I still believe "If you are gonna play.....ya gotta pay". I have way too many times gone the cheaper route buying something, then when it breaks right away buying the good one anyway . Do it right the first time.

 

"AH64"
The "TRW's" are a very good piston, old design and very heavy but they work.
The reason they gall the skirts and rock in the bore is everyone runs them way to tight. That is were the problem comes in.
If you are going to beat on them, you need .005 piston to cyl wall clearance and you need to hone the piston pin hole to give you .001 clearance on the pin.
If you use the numbers I gave, you will never have a problem. I have done many and I know they work. Mine have been in there for 11 years. I will say it has slowed to 11.20's now and I should freshen it up. But, hey it is not broke so why fix it.

Gene

 

Btw I didn't literally blow up my rear end just parts failure from abuse on 40 year old parts.

 

The Little Engine that could is not dead yet. The block is good and being rebuilt as Ala Frankenstein's Monster. Parts from at least 4 different Olds 350s are being used to cobble together an engine.

 

thats good to hear.