Cars - "Rotating" Pistons & Cylinders?

Hi Mel,

Reinstalling all engine components in the same position they came off, is
done so that the parts will continue to wear on the same wear patterns as
before.
Otherwise, the engine will break-in again, needing some time to "erase" the
old wear patterns and then create new wear patterns. This procedure will
take much longer than on new parts, and may never manage to properly break
in. Plus much more wear is created on the already old components.

The wear pattern on the Pistons an Cylinders is most of all related to the
way the cylinder sits on the engine case. It is related to how much off is
the cylinder from being exactly vertical to the case, and to the deck height
which has to do with the wear marks of the piston rings on the cylinder
walls, as well as with the compression ratio. There are variations in the
way the cylinders sit on the case, so altering the position of the
cylinders, is not a good thing.

If you cannot "remember" where the cylinders came off, and you want to do a
correct rebuild, then you should have the cylinders rehoned and install new
rings on the pistons. Then recheck the deck height on all cylinders.

If you just expect a few more thousand miles from a crap engine, then it
doesn't matter how you install them, just hope for good luck.

Bill,
'67 Bug.

"Mel P." > wrote in message
...
> I'm rebuilding a 40 HP engine. I know to keep the pistons and cylinders
> for
> each position together. But is there any problem in putting them in
> different position. For instance, the P&C #4 be reinstalled in the #1
> position.
>
> --
> Mel P.
>
>