I have never opened a predator either, but I do believe a small part of the wrist pin (maybe .125) will be exposed below the cylinder, so at that angle binding is very likely. But, humor me, with the head off, using stock predator block and piston, and stock clone rod, with a .80 over stroke crank. Let's assume stock the predator was .005 in the hole, it's probably less. So .005 in the hole, .005 shorter rod, raising piston .40 with the .80 over crank. Turn the engine up, piston is .39 above the block deck. Top and probably 2nd ring land are above the deck, allowing rings to spring out, preventing the piston from returning into the cylinder.