I'm working on a Merc 850 (four) block that has ridiculously mild porting. (Only 4 small, round holes vs. the three large ones used on all the other 99 cube series Mercs--twins, triples and sixes.) Whacking out the area between the pair of holes in the center (of four) would produce an opening 1.365 " wide. Is that a bit too wide for sensible ring life (non-racing application)? I notice other motors on this site (like the fabulous 99 looper project) that seem to have far wider openings than this.

Thanks!

Jeff