piston rings

Hastings recommend 220-280 grit hones for all 3 ring types. Other recommendations are for low 200's for iron and high 200's to low 300's for moly faced. see here:
https://www.hastingsmfg.com/ServiceTips/cylinder_bore_refinishing.htm

The OP is likely to end up with moly faced rings for this engine (not full moly). Keep in mind that the 2nd ring will be cast iron. The Hastings rings that come from EngineTech are not a full moly top ring; there is a moly 'insert facing' in the top ring with cast iron uppper and lower ring edges.

A lot of what is being forgotten is that cylinder taper and roundness have lot to do with a re-ring job sealing. I will be that the guys who have put in rings and ended up with success with or without honing had good round bores with little taper. So any of us just saying that a re-ring with or without a hone job will work out well is not complete adivce; the bores need to be checked first. I have done one engine with bore tapers in the range of .003" to .008" and it ran, but it was not ever right; I was a poor student at the time.


True, but if he just wants a quick "refresh" it will still benefit as it should seal better than it did with the old worn out parts....

It's not "by the book", but it is better than waiting until it gets worse before fixing it....