how much abuse can a stock piston take

[73-charger-383]

I pulled out an old 383 out of a 68 Monaco 500.  It was stuck solid and I ended up having to tear it completely down in order to get the pistons out.  The rings were pretty solid - as were the pins.  In getting them out I left a couple of dents in the top of the pistons (I was pretty sure I would have to bore it and get new pistons anyways).  After I got them out I was surprised to see that the cylinders aren't nearly as bad as I thought they would be.  -- now I'm wondering if I can just get by with rings and bearings instead.  - I will realistically only end up putting on maybe 1000 miles a year when it's complete...would you guys bite the bullet and get new pistons, or do you think that it's worth reassembling it and giving it a go?

[RallyeMike]

I think one of the questions is why was it stuck? Typically, assuming the rotating assy is still all together, its because a ring is rusted to the cylinder which may need boring. It really depends on how bad it is.

If I was doing a low budget build, and if everything else looked good, and if the dings on the tops of the pistons were small.... I'd have no problem putting it back together with the dinged stock pistons.

[73-charger-383]

yeah, I think it just ended up sitting for a long time and the rings froze up.  The bearings didn't really look at that terrible.  I was really surprised at how solid the pins were though.  I had to press them back and forth with a ton a lube on them for 20 minutes or so apiece before they loosened up.

[Lord Warlock]

My experience has always proven that whenever the block is out and torn down, it only makes sense to put all new parts in it before putting it together...unless you live on a farm and have to just make do as far as fixing stuff goes.  A set of pistons really doesn't cost that much  in comparison, same with bearings, way better to put them in now than having to do it again later.