Reply to "500 BHP 351 Cleveland"

Yes,

the pistons of a 4" stroke crank using a 6" rod will intersect the oil ring groove as in Kevin's picture, and it will cause "some" oil burning, but David's is way excessive. The last I had heard David you were going to use non synthetic oil in an attempt to seal the rings.

Here's something to consider. Another Pantera owner recently resolved an oil burning issue that had been busting his balls. It was a brand new motor, professionally built & they could not locate the source of the oil burning. Turns out that while the builder machined the heads for adjustable valve train, they employed a tapered tap to extend the threads further down the rocker stud bosses. The tapered tap has a pointed end. That pointed end of the tap actually broke through and put pin size holes into the intake ports. Even though these bosses had studs & guide plates tightened down inside them, they still allowed oil by and into the intake ports. The final solution was pipe sealant on the rocker studs, the oil burning has been resolved.

cowboy from hell