Started tearing down my 8BA today I have a few questions

[Russco]

This motor is out of my coupe it was in there when I bought the car I know nothing else about it. I have put several thousand miles on it in the last 3 or 4 years. It always seemed to run ok but it was just really lazy, I have a stock (other than Bubbas Dist.)8BA in my 51 that would run circles around this one. It also had alot of blow by and used oil on road trips and didnt carry much oil pressure when warmed up, 35psi or so at best hardly anything at idle. It also has the taller oil pump and modified oil pan on it. I noticed what looked like coolant leaking from a couple spots around the heads too, so I finally pulled it out and started tearing it apart. So far here is what I've found.
The Pistons are marked STD. when measuring the bore at the top of the cylinders I'm getting 3.205-3.208 and oddly there really is no wear ridge at the top of the cylinder just a bit of carbon bulid up that scraped off easily. I can see no visible cracks anywhere on the head mating surface. It has Adjustible lifters and the hole for the fuel pump rod has a plug welded in it.
The #1 cylinder bore is a bit buggared up at the top. Looking for advice on the rebuild and anything to look for when tearing the rest apart. Here are a few pics of the top end.
I see the 4" kits from Speedway with rods and pistons and are balanced any thought on those? Thanks in advance Mike

[fordman67]

I was told by the local balance shop that mose assys bought already balanced were not of similar quality that he puts out.most that he had seen were not even close and most factory engines were closer.I tend to put much weight in what he says as he has been doing it longer than I have been alive! Hahahaha

[flatjack9]

Originally Posted by fordman67

I was told by the local balance shop that mose assys bought already balanced were not of similar quality that he puts out.most that he had seen were not even close and most factory engines were closer.I tend to put much weight in what he says as he has been doing it longer than I have been alive! Hahahaha

I wouldn't trust their balancing. Got a 4" kit and one the rods had never even been sized properly, neither the big or the small end. Would you trust that?. Also, standard bore is 3.1875. Someone probably removed the old ridge and put the pistons back in with a new set of rings. Nice.

[rotorwrench]

A kit might have one part that is desirable and another that is not. Mercury motors and crankshafts are still out there but you have to shop for a useable crank. Generally you can come up with an acceptable one for less money that a Skat. Some pistons fit better than others. It's hard to beat a good set of original con rods unless you have a bunch of funds stashed away.

Kerby

[Junknshit]

Are two of the pistons different, or am I seeing things? The two to the right of the pic of 3 and 1/3 cyls.

[Russco]

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Originally Posted by Junknshit

Are two of the pistons different, or am I seeing things? The two to the right of the pic of 3 and 1/3 cyls.

No thats just the flash from the camera reflecting off the cylinder walls.