Guy,
if you have a set of rods that are showing nice even wear on the big ends, a clean of the sludge trap and a fresh set of shells might be the way to go (with the LJ crank) to keep expenses down. Do put the rods on something flat and check their straight though.
re pistons, (IMHO) the catch with balance is that successive over sizes take the balance factor the wrong way (as the OS pistons are typically heavier -thicker walled), whereas for modern (faster) traffic the norm is to take the balance factors the opposite way. So with the piston choice of flat vs domed, consider the weight and run the lighter pistons.
You mention domed and there are a number of domed options commonly varying from 8.25 to 10.5:1 - for a road engine a lower compression motor is typically less harsh/more pleasant and in the scheme of things just as quick anywhere other than the drag strip. So I wouldn't be rushing to fit the domed pistons that came with the crank, there's also nothing to guarantee the motor was balanced for those pistons
. The pistons that taper to a raised flat crown are a nice compression option usually in the 8.25-8.5:1 range. The ones with a rounded dimple 9:1 need higher octane fuels and the ones that look like they might come out of a triumph 10.5 or 14:1 -avoid the first unless on 100 octane and the second unless racing on methanol
Hope the work comes right for you.
Tim
