Worn Engine

[alzax3]

Having started to dismantle the traveller's tired old 948, (high compression) which had cylinder compression of 120psi, rising to 145 with oil - The outside of the whole engine was covered with a thick coat of black dusty oil, the top of head was dry and 1/4" thick with crumbly dry greasy muck, pushrods came out with the head because they were working in a 'plug' of the stuff. (don't know how it kept going, not surprised it was gutless and smoked!) I've come across a surprise.

Haven't measured them yet, but the bores look to be unworn (!) no 'step' at the top at all, and no visible scoring (could be oval, as I said I haven't checked) so the question is: could all these symptoms be down to worn rings? Would the rings wear when the bores weren't? Is there something else that could cause the same symptoms?

[bmcecosse]

Could well be - pull the pistons. Maybe the block has been linered - although that wasn't common with 948/1098 blocks.