Scratched cylinder

[OldRedFord]

What are the options to clean up a scratch in a cylinder wall? It would be nice if I do not have to shell out the cash for new pistons. The scratch is extremely fine. Its not deep or big enough to be felt.

What would happen if I ignored it?

[BobbyFord]

Scratch is there after honing?

[OldRedFord]

Havent honed the bores yet.

[1971ford]

Hone them, then see if it's still there?

[Ranchero50]

Forst of all, what is the intended usage and application, Miles per year / light or heavy duty work? I wouldn't bother with honing, it doesn't fill in scratches, just remove the metal around them.

Rebore or leave it alone, half measures not worh the poor results.

Jamie

[averagef250]

Jamie, I disagree a bit.

Appropriate berry honing will deglaze the cylinder wall. Moreso, pulling the piston out, taking the rings off and inspecting everything should give you a reason why there's a line in the cylinder wall.

infrequent oil changes, running to rich or just overheating and coking oil in ring lands can cause cylinder wall issues. There's no reason to be affraid of removing .0002" of material from a cylinder wall with agressive berry honing. If you do it right, just to break the glaze and crosshatch the walls you remove material that's difficult to measure.

[fordman]

i didnt say anything.

[jhndrrus]

Ooops I dont know why but I got the Fordman & Ranchero50 mixed up. sorry guys! I guess they call that a loose nut behind the keyboard.

[OldRedFord]

Usage? Daily driver. Bottom end has new bearings also. Got to take it down one last time to have the cam bearings changed and put in the smaller cam I decided to go with.

When I got the new rings, I put the ring in the bore and squared the ring up in the bore and measured the end gap with a feeler gauge. Did this at three different points in each bore. The marks are up near the top of the cylinder, almost to the top. Leads me to believe I did it when I took the ring out after measuring.

In a few years I plan on tearing the engine down again and building a 521 or a 466.

[Ranchero50]

I wouldn't worry about it if they are just install marks, the rings will clean them up in a couple minutes of time.

Jamie