After tearing my 317 Lincoln y block down, I'm trying to find out if my car would lose a ton of value if I didn't keep the original engine. The block and heads are in good condition but it needs to be bored out and finding oversized pistons or the next size up, the 341 pistons is proving difficult. I was considering building a 302 or 351 and put it in but wanted to keep it original. Kinda thinking about all options at this point. Don't want a race car but dependable cruiser. I appreciate the advice

Brad
Sierra Vista Arizona
1954 Lincoln Capri

Pistons are easy, call Diamond, JE, Eggie Machine, Arias, Racetec all should be able to make what you want.

Egge just got back to me with a quote of $1700 plus $122 for rings. I'm sure they don't ship for free too. Online, je doesn't have lincoln pistons .
Plus this engine has been sitting for 57 years so I have no idea what still works and what doesn't. In process of cleaning parts up and figuring out how to test them.

Brad
Sierra Vista Arizona
1954 Lincoln Capri

$1822 for what, I'm assuming, are old-school cast pistons and iron rings, is unconscionable. Although you can't find a listing for pistons online, try contacting the manufacturers that make custom-order pistons. 
I agree, with few exceptions, that a 4-door will be worth considerably less than either a 2-door hardtop or convertible. Unless your car has sentimental value, and you have deep pockets, I would pass. It will cost as much/more to restore your car as one that would be worth considerably more when finished. Even so, most restorers end up investing considerably more than what they are able to get when they want/need to sell.  

N.B.- Re the price of Piston's, sounds somewhat high, but does that  price include Wrist pins ?  If it does, maybe it's not to far out of line?..


Paul

Paul.  Are you referring to what I posted?  If so, then that pricing does include the wrist pins and being fitted to the piston pin bores.  That pricing does not vary much even when adding other options such as gas porting, offset wrist pins, adding valve reliefs, different wrist pin lock options, domes or dishes in the piston tops, varying ring widths, changes in compression height, etc.  Due to the multitude of bore sizes, it’s rare on my end to order the same exact same custom piston set twice.  Considering that many of the older replacement pistons are becoming increasingly more obsolete, custom pistons are a very viable option even though pricing might be tough on some of the ‘old school’ budgets.

Of interesting note was a problem recently in receiving pistons due to a wrist pin shortage.  That shortage was driven by a material shortage, so wrist pin production concentrated on the more popular movers such as those with 0.866”, 0.927”, and 0.990” diameters.  The 0.915” and 0.975” diameters took a back seat to being made and for Y’s using stock rods, I do use the 0.915” diameter wrist pins.  The stroker engines use the 0.866” and 0.927” pins so no piston delivery issues were encountered with those.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)