I have two things going:

1) I have gone brain dead, I have domed pistons 10:1 and don't know if the valve releves in the pistons go facing the right side of the motor (starter side) of the left side.

2) I don't know if I am usings the ring compressor wrong or if the rings are sicking out to much,but I cann;t get the pistions to drop in to the cylender and I don't want to beat the piss out of them if something is not right. About how inches ext should stick out side the ring groove .021 gap

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225+0.080 at 10:1
268cam
holley 390
clifford headers
8 3/4 355's lsd
kh brakes
electronic ing

I was taught to put the piston with rings head first into a bowl of oil to prep the rings, piston, and wrist pin before installing into the block....

-D.Idiot

Did you put the rings (without pistons) in the bore to get the gap right?

Did you drop the pistons in the bore (without rings) to check clearances?

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Ummm here also.Starter is on the left side if I'm reading your post correctly.Did you gap the rings? A good "racheting" ring conpressor is the best kind and slather everything with oil like D.Idiot says.I don't know from valve reliefs but I would think that matching them up with head should work.If everything has been bored,honed,gaped etc and all slippy slidey with oil you'll still need to tap the pistons in as they won't "drop" in.Plus every piston I've messed with including custom built ones were marked to show "front" of engine.Am I missing something here? I need more coffee

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83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

ive had few probs with just using the handle side of a dead blow to give it one good wack into. the more you play and beat on it the more dings you can put in it. just make sure the rings are compresed all the way down when you wack at it

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'72 Valiant DD for over a decade-225-Disc brakes, big T-bars, big Sway bars f/r, carter bbd/super six, GM HEI, 2- 12" subs in trunk, 1000w amp...
'77 cherokee cheif widetrack-360-33x12.5 tires-no lift. keeps driveway dry-project/backup DD/mudder