440 Pistons, How F*cked am I
I'd clean it up and use it, here's why:
1. You just said it was for yourself.
2. I've done worse when I was young and had no $$$...Ran excellent
3. A different piston will more than likely be a vastly different weight
4. Different piston? Now you need to press it off properly and get the (different one pressed on properly)
5. Major time and hassle savings to put in the bank.
Cast aluminum pistons of that era are quite robust and thick and where you damaged that piston is just in about the best place you could ask. As long as the rod moves freely I'd dress it down and once the oil pans on, forget about it. I dropped a 360 piston/rod assembly on the floor and knocked one entire skirt off about 1/2" below the oil ring land. I was horrified but had no time (my daily) no $$$....Dressed it down and that engine ran just fine. Unless you can find an exact replacement, I wouldn't worry about it. J.Rob