[frnkeore]

To start with, I was a mechanic, from '62 - '70.

1. If it smokes and uses oil, the rings are probably worn, quite a bit.

2. If that is the case, it most likely has a ridge, at the top of the cylinder. You can cut that out, to remove the pistons but, the top of the cylinder is now worn, larger.

3. The new rings, will now have to much gap and you'll still have some reduced compression and blow by. With the new oil ring or rings, it may use less oil but, the oil will get contaminated much faster.

If a cylinder has .005 taper, at the top, the ring gap, will open up .015, over the factory gap, if .010 taper, it will have .031 more gap, that's to much!

So, the very first thing you have to do, after the head comes off, is get a inside mic, and measure the the bore, at the under side of the ridge.