henry172

iTrader: (2)

I am looking for the part numbers for stock rings and rod bearings for my lt1. I pulled the heads today and I found the rings are a little worn, but the cylinder walls look great only 64k on the block. I think the rings wore down a little from me installing my cam incorrectly a few years ago when I was far less knowledgeable. I think I can get away with installing new rings and rod bearings, I am going to hit the cylinders with a ball cylinder hone. If someone can give me the part numbers for the stock rings and rod bearings that would be great.

henry172

iTrader: (2)

Should I use stock rings are aftermarket?

henry172

iTrader: (2)

I am thinking about these rings http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/96-97...Q5fAccessories

whytryz28

iTrader: (28)

Did not know lt1 had 2 different types of rings.

henry172

iTrader: (2)

Neither did I, but those should work on my 97 with a 96 motor. I am just wondering if it would be o.k to just re-ring it and install new rod bearings. I do have 80psi oil pressure at idle when cold and 50+ psi when hot.

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

Out of curiosity, what makes you think your rings are worn?

henry172

iTrader: (2)

Well my uncle is telling me they are bad because the pistons move around in the cylinders; some move side to side more than others. I was burning a lot of oil, but the car did not smoke.

speed_demon24

iTrader: (6)

Piston movement has nothing to do with the rings. Find a new uncle.

henry172

iTrader: (2)

That was what I was thinking, but I was not sure so I did not argue with him. Is there a way to test the rings with the heads off? I should of ran a compression and leak down test just before removing the heads.

hitmanws6

iTrader: (20)

Define burning a lot of oil?

henry172

iTrader: (2)

I lost over 2qts in less than 3,000mi; no oil leaks. When we removed the heads we found that the driver side head gasket did not look good around the oil jackets and there was a really small amount of milky substance on the driver side valve cover.

henry172

iTrader: (2)

Thing is I am going to do le1 heads and I don't want to have any problems after I install them. So If I pull the pistons out, use a cylinder bore inside micrometer and find the cylinders are good, will I be safe if I just throw in some new rings and bearings?

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

It sure can. Depends on how much movement and if it is excessive. If there are impressionable (not just visual) vertical scuff marks on the bores then yes, that could be from too much clearance in the bores from worn rings.
No "oil jackets" in the head gasket. No oil is transferred from cylinder head to block via head gasket. All oil drainback is from front and rear drain ports of each cylinder head directly into the oil valley.

henry172

iTrader: (2)

O.K so the water jackets were beginning to blow out. I am going to look for vertical scuff marks tomorrow.

speed_demon24

iTrader: (6)

I didn't realize rings affected the piston and bore size.

MICHZ28

They greatly affect the pistons stability in the bore.

To the OP. There's not a whole lot you can do besides pop a piston out and measure the ring gap. Those rings you have listed, if the sizes they have listed are correct they won't work. These are what you need http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PCR-41616CP/

henry172

iTrader: (2)

I dont think new rings will fix my problem; I inspected the cylinders closer today, I found some shiny and virtical scoring. I am going to go ahead and rebuild the bottom end; what is the cheapest way to go and be reliable. I am just going to stick with a 350; I don't need the extra HP.

WS Sick

Let a machine shop look at it to see if a hone (with torque plates) will do the job if it doesnt need boring dont bore it.