Yes Stew, it is my opinion, and yes it is the opinion of a person who has yet to finish putting together his first flathead v8.
So you have much more experience than I. Probably because I live in a country where likely the numbers of v8s equal (my wild guess) 1 in 200 engines.(but climbing, by way of Toyotas)
What I do know is that engine specifications are derived from experience established by the various motor manufacturers, Ford included.
These specifications are recommendations for clearances in engines that are going to run within a given heat range. Any thing else is going to give a shorter and less reliable life.
You may not have been concerned about that and running your boat engine at 120 degrees was o.k. by you. I would suggest your piston to bore clearance was excessive and that if you were after the best performance out of it, it should have been running at about the 200degrees F.
My recommendations are to help those who are not necessarily from a mechanical background, to try and give them the best possible all round result.
Many of us have been lucky doing things that don't meet specs. Luck often gets us through, but not always. I guess i'm a bit of a perfectionist.
Anyhow Stew, we both live in different countries and no doubt we see some things differently. Our varying views help others to come to their own conclusions about how they proceed with their projects, you at one end of the spectrum and me at the other. It makes for an enriched forum.
I look forward to maybe meeting you one day.
