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To bore or not to bore? B230

1994 b230ft block (with squirters).

I just heard back from the machine shop that is looking over my block.

Good news - crank and bearings all looked good, no cracks in the block, and can use standard size new bearings for all of those. I measured just under 0.002" with red plastigage (below the lower limit).

Not great news - bores show some egg-shaped wear of (if I understood correctly) 3 to 5 thousandths. He suggested boring it to +10 thousandths and replacing pistons, which adds about $400 to the cost. The limit he said he had for bore wear (maybe piston to bore clearance?) is 2.5 thousandths, but the manual I am looking at says rebore if wear exceeds 4 thousandths *and there is excess oil consumption*.

I've never heard a peep of piston slap from this engine, nor significant oil consumption - although I had a blown head gasket going from #3 into the oilpan. Power was great. I don't think these guys are dishonest at all, but maybe mistaken?

I'd like some opinions on this before I order parts and dive in head first.
Cheers!








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    To bore or not to bore? B230

    How many miles under what conditions on the block?








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      To bore or not to bore? B230

      I had to look again - I think I put in this engine at 283k on my car, and it had 140k to start. Fairly sure the head gasket was original. I would say about 175k miles. I kept up on oil changes about every 3-5 thousand miles and if it started to look foul and was pretty good to it - stock boost and whatnot, and mostly pedestrian driving with occasional long freeway trips.








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        To bore or not to bore? B230

        Admittedly, I’m a “take care of all the other stuff in the way while I’m in there” kind of guy. If motor’s out and you ‘re going to all this trouble, and the shop you trust has suggested a clean up overbore - I wouldn’t think twice. I’d have the bore cleaned up.







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