True, and I think it would be easier to take readings from. How important is it to measure the pistons. I they are out of spec should it be visible? I'm hoping the bores are within spec, so I can hone it and get the pistons nice and clean, reinstall with new goetze rings and get my compression back. Last time I looked which was 20k miles ago I could still see the cross hatch but there was some crud on the pistons so thinking it may just be sticking rings on one or two cylinders.
I'll also be able to check how the chinese head casting has coped over that mileage.