Once more, I don't think you got a ring problem, it's worn valve guides. You don't know what this mechanic did to the head. If he didn't bother to clean things up and assure that there was oil flow then he might not have even looked at the guides. He might have just tried to lap in the valves to get a little more life out of it before spending $400 or $500 to do it right.
On installing new rings in a worn cylinder. If your rings are worn then you can be sure that the cylinders are worn also. Chances are there will be a ridge at the top and probably some taper. So even if you use a ridge reamer and hone the cylinders, your still going to have the taper and your still going to have to come up with some sort of a compromise when you fit all the rings to each cylinder.
Just get a good valve job done for now with new valves (they’re cheap) and guides and see how she runs after that. An hour or so to get it off and an hour or so to reinstall it and a good auto machine shop should have the head back to you in a couple of days.
Can’t help ya on the Pontiac, Fred’s probably got the right idea, try Keith’s TOCMP.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
