the top
ring gap, and on down. If you line them all up (as some guys have
done), you get max blow-by and oil consumption.

For those of you who wonder... I am new to this group, a retired
mechanic with 35 years' experience, and own a great 24' Doral Tara
running a 4.3L Chev V-6 thru an Alpha One Merc outdrive.

(Frank) wrote in message . com...
Cool! I'm rebuilding the 454 in my Sea Ray and man what a job. My
question is, what is the most I can take of the cylinders and still
use stock pistons? Some water go into 3 cylinders last year and left
some pitting. After a lot of honing most of it is gone, but I thing
some machining will be necessary. I can post some pics if it helps.
Thanks.


use a piston and push a ring down into the bore. measure the gap and
compare to spec.
im guessing if you "honed" pitting out of the bore you are going to
need to oversize.

Dougie,
Thanks for your thorough reply; I feel like I have a handle on it now.
I have a Mercruiser manual with all the specs and will be sure to
follow them closely. Luckily, my neighbor was an accomplished
machinist (he's passed on now but his wife kept everything) so I have
access to the right tools. Thanks again.

SEA-SAW 35' jason out of noank,ct. there is also
a life other than boats.

alex wrote:
SEA-SAW 35' jason out of noank,ct.

You mean like a Jason 35 sailboat?

.... there is also a life other than boats.


HERESY HERESY

Arise and smite the unbeliever!!

DSK

On Wed, 22 Sep 2004 10:02:07 -0400, DSK wrote:

alex wrote:
SEA-SAW 35' jason out of noank,ct.

You mean like a Jason 35 sailboat?

.... there is also a life other than boats.


HERESY HERESY

Arise and smite the unbeliever!!

STONE HIM - STONE HIM!!!!! [1]

And while we're at it, let's burn him too.

And then we'll draw and quarter him.

After we hang him.

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717

[1] Always enjoy a good stoning.

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717


I was on a destroyer during Vietnam (2 tours over there) and we actually
tied up alongside another destroyer that denied the whole crew liberty,
including officers, until morale improved!!!
Gordon

On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 00:14:48 GMT, "Gordon" wrote:



"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717


I was on a destroyer during Vietnam (2 tours over there) and we actually
tied up alongside another destroyer that denied the whole crew liberty,
including officers, until morale improved!!!

Dumbass Navy. ;)

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717