Ruined Shortblock/unknown future

[Rick Parker]

My son has been working on a redoing a 91 Mustang GT. Several months ago he purchased an assembled Bullitt 347 Stroker shortblock made with a Dart Block, Forged Steel crank, Scat rods, Ross blower pistons. All nice stuff. The short block has been covered and on an engine stand since December when I helped him dial in the cam. Today he was going to install the heads and begin the final assembly. He rotated the block upright and said he saw some small abrading beads (?) laying in the machined relief of one of the pistons. He says they came from the water jackets. While attempting to get them out, 1 or 2 or (?) rolled out of the relief and down between the piston and cylinder wall. At that point he attempted to flush it out with carb cleaner, cranked the piston upwards, flushed some more and then cranked the piston to the bottom. It was then that he saw a score created in the cylinder wall. He pulled the pan and removed the piston and rod assembly and the piston had a definate scribe in the upper portion of the above the top ring lands (no big deal) it will clean up with some carefull file work or wet or dry 400 grit sand paper, but the cylinder will definately have to have a hone put in it at this point. What I'm concerned about is that if the mark will not clean up without material removal then the clearances are compromised on that cylinder and it will neccesitate an overbore, new pistons and subsequent rebalance. Anyone ever run into a similar situation. This engine is set up for a supercharger with AFR 205 heads and Jessel shaft rockers. A lot of planning and to have this happen is heartbreaking to say the least.

PS: I had earlier associated Dart and Man-O-War. This is not correct. They are different products entirely.