Dimples!
Nobody ever mentioned piston rings and dimples. I found a dimple and when the dimple was aligned with a piston pin it went togther like it should.
Which doesn't explain why it was so hard to get apart...
Brent: I sent you an email about the ring set.
Dimples are pretty welcome around here
Glad to hear it made more sense.
My guess is, given the ring gaps, whoever did it the first time probably didn't pay attention to those dimples either.
I'd likely do a Mahle file fit, gap at .020 top, .024 second as a minimum for pump gas street, more won't bother it.
