[Jeff Higgins]

Hey, afterburn, the XXX Root Beer drive-in is still going strong out in Issaquah. We don't meet for breakfast there anymore, but we still have a car show once a year. Breakfast has moved accross town.

I would have to agree with asphalt gambler regarding pistons for hi-po HD applications - replace the stock ones if that is your goal. The KB "eutectic" pistons, however, have a horrible reputation for failure - like the entire top half seperating from the wrist pin bosses. I would go Wiseco or JE, with a normal forged piston.

As far as ring position on pistons, every motor I have ever built and subsequently rebuilt has had the ring gaps in different positions than when I built it. I religiosly space them 120 degrees apart, with no gap on the wrist pin axis or 90 degrees to it. I have yet to tear down a motor and find them still in that orientation. It's my understanding that all rings walk around the pistons, regardless of engine type, ring type, piston type, etc. So, to think you cannot re-use prefectly good pistons, cylinders, and rings because the clocking of the rings has been disturbed is simply incorrect. It gets disturbed by running the motor.

Granted, my engine building experience is probably no match for some others on this forum, but I have built my fair share. Big block MOPAR drag motors, Bug motors, Harley motors (Shovels and Ironheads), 911 motors, and now one Ducati motor. What I state above is based on my personal experiences. YMMV...