I am new to the forum but have been around the pianos for a little while. I work in a shop in Tucson where we build our own pianos and do high end restorations. My boss avoids the sqaure grands so this is my first hands on experience. I just bought this 1850 Chickering square grand for 200a bucks. Rosewood nice legs the usual stuff. I have a some broken whippens and hammers and various other things. I am lucky to have a guy come in and give me a 1851 chickering square. So i intend in using the two actions to make one and have extra parts and the other case make into athe desk. My questions as follows
1. What are the key height and dip should be.
2. Any advise on dampers.
3. Am i crazy for doing this.

!. Whatever height is proper to fit the case parts. Whatever dip gives you adequate jack escapement with a little aftertouch.
2. Replace ALL felt/cloth the parts. Then don't expect too much.
3. Yes

Hi Kingrohan - Welcome to Piano World!

It sounds like you are taking on quite a project. Good luck with it.

May I suggest that you post these questions in the Tuner/Technician Forum? You might get more detailed answers from the pros.