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Old 05-11-2015, 08:45 AM   #39 (permalink)
cosmick
Experienced UAW Mechanic
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Bear Lake
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As low as 100 will drive, but I'm at 4500' elevation, and up here we consider 140 as low and around 190 as normal for a high-mileage LSx V8. A new crate 5.7L V8 from Chevy cranks around 205-210 at sea level, so 120-130 is giving up an awful lot.
Go to Harbor Freight and get a $20 cylinder hone, go to RockAuto.com and order gaskets and rings, do the whole job yourself for under $300.
Also research the correct cranking compression for your engine back when it was new. If it wasn't near 200, then you'll likely also need to figure out what your engine takes to have earlier intake valve closing. Possibly adjustable timing sprockets, possibly much more.
Actually, research that first. Doing a re-ring is a good chance to swap in higher-compression pistons, possibly have the heads shaved, whatever.
10.0:1 static compression at this elevation gives the same results as 8.5:1 at sea level, so running 11.5:1 up here is no problem, and is better for MPG.
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