Doug, Excellent point.
Never thought about how new rings, new rod bearings and new crank bearings would raise the height of the top ring on each piston, and possibly run into the old "ring ridge". Interesting!
JD, When you get back from Hilton Head, pull the oil pan before that re-thread, stripped nut and/or bolt haunts you.
Did you try to torque, a different nut before you did the re-thread? Sometimes a nut will not torque because the bolt is weak and twisting within itself, gettin ready to snap.
Re-threading a connecting rod bolt doesn't sound like a good thing to do. Never did it, but I would think you could replace just the bolt.
