If it aint broke don't fix it. The bores still had cross hatching when I got the block, to me that means that the bores are still good, but that's just me. I am trying to avoid all of the machining that I can, i'ts a pain to keep taking it back to the machinist and hear his I-told-you-so speech again and again 
No, but seriously, the bores are fine, why mess up a good thing? I have to buy pistons regardless why spend the extra 100 bones if I don't have to time will tell, I'll find out tomorrow, completely forgot about it today. I'll be sure to take some pics too.
cross hatches or not, i pulled my last 1.5 apart (single owner, never been taken apart, EVER) and it had 125k miles on it, and the bores still had cross hatching in them, and only a slight lip. there was still cross hatching in those cylinders too, so im sure your cross hatching is old also. i just wouldnt half ass the pistons/bores. but if you drop your new pistons in, and there at .001" spec, then run it, but if its any looser, i would bore it and go over size. i just dont see why you are gonna skimp on such an important step (in my eyes) and you are willing to splurge on such un-important things such as a complete aftermarket oil system. i think i would rather bore the block, than go with the oil system if it were me, and if i were on a limited budget. i just dont get your method of thinking sometimes is all...
when i built my last engine, no, i did not bore it. but, it has a piston and rod out of a completely different engine. and the bottom of the bore is broken. it still runs great, but i can tell its not right. it has a cold miss that goes away, and uses some oil, more than i would like. by not boring your engine, you are just asking for lots of blow by, and an engine that burns plenty of oil.
i just wouldnt take the chance unless its still at stock VW spec (or atleast super close for piston to cylinder wall clearance.
I'm not on a budget build per-se, just frugal "the mods don't like it when I use a certain ethnic word, even though I am one"
I will spec it out for sure.
76.98 thats oversize, and that is what I need
Brand new Kolbenschmidt 76.98 turbo pistons is what I have. Stamped right across the top of the piston.
76.98 thats oversize, and that is what I need
whats your bore mic out at? have you checked yet? how tapered are the bores? how is the ridge at the top of the bore?
hold on, I have to dig up the ol mic
Ok, I have a set of calipers, best reading I can get says 76.92, what is the best way to get an accurate reading? or am I using the wrong tool for the job?
There is absolutely no ridge at the top of the bore, just to be clear. I gotta be doing something wrong when measuring, it is a digital set of calipers, and yes, I zeroized and calibrated them properly before use.
so in other words, I need to get my machinist to do it for me.... 80 bucks for a guage is not what I was expecting
Thanks Vince, I'll figure something out. I want to do this myself, but it seems that that may not be the case.
Probably a good idea. They are an acquired skill to use as well... in terms of repeatability.... for a one-off handing it off to a guy that does this for a living might make sense.
I have a set but I mostly use them to predict how bad the news from the machinist is likely to be.
be worried till then