Thanks again Tubs. Any help with the ring gap?
Its been suggested to me that .004 per inch is the gap to shoot for if you don’t have a factory spec. Its what I go by. RW’s recommendation of .005 per inch is good as well. The rings expand from the heat, so a couple thousands over is better than not enough. Its a bad thing if the gap closes up, and the rings bind in the cylinder. You should use your best judgment. I’ve pinched rings in with my fingers in the past. As you get older you’ll find that things that use to be easy begin to get more difficult. For me those $15.00 ring compressors make getting the rings in a cylinder really easy again. I wouldn’t have mined if someone had told me about them sooner.
A "Boathouse Repair" is one thats done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.