I have a 1976 440 out of a motorhome, very low mileage, less than 15K. I have disassembled it and it is super clean, one exception, #8 Cylinder has a little rust, which came out with a hone. My question is, is it possible to install the piston with the old rings or should re-ring the motor. All the bearing look like they were installed yesterday. Motor is going into a 68 cuda formula s

 

IF the rings cleaned up & no rust you will probably be ok.

 

If it's already apart I would hone all cylinders and install new rings. But that's me.

 

Me too! Not going to be any closer and I would very disappointed to get back together with old rings etc into the cuda and find it isn't right. Just my thought. Good luck!

 

There is right and wrong ways to do everything and I have done both. I've spent a kings ransom on drag racing with top shelf stuff over the years but I have to admit I have slapped together several small ford motors in the early 90's with some nasty gouges in the blocks with used rings and everything else and have never seen a failure as a result of this and this was nitrous tortured street stuff, I was amazed myself many times. In most cases we are not building Nascar engines and slight stuff like you mentioned won't mater. Hone and Ring one cylinder, if needed I've done that too.

 

might be a little off the subject but. heres an idea. do put brass soft plugs in. i lock them in with JB-weld. and double check that the line ment pins for the trans are in. some times the machinist takes them. should be 1/2".

 

with stock pistions ur lucky to have a cr of 8 to 1