Ring gap for boosted 5.3
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Joined: Feb 2016
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Boosted Ring Gap You can use the Wiseco piston ring gap formula in the link below. http://www.wiseco.com/PDFs/Manuals/RingEndGap.pdf
From looking at the formula for a stock 5.3L engine which has a stock cylinder size of 3.78inches you can multiply:
3.78 X .0050 for the top ring
3.78 X .0055 for the second ring
Results are as follow:
Top ring .019
Second ring .021
Therefore, I have no idea how people came up with bigger ring gaps. If there is other formulas, I would like to know of them.
From looking at the formula for a stock 5.3L engine which has a stock cylinder size of 3.78inches you can multiply:
3.78 X .0050 for the top ring
3.78 X .0055 for the second ring
Results are as follow:
Top ring .019
Second ring .021
Therefore, I have no idea how people came up with bigger ring gaps. If there is other formulas, I would like to know of them.
You can use the Wiseco piston ring gap formula in the link below. http://www.wiseco.com/PDFs/Manuals/RingEndGap.pdf
From looking at the formula for a stock 5.3L engine which has a stock cylinder size of 3.78inches you can multiply:
3.78 X .0050 for the top ring
3.78 X .0055 for the second ring
Results are as follow:
Top ring .019
Second ring .021
Therefore, I have no idea how people came up with bigger ring gaps. If there is other formulas, I would like to know of them.
From looking at the formula for a stock 5.3L engine which has a stock cylinder size of 3.78inches you can multiply:
3.78 X .0050 for the top ring
3.78 X .0055 for the second ring
Results are as follow:
Top ring .019
Second ring .021
Therefore, I have no idea how people came up with bigger ring gaps. If there is other formulas, I would like to know of them.
top at .0065 = .02457
bottom at .0070 = .02646
This is about where I would put a 5.3 ring.
On 6.0s I uaually do a .028 and .030
408 in my car i ran .030 and .032
I have not had any issue much like many others running a little bit looser gap. You will find out quick if its too tight though!
You can use the Wiseco piston ring gap formula in the link below. http://www.wiseco.com/PDFs/Manuals/RingEndGap.pdf
From looking at the formula for a stock 5.3L engine which has a stock cylinder size of 3.78inches you can multiply:
3.78 X .0050 for the top ring
3.78 X .0055 for the second ring
Results are as follow:
Top ring .019
Second ring .021
Therefore, I have no idea how people came up with bigger ring gaps. If there is other formulas, I would like to know of them.
From looking at the formula for a stock 5.3L engine which has a stock cylinder size of 3.78inches you can multiply:
3.78 X .0050 for the top ring
3.78 X .0055 for the second ring
Results are as follow:
Top ring .019
Second ring .021
Therefore, I have no idea how people came up with bigger ring gaps. If there is other formulas, I would like to know of them.
Depends on the piston/cylinder expansion rates and how hot they will be. The fuel/tune also plays a part in piston operating temperatures. The hotter it gets the more it expands, the more it expands, larger the gap needs to be.
You're looking at "street moderate" Call up weisco and ask them what the hell that even means? Guys pushing serious boost on pump gas generate a ton of heat. I've seen the top ring lands pulled off a .022 gapped top ring on a pump gas setup. I know some E85 guys run them at .018 without issue too.
I noticed what I consider excessive blow by gapped a .028/.030. .024 on the top ring and under I don't seem to have any issues.
I gapped the top to .024". Was .019" before gapping. 125k mile engine.
2nd ring was .028 as delivered. I left them alone.
No blow by.
FWIW, the bottom ring is the 3 piece oil ring. Leave it alone.
Our stock Pistons have the top ring down a bit on the piston. A purpose built blower or turbo piston will have it quite a ways down.
Ron
2nd ring was .028 as delivered. I left them alone.
No blow by.
FWIW, the bottom ring is the 3 piece oil ring. Leave it alone.
Our stock Pistons have the top ring down a bit on the piston. A purpose built blower or turbo piston will have it quite a ways down.
Ron
I did .022/.024 based on the piston manf. rec
In reality, I wonder how many actually hit the mark if your using one of those little hand crank grinders-first you have to get the end square, grind, meas., grind again and still keep the end square-I know I cant get it perfect every time, lol.
When my block was at the machine shop, I used their expensive grinder, meas. what I had and what I wanted, set it up and go, but the average do it your selfer isn't going to have that
I think most important, just make sure they are not to tight
In reality, I wonder how many actually hit the mark if your using one of those little hand crank grinders-first you have to get the end square, grind, meas., grind again and still keep the end square-I know I cant get it perfect every time, lol.
When my block was at the machine shop, I used their expensive grinder, meas. what I had and what I wanted, set it up and go, but the average do it your selfer isn't going to have that
I think most important, just make sure they are not to tight
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 350
Likes: 2
From: Mountain Home, ID on My way to Korea!
I'm throwing 15lbs at this thing everyday trying to break it everytime I drive so I have a reason to build my 6.0 on the ground.....it eats it up with those 15 year old Incon twin turbos 
Launching!
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 227
Likes: 5
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 350
Likes: 2
From: Mountain Home, ID on My way to Korea!
.024 & .028 with zero blow by. I'm going to go ahead and build my 408 this summer and use .026 & .028. This 5.3 was a junkyard motor, all I did is tanked it and threw in an 2002 ZO6 camshaft. Can't break these things!
