[Wrecked944]

Okay, following Chris' sage advice, I called both EBS and USChrome and asked about the cylinder head ring. Here is what they said:

EBS

The 3.0 liter 95mm cylinders can be bored to 98mm but the reduced piston ring groove will present a weakened mating surface for the cylinder head. No lifeguard on duty. Swim at your own risk.

The 3.2 liter 95mm cylinders had no such piston ring groove and are more suitable candidates for the 98mm conversion and can possibly be attached to SC engines with good results.

USChrome

Cylinders can be machined and plated to whatever specs you want. They've done both kinds of overbores. But you'll need to know what you want and perhaps a consult with an engine expert would be in order (see lifeguard warning above).

Okay, if you have any exaggerated notions about my automotive competence, please read my disclaimer in an earlier post. I can't really evaluate any of these claims for validity. I can only report them as is. For instance, what does "weakened mating surface" mean? Does it mean there is a theoretical weakness or does it mean that overbored cylinders have failed in real life? I looked very closely at CamB's p/c picture, but realized I have no idea what to look for. And if the cylinder head has had a sealing ring attached for 20 years, how will it feel when it suddenly meets one of those "3.2 liter 95mm overbored to 98mm" cylinders who doesn't have a ring? Wasn't the ring there for a reason?

I am flying over uncharted terrain here. Cluefactor Zero, Captain. Perhaps we can lure John Walker or Roland into this and they can settle it in two seconds or less.

Thanks,