...we're only talking a couple thousandths of an inch, but yes, he is correct about the taper... most pistons have a small amount of taper from top to bottom, again, only a couple thousandths...
Now a taper after about 50,000 mi. would be considered wear
, but again, there is a taper in the cylinders to begin with (freshly machined)
...not enough taper to 'squeeze' the piston, though
When you figure a ring gap around .020 +/- a few thousandths per application, etc. then you've all kinds of room to work with the taper in the block...
.002 is something that would not be easily discernable with the 'naked' eye... a dial bore gauge comes into the equation then, which I just happen to have one and a freshly machined 400 small block (my dad's) in the garage that I'm going to play with here in a bit to see what I come up with...
...ya learn something new everyday
