I honed the bores till the bores had no lips on the top <---- !!!!!! oh shite!
thats your problem your bores will be 1/4mm bigger than the std set of new rings so u get massive bow past even worse than before! because there will be a big gap between the rings
by using the honing machine you have made the bores bigger than before when already worn and fitted new std rings/pistons so the gas gets past
you should of got a rebore and oversize pistons/rings and everyrhing would of been as good as new
its just a therory but im shure its feasable after 6 stellas at 12.44 at night
Very good theory IMO too
You cant just 're-hone' a block and put standard pistons and rings back in.. ESPECIALLY if there was a lip at the top of the bore!